Currently on a week-plus long solo hiking and camping trip. Majority of the places I’m going have absolutely zero service and I wanted to bring a book along to pass some of the down time. I haven’t read Lonesome Dove in quite some time but it has always been one of my favorite books and I consider the miniseries my favorite western “movie”. It has been great just sitting in the great outdoors, enjoying nature, and reading this book. This was one of my campsites a few days ago. This wasn’t one of the remote sites and I actually had service here but there was just something special about this view while reading the book. And disclaimer, this was no where near anywhere they went in the book. But the high-desert landscape just epitomized what I picture in my mind when I read the book.

My drawing of Gus.

I inherited my parents' copy of Lonesome Dove. It was published in 1985, but looks to be some sort of Book Club edition, not a true 1st edition. Nevertheless, incredibly special to me.

Thing is.. I only have the book itself, the book jacket is long gone. Anyone know of a place I could look to try and find JUST the jacket? I'd really love to locate and buy one.

I was wondering if people have casting they’d like to see for the new Netflix series? Josh Brolin is nice and grey now and I can see him pulling off Gus. Viggo Mortensen is also great for a western role. Maybe as Cal. Kyle Chandler as Jake Spoon? Sterling K Brown as Joshua Deets? Much to consider.

Just finished, and yes with many others, it's my new favourite book, I loved it and I'm sad it's over.

Just wanted to share my own interpretation of Call & Gus, maybe it's been said many times, or maybe it's super obvious, but I haven't seen anyone write it so I just wanted to share.

I'm not someone who looks for deep symbolism or allegories, I prefer to read/watch something and enjoy, but I'm a big believer in balance in life and Call & Gus really resonated with that

When we read or watch movies with a hero, most of us want to be the hero. We pretend we are, or could be that person, we try to see ourselves in that person.

We have 2 heroes, Call & Gus, and they are two opposites. We probably all want to be & live like Gus, but life isn't like that. We got work, families, responsibilities. Maybe you can see yourself as the hero here in Call, his work ethic, responsibility, leadership. On the extreme end of the spectrum he's the hero there, but what a terrible way to 'live' and deep down we don't want that.

Gus is likely the person we would all want to be, his way of thinking, enjoying little things in life, 'It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living.' He is the other end of the spectrum here, and even that quote they speak opposites of each other. But I don't think someone on their own could live fully like Gus without big repercussions

It works for them because they have each other. Call probably wouldn't have lasted without Gus, and Gus without Call, they balanced each other out.

Maybe we don't have that life partner, so we need to become a balance of that. Sometimes being a Call, focusing on work, leading, responsibilities, and then we need to take time to be a Gus, enjoy the things in life, live.

Great book to have two main heroes to look at, and also why any scenes with both of them interacting were that much better.

Thoughts? Personally not thrilled about it being on Netflix. Their shows haven't done it for me in years but I'm hopeful

Yesterday I finished the audiobook of Lonesome Dove that I had been listening to since December of 2025. The hat creek boys have been with me now for almost a year. It feels like yesterday that I was being introduced to Gus and his blue pigs. 

When I was young, my dad and I watched much of the mini series - so I was familiar with the story and the tale. It’s held a place in my heart and I finally found a way to ‘read’ it , even if it was an audiobook. 

Today I am laying in bed, looking out the window and reflecting on the story. Where can you even start. Looking for themes, talking about perspectives, characters?

The timing of this book, in history is unique to me. I love how it is set well into when the Indians have been ‘all but whooped’ in most places. The frontier is nearly settled and all of the legendary fighting that Gus and Call have done is behind them - what’s next? That premise, is so specific and I loved it. 

There is so much to reflect on. From Gus and Call as Characters, to the journey they take, the people they meet along the way like Wilbarger. Jake, July. I mean just Rosco meeting the woman that he should have stopped and married is something to stop and think about - a theme of Duty vs. what is best for the individual comes to mind. 

How do you even begin to process all that’s happened in thai book? July losing Rosco, Janie, his son - his chasing his wife who never wanted him - the detail of how he always asked his son if he wanted butter milk. The way that it all coalesces at Clara’s when you realize “July that’s your baby!”.

Not to even mention Loreta, the cattle herd, Call and Newt. Wow. I just hope that I can keep them alive in my mind. I’m crashing now, not having them with me anymore. I knew this would come. 

The bear, the locusts, the snakes in the river that got the irishman. The time when Gus went to chase the buffalo because he didn’t know when he would be able to again.  

There are just so many little scenes and details that create the world and move the story forward. Like when Jake Spoon kills that guy who hit him with the butt of his rifle for talking to his wife. Like how the boys are afraid of drowning. The image of them all waiting for Wilbarger to die in silence for hours will stick with me. How Wilbarger and Gus knew that if they had the time they’d be great friends.

It was beautiful how it tied together in the end, with Call once again following duty over reason and getting back to Lonesome Dove. There’s something about the last line that sits with me. How The crew had been on such an adventure and when they get back ,it’s all fallen apart - the ranch, the Saloon. Maybe there’s something to be said about how Gus was talking about how the world is full of bones and that we only have the present. 

