Lonesome Dove
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Lonesome Dove is widely regarded by readers as a masterpiece of American literature that transcends its Western setting. While it is a massive epic often exceeding 900 pages, it is celebrated for its deeply compelling characters and grand sense of adventure. Many readers who typically avoid Westerns report being won over by its character-driven storytelling, though its deliberate, slow-burn pace can be a barrier for some.
Pros
- Deeply memorable and compelling character development
- Grand, immersive adventure story that feels 'more than a Western'
- Highly praised audiobook narration by Will Patton
- Powerful emotional payoff that stays with readers for years
Cons
- Extremely slow initial pace; characters don't 'leave town' for a significant portion of the book
- Intimidating length (900+ pages or 40+ hours of audio)
- Some readers find it difficult to connect with the setting or the 'mundane' early chapters
Caveats
- The story begins with a heavy focus on mundane daily life (e.g., chores and ranch life) before the main plot intensifies
- Older audiobook versions may have dated recording quality; the Will Patton narration is the preferred version
Best for
- Readers seeking a long, character-driven epic
- People who think they dislike Westerns but want a 'great American novel'
- Audiobook listeners who enjoy long-form narrations
Avoid if
- You prefer fast-paced, action-heavy plots from the first chapter
- You are currently in a reading slump and need something short and punchy to get out of it
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a consistent volume of praise across book-focused subreddits over the last several years.
Sentiment
134 positive (86%) · 11 mixed (7%) · 11 negative (7%)
Trust + time weighted score: +80% · raw score 79%
What redditors said (10 of 156)
Yes. The characters are truly compelling. I think about them years later.
Here is a list of books I love which I think fit the brief. Lonesome Dove. Larry McMurthy.
Lonesome Dove.
Parent context: Havnt read it , cowboys are not my fave , but thanks to here I may one day , if I can get a cheap second hand copy Reply: I almost put it down in the first chapter because I'm not a western person, and it's all about cowboys eating beans and peeing off the porch. I'm so glad I didn't. It is a grand adventure story.
Lonesome Dove, Project Hail Mary, The Haunting of Hill House, All Systems Red (Murderbot Diaries, book one) They're all decent books.
I’m loving Lonesome Dove by McMurtry.
It’s a really slow start, but once the cattle drive starts, things pick up. I recommend a retry
Damn I really tried with Lonesome Dove but I just found it hard to get into.
I was loving Lonesome Dove and asked for recommendations and that’s how I started reading East of Eden. About 75% done with it now and I’m loving in. Would recommend LD if you haven’t read that yet.
Lonesome dove
Compare
Lonesome Dove vs Pride and PrejudiceLonesome Dove vs Demon CopperheadLonesome Dove vs The Count of Monte Cristo
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