McMurtry influenced my writing. I've read all of his books except the one you feature here, and even visited Archer City to see the bookstore, which was closed. I read that a couple of house-fixers in Waco purchased it, but I can't confirm that. I do like J. Frank Dobie, too, but he left us with not enough. I wonder if he died with his boots on? He was that type of Texan, as I also am.
Western Star was written by Larry’s friend. It’s a wonderful behind the scenes look into Larry’s life. As far as Booked Up goes—Larry’s bookstore—Chip Gains did purchase the building and inventory, but sold it to a group that now runs the Larry McMurtry Literary Center out of it. The book are still there. If you have another chance to swing by Archer City, do so, it should be open. I too am a fan of Dobie, though Larry was not.
By the time I was in my fifties I had read many of McMurtry's classics. In high school I read The Last Picture Show before there was even talk of a movie. Many more followed. Not sure any American novel tops Lonesome Dove. By the time my wife and I visited Archer City on in the nineties it had become quite the tourist attraction. Half the buildings on square were filled with books. In one his son James sat with some of his friends playing a guitar. A bus load of folks debarked and started wandering around. Only one building had a cash register. You took whatever book you'd picked out over at the old hardware store or wherever to that one on the corner. The one where classics were sold. Lots of people in there. Larry McMurtry was behing the register, ringing everyone up. Looked like he was in hog heaven. What a memory.
Wonderful memory, Rich. Thanks for sharing. I’m convinced Larry’s real love was book collecting and book selling, not book writing. This has been confirmed by folks I know who were intimates of his. So, him being in hog heaven in selling you some books fits with what I’ve always believed and have been told.
I am intrigued but nervous about reading this. As the man himself said in Roads, after visiting Hemingway's house in Key West, "The point may be that it's always tricky to go near writers whose work you really like. They may turn out to have bad furniture, or tacky women, or both." I'm afraid to know too much about the cranky Mr. M.
I do love the story about Idiot Ridge or "Idiot Ridge."
McMurtry influenced my writing. I've read all of his books except the one you feature here, and even visited Archer City to see the bookstore, which was closed. I read that a couple of house-fixers in Waco purchased it, but I can't confirm that. I do like J. Frank Dobie, too, but he left us with not enough. I wonder if he died with his boots on? He was that type of Texan, as I also am.
Western Star was written by Larry’s friend. It’s a wonderful behind the scenes look into Larry’s life. As far as Booked Up goes—Larry’s bookstore—Chip Gains did purchase the building and inventory, but sold it to a group that now runs the Larry McMurtry Literary Center out of it. The book are still there. If you have another chance to swing by Archer City, do so, it should be open. I too am a fan of Dobie, though Larry was not.
By the time I was in my fifties I had read many of McMurtry's classics. In high school I read The Last Picture Show before there was even talk of a movie. Many more followed. Not sure any American novel tops Lonesome Dove. By the time my wife and I visited Archer City on in the nineties it had become quite the tourist attraction. Half the buildings on square were filled with books. In one his son James sat with some of his friends playing a guitar. A bus load of folks debarked and started wandering around. Only one building had a cash register. You took whatever book you'd picked out over at the old hardware store or wherever to that one on the corner. The one where classics were sold. Lots of people in there. Larry McMurtry was behing the register, ringing everyone up. Looked like he was in hog heaven. What a memory.
Wonderful memory, Rich. Thanks for sharing. I’m convinced Larry’s real love was book collecting and book selling, not book writing. This has been confirmed by folks I know who were intimates of his. So, him being in hog heaven in selling you some books fits with what I’ve always believed and have been told.
This is great, Derrick! I know next to nothing about McMurtry but love the portrayal of his divided nature.
Thank you, Joel. But you’re still the man GOAT of book reviews.
I am intrigued but nervous about reading this. As the man himself said in Roads, after visiting Hemingway's house in Key West, "The point may be that it's always tricky to go near writers whose work you really like. They may turn out to have bad furniture, or tacky women, or both." I'm afraid to know too much about the cranky Mr. M.
I do love the story about Idiot Ridge or "Idiot Ridge."
Read it, you’ll not be disappointed. David doesn’t hold back, but he writes out of a place of friendship and admiration.