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Brian's Reviews > Moving On
Moving On
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“Monogamy must have been invented for dumps like Amarillo.� (4.5 stars)
This is my forth Larry McMurtry novel, my introductory experience being his masterpiece “Lonesome Dove�, which I read last year. “Moving On� is the only book of the other three that has come close to “Dove�. This 800-page novel is mainly from the point of view of Patsy Carpenter, a young Texan woman of education and moderate wealth. Occasionally McMurtry shifts the POV to another character, and I enjoyed the fact that in this long novel the focus shifts when it needs to. It speaks highly of the author’s skill.
“Moving On� is a novel about a relationship. Frustration grips the reader as we watch two people (whose feelings for each other I am still unsure about) as they make life more difficult because of an unwillingness to communicate honestly with each other. The marriage of Jim and Patsy Carpenter is rendered in an artful and interesting manner. McMurtry portrays (without prejudice, another stunning feat) some of the ugliness that a long-term relationship automatically engenders without negating the importance of such relationships. It does not sound like fun reading but I was consistently engaged throughout this book.
Lines like these below will resonate with any reader who has been in a committed long-term relationship, and fought for it. Some last, some do not. I recognized a lot of moments in this book. Some of them I did not want to admit I knew.
* “I want what I want, by god, and I don’t think it’s fair that I should want any less.�
* “When disappointment first began to dawn she tried to hide it from herself. She tried very hard to be in love. Sex was her way of trying and it seemed, for a time, that it might be a sufficient way.�
* “It’s been my observation that resentment lasts longer than love.�
The Dickensian cast of characters swirl around the central couple, creating a dizzying six degrees of separation, and an achingly human world in this novel.
One of my favorite characters, an old rancher, says at one point; “Yeah, a lot happens in a lifetime.� I could not have said it better myself.
This is my forth Larry McMurtry novel, my introductory experience being his masterpiece “Lonesome Dove�, which I read last year. “Moving On� is the only book of the other three that has come close to “Dove�. This 800-page novel is mainly from the point of view of Patsy Carpenter, a young Texan woman of education and moderate wealth. Occasionally McMurtry shifts the POV to another character, and I enjoyed the fact that in this long novel the focus shifts when it needs to. It speaks highly of the author’s skill.
“Moving On� is a novel about a relationship. Frustration grips the reader as we watch two people (whose feelings for each other I am still unsure about) as they make life more difficult because of an unwillingness to communicate honestly with each other. The marriage of Jim and Patsy Carpenter is rendered in an artful and interesting manner. McMurtry portrays (without prejudice, another stunning feat) some of the ugliness that a long-term relationship automatically engenders without negating the importance of such relationships. It does not sound like fun reading but I was consistently engaged throughout this book.
Lines like these below will resonate with any reader who has been in a committed long-term relationship, and fought for it. Some last, some do not. I recognized a lot of moments in this book. Some of them I did not want to admit I knew.
* “I want what I want, by god, and I don’t think it’s fair that I should want any less.�
* “When disappointment first began to dawn she tried to hide it from herself. She tried very hard to be in love. Sex was her way of trying and it seemed, for a time, that it might be a sufficient way.�
* “It’s been my observation that resentment lasts longer than love.�
The Dickensian cast of characters swirl around the central couple, creating a dizzying six degrees of separation, and an achingly human world in this novel.
One of my favorite characters, an old rancher, says at one point; “Yeah, a lot happens in a lifetime.� I could not have said it better myself.
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Lynn
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rated it 5 stars
May 27, 2020 11:19PM
With Lonesome Dove, my favorite Larry McMurtry novel.
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Great review. It feels like many of my GR friends are reading McMurtry. I'll have to make sure I read something by him. Have you got a favourite?
Two very good books Lynn!Lynn wrote: "With Lonesome Dove, my favorite Larry McMurtry novel."
Thanks Bianca! I loved "Lonesome Dove". Loved it! On so many levels, just a great book. Long, but worth it.Bianca wrote: "Great review. It feels like many of my GR friends are reading McMurtry. I'll have to make sure I read something by him. Have you got a favourite?"
Great review! I love your comments about the writing and structure in addition to the story. Well done!
Thank you Barbara. Structure is a huge part of a book's success for me. And I feel it was very key to this book's strengths.Barbara wrote: "Great review! I love your comments about the writing and structure in addition to the story. Well done!"
