I got started re-reading the Lonesome Dove books in chronological order. I finished Deadman's Walk and I'm moving on to Comanche Moon. Deadman's Walk was my least favorite of the four books and reading again reminded me why. Gus and Call are the main characters, but they don't drive the events in the story. If I wasn't already interested in them from the other books I'd probably wonder why McMurtry keeps talking about them.

Other random thoughts from reading Deadman's Walk…

Neither Gus or Call reminds me of anyone I know, but I know people act like Gus sometimes and like Call at other times. I wonder if McMurtry considered them two sides of one personality, especially since we know they go on to share command in the next two books.

I remembered the book as being split about half and half between the trip out to New Mexico and the trip back to Texas. I was surprised to find that the trip back was a short epilogue. I guess I remembered it as longer because there are some extremely vivid, unforgettable images in those pages. I had also forgotten that Gus and Call start out as a couple homeless street kids in Austin.

Sounds like they've some first-class talent lined up for Boone's Lick. Should be a good movie.
- Phil