Jan 1-Feb 28,2019—COMANCHE MOON—Larry McMurtry(Lonesome Dove Series—Book 4 of 4)

[Lavan, moderator]

Comanche Moon is the fourth (and final) book in the series.



To everyone—I hope you'll participate and read this selection for our book club.
For those who do—share your thoughts as you read, please!

Spoilers are allowed; add a considerate warning if your comment includes any so members have the option to skip.

Feel free to begin reading it early, if you'd like, and start the discussion at your leisure.

[Lavan, moderator]

My copy is 745 pages.
I started yesterday. I'm on p. 48—at 6%.

I'm back in the saddle again!
Although I've only just begun this fourth and final book in the Lonesome Dove series I'm already sad that there aren't anymore after this.

Gus, Call, Deets, Pea Eye, Jake Spoon, Famous Shoes, and Blue Duck are in this as well as Long Bill Coleman, Buffalo Hump, and Kicking Wolf from book 3.
I learned Deets', Pea Eye's, Jake Spoon's, and Blue Duck's back stories which were interesting.

Also, there's an erotica scene in chapter 4. It's not long or overly graphic, but I was surprised because it's the first I've read of McMurtry's (I don't recall any in books 1 -3). It did serve a purpose to understand one of the main characters better.

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 156—at 21%.

(view spoiler)[ Captain Scull and Famous Shoes have just left the rangers in pursuit of Kicking Wolf (and Three Birds) as they've stolen his beloved horse Hector, aka Buffalo Horse, and are heading south into the Sierra Perdida mountains in Mexico—into the Mexican bandit Ahumado's (the Black Vaquero) territory, but not before making Gus and Call captains with the job of bringing the rangers home in his absence.

Chapter 19, especially towards the end, shows how they and their fellow rangers react to their newfound leadership. It's entertaining, a bit comical, and heartwarming as well.
At this point in their journey their friendship has been solidified. (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 207—at 28%.

(view spoiler)[ Clara has just given Gus the unwelcome news that she's promised to marry Bob and move to Nebraska. Oof!
While I felt great pity for Gus in receiving this announcement, I can't help but think Clara made the right decision. This scene was essential for readers, after 3+ books, to understand exactly why these two never ended up together. McMurtry did a damn fine job of explaining her reason. (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 269—at 36%.

(view spoiler)[ Maggie is now pregnant with Newt (from book 1). I couldn't help comparing her relationship with Call to Clara's and Gus's. While Clara knows herself and her needs and therefore has the foresight to understand that she would not be happy married to Gus, Maggie cannot help but hope that Call will accept her unborn baby as his own, change his lifestyle, and become a family man. Clara knows Gus is a whorer, a heavy drinker, and wouldn't be truly content settled in one place. She loves him in spite of his faults, but makes the hard choice to marry a man that she's not passionate about, but thinks will be better to raise a family with and stay put. It's too bad that Maggie doesn't realize her worth and look elsewhere for a man that wants to help her out of her unfortunate situation. Instead, she continues to put all of her love and attention on a man that clearly has no intention of marrying.

I've noticed that McMurtry likes to emphasize contrasting characters (Clara and Maggie, Gus and Call) and outcomes (Gus's decision to die rather than amputate his second leg, Call's decision to amputate an arm and a leg to live). This gives readers a lot to consider in each instance.

Also, I admire Captain Scull's grit.
He's approaching Ahumado's territory alone and on foot and he's never felt more alive or been happier in his life.
I can't wait to see how this part of the story plays out! (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 293—at 39%.

(view spoiler)[ The believable factor went down a notch.
Captain Scull just shot Tudwal, but the paint horse (that is described as skittish) that's nearby didn't get spooked. He's able to use the horse for an attempted getaway.
Something else also struck me as unlikely—Tudwal was left alone to secure Captain Skull in the cage. There weren't any other of Ahumado's men within the immediate area to prevent his escape, not even Ahumado himself. Why wouldn't there at least be a couple men waiting to lower the captive over the side of the cliff?
This scene could have been amazing, but instead it's disappointing. (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 409—at 55%.

