On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please avoid revealing any spoilers.

Hoopla has the audio. I’m a little reluctant to read my first McMurtry by audio but I’ll give it a try. I can always switch to ebook.

I've been up and down with McMurtry. Loved Lonesome Dove, hated Last Picture Show. I do want to read this one though, as I can envision Paul Newman as Hud.

I've only read Terms of Endearment and want so much to get to LD this year. I will definitely be reading with the group!

I started this yesterday and am really enjoying it. Literary Westerns have become a favorite genre for me, thanks to Howard.

I started this one today, my second by McMurtry, the only other one being 'Lonesome Dove.' I did try another McMurtry, can't remember which one, but it was a DNF. This one is going much better.

I started this today right after finishing Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke. There are so many similarities between the two that I'm a bit befuddled. Both are set in Texas in the mid-20th century, feature a young man and his grandfather, have lots of oil wells, and both mention peach ice cream. Last, but not least, both have excellent authors.

That’s funny because I wanted Will Patton as my voice narrator and Burke’s books use him quite a bit. I love James Lee Burke.

I plan on reading lonesome Dove this year, way over due. So, you think any of McMurtry’s are fair game as nominations?

Tom thanks for setting up final impressions.

Laura wrote: "Tom thanks for setting up final impressions."

I always do unless the book is a story/essay collection.

I just started this myself. I’m reading Gone with the Wind a few chapters a day and also trying to read a Faulkner story each day (but I’ve not been able to get to those in a few days).

Tom I have had Wayfaring Stranger on my list too. How did you like that? And Laura my hope is to read Lonesome Dove this year too! It’s long and if it didn’t make it thru to a group read, I’d be interested in a buddy read.

Lori wrote: "Tom I have had Wayfaring Stranger on my list too. How did you like that? And Laura my hope is to read Lonesome Dove this year too! ."

Here's my review of Wayfaring Stranger. I really like Burke but the plot on this one just didn't capture my imagination.

Similarly, I think I'm going to dnf this book as I just watched the movie and found it depressing. Dysfunctional family dramas aren't my cup of tea. I highly recommend Lonesome Dove, though.

I have just started, but I am enjoying the way Larry McMurtry slowly lets his characters develop and become real. I am optimistic about the rest of the book.
I read the Lonesome Dove series years ago and loved it, but I could never get into The Last Picture Show.

I have enjoyed how the characters are developing. Since this was written in 1961, I wondered about the time period. There’s a mention of HUD and a war so it must have been WW2. So I assume the 50’s. Some of you know I grew up in Kentucky but have lived my adult life mostly in Texas. My kids graduated from Burkburnett HS (in the book HUD says he’s headed to Burk for the rodeo.) Wichita Falls does have an airport and is home to Sheppard AFB (since 1941, and the reason my family lived here) and would have been the metropolis for those ranchers in Thalia. It’s always neat to read books set in and around places I’ve lived. Even though much of the place has grown so much and is quite different today. Larry McMurtry grew up here too.

I assumed that the war was Korea and the timeframe was contemporary. Hud was 35 so that would have put him in his twenties during the Korean conflict.

Ah that makes sense.

The book was written in 1961, but set in 1954. The war was WWII.

Well, I thought so at first. Whew! The time seemed like mid 50’s to me.

Well if I’d waited until page 111, then I’d have known 100% which war. Definitely WW2.

Just dropping in with a few thoughts about this book. The writing!!!! Amazing and so evocative of place and the tensions between characters and the issue at hand.

My husband is from Weatherford, TX, so we have enjoyed talking about the places in the book. Mineral Wells is not too far from there.

He has also said that McMurtry was upset at the portrayal of this story in Hud. I haven't found anything to corroborate that, but it seems to me besides the central tragedy in the book, the movie ended up a somewhat different story. I will watch the movie again after I finish reading to see what I think. I mean. . . Paul Newman!

Right Suzy...Paul Newman! The movie did change quite a few things, as Hollywood does, but I thought it stayed true to the themes in the book. And Paul Newman brought Hud to life.

Diane wrote: "Right Suzy...Paul Newman! The movie did change quite a few things, as Hollywood does, but I thought it stayed true to the themes in the book. And Paul Newman brought Hud to life."

I'm eager to see it again - saw it when it first came out in a movie theater. I know, I'm dating myself. :)

I love Paul Newman, so I’ll be checking out the film at some point. I’m about halfway through the book, but Hud hasn’t shown up much yet. So far it’s Lonnie’s story.

Diane wrote: "I've been up and down with McMurtry. Loved Lonesome Dove, hated Last Picture Show. I do want to read this one though, as I can envision Paul Newman as Hud."

Lady, you have a serious thing for Paul Newman!!! Lol, I love it!

Lots of us "ladies of a certain age" have a thing for Paul Newman.

Diane, that must be true! Over the holiday weekend I watched Hud and The Long Hot Summer on Xfinity On Demand.

Two of the greatest movies experiences of all time:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid & The Sting
because Newman and Redford in one movie together just doesn't get any better.

It is so much fun "hanging out" with you ladies on GR. I have been adding these movie refs to a "to watch" list. I was born in 1982 so I watched TCM (and I think A&E) off and on. I REALLY like Gene Kelly. Sculpted physique and excellent movement. I 3remember hearing that he was gay, but a cursory google search doesn't support that. Are there any good southern books on homosexuality in the south? RAZORBLADE TEARS had a very good take on it, but I'm more interested in early 20th century experiences.

@ Cathrine and Terry -- For context, I was just poking fun at Diane bc looking at these old threads, I realized that she brings up Paul Newman whenever she can. That woman is a serious fan!

Cheryl, if you have not read The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories or Reflections in a Golden Eye, you might want to do that. Carson McCullers certainly plays around with homosexuality in them. Also Tennessee Williams' play Suddenly Last Summer.

And who wouldn't love Paul Newman?

Cheryl
Not southern but I highly recommend Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage and the novella, Brokeback Mountain.

Cat on a Hot Tin roof????

Silas house. Southernmost

Those are great recommendations, thank you!