Last September I read Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer's Craft, by Natalie Goldberg, and in it she mentioned Leaving Cheyenne by Larry McMurtry a few times. Now, I cannot remember exactly the context, what McMurtry did particularly well with the novel, whether it was a sense of place, an insight into character, or relevance of plot, but I made a mental note that I wanted to read the book, got a copy, and was delighted to discover that its publication in 1962 rendered it eligible for a Back to the Classics challenge book.
I assumed that Leaving Cheyenne would take place in Wyoming, but no, it's set in rural Texas, closest big town is Wichita Falls, near the Oklahoma border, around 1900 to 1950s. It's dry, dusty, bleak, and barren. The wind blows and life is not easy.
The story is told in three parts, with each of the three main characters telling part of the story. Gid, short for Gideon, is a rancher's son in love with Molly Taylor, a free-spirited, lovely daughter of the neighborhood drunk, and best friends with Johnny McCloud, a cowboy with no aspirations other than to be the best cowboy around. Johnny is, of course, also in love with Mollly.
Gid's story consumes about half of the novel, and picks up the story of the threesome when they are nineteen. Gid is a hard worker, who plays by the rules, and is ruled by his conscience and code of ethics that together form a straitjacket around his life.
Molly continues the story of the three friends later in life, after they have all lost loved ones in WWII, and are facing an uncertain middle age. She is the anchor to both Gid and Johnny, giving them love and support when they need it, but not compromising her own need to be her own person.
Finally, Johnny tells of their old age, when they are wearing out and yet struggling to reconcile the desires and dreams of their youth. Despite Johnny's lack of ambition, I found him endearing in his understanding and acceptance of himself as he is.
It is a good book--the setting and characters and the way they affect and influence each other over time is poignant and memorable. I'm not sure it is a great book, and I'm still not sure why Natalie Goldberg promoted it in her own book, but it was a treat to read and think about.
I'm counting it in the Back to the Classics challenge as my genre book.
Super review. This sounds very good. The characters sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteBooks that cover lifetime friendships are interesting to me. As I get older I am seeing lifelong friendships pay out so it is an interesting topic for me.
Hi Jane, What a coincidence. I am rereading Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg right now. I never finished her book the first time I read it years ago but I was very impressed with what I did read. Larry McMurty a fine writer too. i just have to find the right book for me of his to read.
ReplyDeleteI searched for Cheyenne in Goldberg's book on my kindle, and found a few references. It was recommended to Natalie by her friend Elissa, and she in turn recommended it to another friend. Leaving Cheyenne was listed in her Appendix of "Books I Love." No analysis of it that I could find--simply that it was an early work of Mcmurtry's (age 23) and eclipsed by later books. Glad you liked it too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the research, Lucy. The Goldberg book we read was a library copy, so I was thinking of checking it back out and trying to find the reference. Now I don’t have to!
DeleteI've only read Lonesome Dove by McMurtry which was amazing...though I might have started Evening Star (the sequel to Terms of Endearment) at some point in my life. Before goodreads, I didn't keep track of what I read! Leaving Cheyenne sounds like a winner. I'm putting it on my list! :D
ReplyDeleteYes Goodreads has helped me place my reading in time--before it was usually just a vague timeline of reading.
DeleteI need to read Lonesome Dove plain & simple .... McMurtry seems like an amazing storyteller.
ReplyDeleteI do too--it's been so long since I read that book. I would also like to read The Last Picture Show.
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