Excellent review, Brian. Loved Lonesome Dove.
Thanks Paula. This is a good book that deserves more attention!Paula wrote: "Excellent review, Brian. Loved Lonesome Dove."
Much appreciated Fran. It is a good book. Took me in so unexpectedly.Fran wrote: "Stellar review, Brian!"
Excellent review Brian! I should put this on my wish list.
Thank you Melanie. If you like a long character driven story, this is it. It reminds me a lot of Dickens.Melanie wrote: "Excellent review Brian! I should put this on my wish list."
I've never read anything by McMurtry, but your excellent review has me anxious to read this one. Thanks!
That is awesome to hear Jacque. It is not one of his most appreciated, and it should be. My ŷ friend Julie brought it to my attention.And thank you!
Jacque wrote: "I've never read anything by McMurtry, but your excellent review has me anxious to read this one. Thanks!"
Great review Brian, I, like so many others, loved Lonesome Dove. Youve piqued my interest in this one.
Appreciate that Blair. DOVE is one of my all time favorites, but I enjoyed this one. If you get to it, I hope you like it!Blair wrote: "Great review Brian, I, like so many others, loved Lonesome Dove. Youve piqued my interest in this one."
Thank you sir. I will.Andrew wrote: "keep it up"
When disappointment first began to dawn she tried to hide it from herself.Oh, Larry. You're a mind reader.
Thanks for spreading the love here, Brian. This book deserves far more attention than it gets. Five stars: hell, yes.
Sure thing Julie. It does deserve more readers!And thanks for introducing me to it!
Julie wrote: "When disappointment first began to dawn she tried to hide it from herself.
Oh, Larry. You're a mind reader.
Thanks for spreading the love here, Brian. This book deserves far more attention than i..."
Brian, keep reading his works. I have nearly all of his novels and some non-fiction works. I’m from small town east Texas, after reading Leaving Cheyenne, I missed the characters because these are similar to the people in my home town. I just finished reading Some Can Whistle and gained a new appreciation for the story. I read it as a young 20-something and had no appreciation for the story. It was so interesting to read it again years later. Loved it. LM is one of favorite authors, the characters are all interesting and quirky and real.
Thanks, Frida! I have read 7 of his novels now, and have many more on my "to read" pile. I have not gotten to his nonfiction yet, but I intend to. I am turning into quite a fan.You are absolutely right about his characters, they are so real! Which is why I love them. LEAVING CHEYENNE was one of my best reads last year. Loved it!
I am a late bloomer of McMurtry's. I read him for the first time 2 years ago.
Frida wrote: "Brian, keep reading his works. I have nearly all of his novels and some non-fiction works. I’m from small town east Texas, after reading Leaving Cheyenne, I missed the characters because these are ..."
“It does not sound like fun reading but I was consistently engaged throughout this book.� What a perfect way of describing my experience with this novel also! Thank you for your beautiful review Brian. I finished Moving On earlier this week and am looking forward to the next in McMurtry’s Houston series. I’ll definitely read Lonesome Dove one day also. I loved this novel very much!!
Thanks for your kind words, Janette. I have not read the rest of the Houston series, but I will. McMurtry ahs become one of my favorite authors.DOVE is amazing! You will not be disappointed.
Janette wrote: "“It does not sound like fun reading but I was consistently engaged throughout this book.� What a perfect way of describing my experience with this novel also! Thank you for your beautiful review Br..."
I read Lonesome Dove in 2021 and it was one of the best books I have ever read. It was the first McMurtry book I read and I am now realizing that nothing else he has written is likely to approach the greatness of that particular novel. I just finished Terms of Endearment and I did not hate it but I did not like it. I had already bought Moving On, which comes a couple of books before ToD in the Houston series and when I finished ToD I immediately worried I had made a huge mistake in getting Moving On. But your review has made me decided to keep it and read it at some point. :) I think starting with Lonesome Dove simply set me up for expectations which will never be met, so I will have to let go of them!
If you get to it I hope you like it, Jennifer. DOVE is hard to beat. I have read quite a bit of McMurtry now (DOVE was my first book of his as well) and you are right, it is heads and shoulders above the others. You have to separate them, and take them on their own terms.Jennifer wrote: "I read Lonesome Dove in 2021 and it was one of the best books I have ever read. It was the first McMurtry book I read and I am now realizing that nothing else he has written is likely to approach t..."
