Helpful Score: 3
This is a gem of a book, reminiscent of Mark Twain in its understated humor and wry look at human nature. Sixteen-year-old Shay Cecil is uprooted from the life he's known when his mother, Mary Margaret, decides to uproot her brood and go in search of her "travelin' man" husband. Along the way, they meet a variety of characters, and Shay learns a lot more about life in general and his family in particular than he ever expected to know.
Helpful Score: 1
from the back cover, "Probably his best 'western' since Lonesome Dove.
Helpful Score: 1
In the backwater town of Boone's Lick, Missouri, Mary Margaret has finally had it with her ne'er-do-well husband, Dickie - whose job supplying forts along the Oregon Trail gives him ample opportunity to be swayed out of his wedding vows. Determined to set things aright, she collects her children - along with the rest of her cantankerous kin - and makes her way West on a comic journey of epic proportions. Encountering every peril of life on the trail, Mary Margaret is about to show them all why hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
This is without a doubt one of McMurtry's best novels, right on a par with Lonesome Dove. You won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.
I really liked this book. A very strong willed and determined woman travels across the wild countryside looking for her husband.
Very Good, A good ride.
In the Old West, killers, scalpers, gunslingers, and backstabbers ruled the land without fear, confident they were the most dangerous people on the prairie. Then Mary Margaret showed up with her kids and she is about to show them all why hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
In the Old West, killers, scalpers, gunslingers, and backstabbers ruled the land without fear, confident they were the most dangerous people on the prairie. Then Mary Margaret showed up with her kids. Encountering every peril of life on the trail, Mary Margaret is about to show them all why hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
In the backwater town of Boone's Lick, Missouri, Mary has finally had it with her husband, Dickie--whose job supplying forts along the Oregon Trail gives him ample opportunity to be swayed out of wedding vows. Determined to se thing aright, she collects her children--along with the rest of her kin--and makes her West on a comic jouney of epic proportions. Incourtering every peril of life on the trial, Mary is about to show them all why hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Not as prolific as Lonesome Dove,but funny and interesting just the same.
Larry McMurtry is one of my favorite authors. He can spin a yarn with such rich characters who evoke humor and pathos at the same time.
Not my usual book to read, but it was really good. very readable...
Love it want to read the whole series!
Larry McMurtry is a very good writer. This story of a woman who tires of her husbands long absences (years at a time) from supplying forts along the Oregon trail. ( He's a little bit of a ne'er do well.) She gathers up her family, goes West to find him.
Excellent book. This is the first book I've read by this author but I will read more.
Enjoyed this book very much. It has been a while since I read it and can't remember too much about it, other than it was interesting and a fast read.
Larry McMurty returns to the Old West in a fast moving, comic tale about a women determined to conquer anything that stands in teh way of an ultimate confrontation with her wayward husband.