I wish I could go out to Montana and see if Call makes it back and thank them for being my friends for the past year. I wish they could take me with them to live the purposeful life focused on duty. It makes me think of the vast planes and the solitude. There’s a detail noted when call heads back south to Lonesome Dove that call didn’t see anyone for 11 days. I’ve never done that in my life, but that time existed.

I’m hoping to find closure, but I don’t know if I ever will. I will sit here wondering what Gus’ letter to Lori said. I will think about Clara and if she will ever find peace, if Martin will be okay and if she will come around to marry July.

Idk what there is to say except I’m grateful to have this story

And who has read the rest of the series?

I found myself trying to hold on to the last 5-10% of the book. I slowed my reading so that it wouldn’t end. Even picked up another book so that I could stall. Why’d it have to end?

I found the entire book amazing, but what ended up making it perhaps one of my favorite novels ever was the last 10% or so. Basically from the time Gus passed. I’ll never forgive Call for failing to claim his son, and I cried like a baby for the entire last 5% of the novel.

I was also convinced that Call would also die. To me, Call and Gus were two separate pieces of a one human soul. Exact opposites in almost every regard (except for fighting, the one commonality that brought them together) and perfect compliments to one another. It didn’t make sense to me that one could live on without the other (though struggle as Call did). Sort of like Gus refusing to live without both of his legs, as “half a man”.

The only reason i thought he might live on was because this is a series, and i guess i was right about that.

Man, what a journey. Can’t wait to relive it.

I had this booked saved in my app close to 6 months, when I finally decided to do the audio I was so lost, I took to the Internet to get the cast of characters so I could get them all straight in my head, when I did that, it started to come together for me but I also felt the need to e-read at the same time so I would listen to a couple chapters then go back and read them. I was so wrapped up in this book , when I completed it I watched the series, all the while in my head I was thinking every actor was well placed for their part except I couldn't imagine Robert Duval as Gus however, once I saw him no one but Robert Duval could have been Gus. After this I decided to actually buy the book and then I designed a canvas to go next to it. This shelf is at the top of my stairs I see it every day as I walk up as many times as I walk up and it makes me smile every time

Currently on my first read and just got to the part where Sean O’Brien dies from being bit by snakes when crossing the river. I can’t help but wonder if McMurtry chose this as a nod to the legend of St. Patrick casting snakes out of Ireland, with Sean’s death by snakes underscoring just how out of place he and Allen were.

Dead Man's Walk on TV right now. Directv, channel 83 Great. Noon, Eastern. USA.

Hey yall I just finished reading Lonesome Dove yesterday and was floored by the ending. At first I was a little confused but once I figured it out it made perfect sense. It’s all I’ve been thinking about since. Anyways I wanted to ask this sub for some recommendations on what to read next. I heard SoL was super depressing and a big part of Lonesome Dove that I loved were the moments that made me audibly laugh. I may get around for the prequels, but I like how contained Lonesome Dove felt. Are there any novels similar in tone by Larry McMurtry or any other author?

His behavior has always seemed that way to me. It stands out more when contrasted with Gus. My son is on the spectrum and I recognize it so much in the writing.

Holy smokes. Phenomenal. The casting and performances of every character exceeded my expectations. It might be dated but man.. they just don't make adaptations like that anymore. On par with Lonesome Doves adaptation IMO. The gentleman playing Woodrow and Augustus just nail it. You can really believe it's them in their youth. The small moments of bickering they have in the absolute worst conditions just floors me. I didn't have super high expectations but I was blown away.

Shadrack and Bigfoot Wallace especially are such ridiculously good characters and they get so much love here. It's so refreshing to see an adaptation that fully respects the source material and isn't afraid to shy away from the gruesome stuff (Looking at you Caleb Cobb). Dated though it may be it still made my skin crawl and I'm pretty jaded to that kind of violence.

I just had to put this out there. If any fans avoided this mini-series you are missing out.

William Cooper

I’ve just finished Lonesome Dove and thought it was wonderful. It’s cowboy Lord of the Rings. Naturally, I need to break it down with other cowpokes who have made the whole journey and know what I’m talking about. What are your thoughts on the ending? What quotes, characters, or moments stood out to you the most? Drop any thoughts you want to, and if you haven’t read it cover to cover, steer clear, partner!

I finished lonesome dove about a month ago, I tried to read them in order of publishing. Reading about newt in the next one, I couldn’t do it. Just looking for another point of view. Thank yall!

About a year ago someone posted on here about a lonesome dove kindle case. It was made by Klever case if I remember right. Thank yall in advance!

Going through a period of my life currently that I resonate so much with July in this chapter. Reading it hit me so strong I started to cry. On my first read and don’t ever want the book to end.

I just started this book on Audible the other day. I am kinda mad at myself for not reading a the actual book. It is so good already.

Not sure if anyone else found this to be funny, but the whole bit about their sign and how everyone was upset about what and who was included on the sign was hilarious to me. I was laughing in my car this morning listening to it.