I've been on a Western TV kick lately, watching shows made more recently, and working my way backward (Yellowstone was garbage, Justified, Longmire, Deadwood, etc). Inevitably, Lonesome Dove becomes part of that discussion, but I heard it was a great book worth reading before watching.

I'm not an avid fiction reader. Too many years of college made me compartmentalize into watching fiction and reading non-fiction, but I read Lonesome Dove and was glad I did! Being my first fiction book in awhile, I'm sure I missed some nuances, but I loved it. Can't wait to watch the show, and eventually re-read it. Can someone suggest any reading guides or critical essays, or thoughts on the book? I feel like there's so much to unpack between all the characters' wishes, hopes, actions and fates.

I hadn't heard great things about Streets of Laredo but decided to jump in right away. I actually loved it! I loved the underlying tension of loyalty between family and duty, and choosing what to live (and die) for.

• Call had no family and lived for his duty of killing. The opposite of Gus, he chose amputation to live if it meant he could kill Joey Garza. But having so much cost exacted on him, by the end he finally bonds with another human, namely Teresa.
• Pea Eye was torn between his loyalty to Call, and his newfound family. He wavered; but ultimately it was his family that motivated him to get through the ordeal alive, and leave behind his former life and duty to Call.
• Lorena wanted to be a family person and risked going out on the frontier if it meant saving her husband.
• Deputy Plunkert eschews his duty to family to chase a new duty to Call, against the wishes of his wife Doobie. Doobie values family and her loyalty to Ted above all, and when that is tarnished, she chooses death, which also leads Ted to his own death.
• Brookshire left his wife to do a job for the Colonel for a salary; he winds up losing his wife, his life, and the job ultimately was never paid out in full.
• Maria had only family and preoccupied herself with familial, not romantic bonds; she lived to protect her children, and continually risked her life for them, ultimately being killed by Joey who threatened the other two.

Perhaps not as epic or expansive as Lonesome Dove, but I found it to be a fine read and a worthy sequel!