My foot's in the stirrup, My pony won't stand; Goodbye, old partner, I'm leaving Cheyenne.
-- Old cowboy song
Leaving Cheyenne, Larry McMurtry's second novel, traces the loves of three West Texas characters as they follow that sundown trail: Gideon Fry, the serious rancher; Johnny McCloud, the free-spirited cowhand; and Molly Taylor, the sensitive woman they both love and who bears them each a son. Tragic circumstances mark the trail but McMurtry's style never turns melodramatic or sentimental.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
A Master Storyteller Struts His Stuff:
To readers of this space it is no surprise that I am reviewing a Larry McMurtry novel. I have "discovered" this little Texas gem of an author recently (although I knew of him and some of his work earlier). Naturally, once I get "high" on an author I tend to read everything that I can get my hands on. A partial reason for that is that the number of fiction writers who hold my attention is rather limited, but mainly I like to see the high and low sides of the writer's career so that I can revel in the... more info
Authentic writing:
This is pre-Hollywood McMurtry and, I feel, his best. He can make you laugh and cry, but this novel does more. It helps me understand my grandmother & grandfather more (Crockett County, Texas ranchers) and is a wonderful glimpse at a life so different from current American pop culture. I read Anna Karenina and was struck by how similar the issues discussed in the book were to contemporary issues half a world away. I read Leaving Cheyenne and am struck by how different my values and lifestlye are... more info
Very pleasing early McMurtry:
Since I already have read just about every one of McMurtry's books I'm going back to the early books. This one is a fine composition based on three lives forever bound together by the warm and enigmatic female of the trio, Molly. McMurty, with his flair for the unusual, paints an original picture of an unlikely relationship that could only happen in real life. McMurtry treads where writers fear to go, always creating unique characters to unveil the complexities of the human condition. I couldn't help but... more info
Engaging:
These characters were at least engaging enough for me to finish the book. The first McMurtry I'd read in many years was "Duane's Depressed" and I loved it. Totally engaging. So I tried this as a follow-up and it's not as good but worth a read.
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