(view spoiler)[ Long Bill Coleman just committed suicide. That shook me. I'd gotten attached to that character as he'd been a part of the story line for half of the series. I feel terrible for Pearl. It's awful that she felt so violated after being raped by multiple Comanches that she couldn't turn to her husband for physical comfort (though completely understandable, of course).
It's awful that Bill, and other men of that time, thought that their women were permanently soiled and couldn't see them in the same way as before. I can't understand that mindset, because the blame obviously doesn't lie with the women, yet they're punished with abandonment.

Backing up a bit—before that happened, Goyeto removed Captain Scull's eyelids. The ways in which Mexicans, and Native Americans for that matter, found to torture their captives never ceases to shock me. No eyelids—can you imagine? (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 487—at 65%.

(view spoiler)[ Last night, I was comfortably settled and drinking white wine while reading Comanche Moon. I read the part when Therese Wanz shaves and gives haircuts to the rangers. I laughed a great deal! Those who've read this scene know why. Excellent humor.

I must admit, when Ahumado gets bit by a poisonous spider and leaves to die alone it was anti-climactic. There was this great build-up between Ahumado and Captain Scull, and then between Ahumado and Call, Gus, and the rangers, but it's never satisfied. I felt letdown. (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I'm on p. 583—at 78%.

(view spoiler)[The zodiac bit with Gus at the beginning of chapter 11 was pretty funny.

In book 1, Gus was my favorite character. I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much as I did or think as highly of it if not for him.
Having said that, books 3 and 4 don't paint Gus in the same light. True, it's a younger Gus in those stories, but my opinion of him did diminish given his excessive whoring and drinking.
Call, on the other hand, is more accessible in books 3 and 4. I feel I have a far better understanding of him now and although I know exactly how his relationship with Maggie is going to go and how he'll handle his role as father of Newt, I can't help but wish it would go differently, but I know that's not who Call is. He's never wanted a family. He values independence too highly to consider that he might be happier in a different situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Rjs]

Lavan wrote: "I'm on p. 583—at 78%.

The zodiac bit with Gus at the beginning of chapter 11 was pretty funny.

In book 1, Gus was my favorite character. I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much as I did or thin..."

Gus is my favourite character too. However, there is some inconsistency which has always bothered me. In Lonesome Dove Mcmurtry gave us information about Gus's three marriages which were contradicted in Commanche Moon. Did Mcmurtry not check his own creations? It breaks the illusion,

[Lavan, moderator]

Rjs wrote: "Lavan wrote: "I'm on p. 583—at 78%.

The zodiac bit with Gus at the beginning of chapter 11 was pretty funny.

In book 1, Gus was my favorite character. I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much as..."

Is there? I haven't picked up on that, but I still have 131 pages left. It could be that I've forgotten the particulars of Gus's three marriages from Lonesome Dove as I read it Sept. 4-Oct. 13 of last year, about four months ago. I did notice that only two of his brief marriages have been elaborated on, so far.
_______

I'm on p. 614—at 82%.

(view spoiler)[ I'm nearing the end of this book, which is the last in the series (publication order), and can't help but feel that something vital is missing. A lack of excitement, perhaps? It seems as though McMurtry needed to cover certain parts of the overall story for it to make sense in the timeline given Lonesome Dove is the next book chronologically. It doesn't feel fluid to me, but choppy.

Also, he goes overboard in discussing how men beat their women. At this point (if you were somehow unfamiliar before), readers are well aware that men believed that women were inferior and treated them as property during this time period. It's horrible and I don't fault McMurtry for being truthful about this, but it still seems excessive in this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Lavan, moderator]

I finished last night.
This is my least favorite in the Lonesome Dove series.
I'm glad I read all four books and I'll probably reread them again someday, but if I'm being honest—I have mixed feelings about Comanche Moon.
The first 275 pages or so were very good, but the remaining 450+ were just okay with some disappointing parts and the ending left some things unexplained.
A couple that immediately came to mind after I finished reading:
(view spoiler)[ How did Call react when he found out that Maggie died?
I would have also liked to read the scene when the rangers return to Austin to find Newt moved into their bunkhouse, especially Call's reception. (hide spoiler)]

If you love book 1, Lonesome Dove, as I do, then I would recommend reading the entire series once. In my opinion, it's worth the time, but book 1 is so extraordinary that it does work well as a stand-alone too.