Reviews

L'ultimo spettacolo by Larry McMurtry

lacytelles's review against another edition

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4.0

While this is no Lonesome Dove, I still enjoyed the vivid landscape and the fully fleshed unique characters that spill out of Larry McMurtry's pen. Don't be fooled, this isn't a happy ending kind of book (Though I guess there isn't any attempt to convince you otherwise).

dsteenbergen's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Grappled with this one alot after finishing. Some moments are brilliant, and McMurty is able to make me laugh out loud, feel deep sadness, and become appalled all within a single chapter. Other times it feels like there's a lot of loose ends.

This is a very vivid picture of a dying, mid-century Texas town, but sometimes the character work leaves me wanting. Incredible scenes, but at times I feel this lacks the thematic cohesion to tie it all together. Sometimes it does come together! But not always.

avolok's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

alfredreads's review against another edition

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4.0

Saying this book was well written would be an understatement. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars would be due to some fairly shallow character development. I dont necessarily need to LIKE a character but I do need a little more development than was given here to most of the main cast of the story.

As a side note, holy crap. And people give Updike grief for being obsessed with sex in his rabbit series? Yeesh, Mr Updike owes mr Mcmurtry a coke for the chapter in this book involving the heifer. Ye gods....

birdgirl302's review against another edition

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4.0

Required reading for anyone whose parents grew up in a small Texan town. (There's sex too.)

annaloveshedgehogs's review against another edition

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4.0

Wasn't feeling it at first but it grew on me. I'm so glad I didn't grow up in a small Texas town in the 50s.

communicatrix's review against another edition

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4.0

The New Yorker brought me here—their review of McMurtry's bio was full of surprises for me, and intrigued me enough to pick up the book that one of my all-time favorite movies was drawn from. My takeaway? One of those rare cases where each hold its own, and they probably enhance each other. There's definitely no clear "better"—if you liked one, you'll "enjoy" the other (they are both sad af).

gretchenlm's review against another edition

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5.0

The best coming of age novel ever? Maybe

cadillaceazy's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

drewnieslanik's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0