Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
The sequel to McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove . (Apr.)
Library Journal
Woodrow Call is 20 years older than he was when he buried Gus at the end of Lonesome Dove (Audio Reviews, LJ 2/15/93); too old, perhaps, to track down a brilliant young Mexican bandit who has been terrorizing most of the Texas frontier. With two untrained deputies, plus his aging old corporal, Pea-Eye, Call leads a chase that scatters bodies all along the border. This sequel to Lonesome Dove could easily have been a typical action-packed Western; instead, it is distinguished by two unusual female characters--Lorena from Lonesome Dove and a strong Mexican woman named Maria--who fight for respect and decency in the face of unrelieved chauvinism and violence so typical of the West at that time. Daniel von Bargen recounts it all in a superb dramatic narration, one that does full justice to his reputation as an accomplished stage and film actor. As a welcome bonus the publishers have appended information about all the technical staff responsible for the production. Less welcome, though, is the lightweight packaging that will not survive many circulations in a busy library.-- Jo Carr, Sarasota, Fla.
From the Publisher
"Streets of Laredo is a splendid addition to the literary portrait of McMurtry's native Texas and the West that he has been creating for three decades. It's also one of his most affectingly melancholy books. . . . The characters are as finely etched as any McMurtry has ever minted."—Newsweek
"Gorgeous . . . violent, funny, achingly sad, filled with heroism and regret . . . If you can put Streets of Laredo down, I'll eat my ten-gallon hat."—Cosmopolitan
"A marvelous novel in its own right and in every way a worthy successor to Lonesome Dove."—Chicago Tribune
"One of McMurtry's most powerful and moving achievements."—Los Angeles Times
"Larry McMurtry remains a genius at dialogue. The scene where the seven whores start reminiscing about the first men in their lives in wonderful."—New York Times Book Review
"Larry McMurtry is a wonderful storyteller, and with . . . Streets of Laredo. . . he has written a novel that is even better than the original—and that was one hell of a tale."—Boston Globe
“Streets of Laredo is here and all that needs to be said is this: Hallelujah. . . . McMurtry has taken us back to the glory days of Lonesome Dove. . . .”—Los Angeles Daily News
DEC 93 - AudioFile
If you combine McMurtry’s listenable style, a compelling storyline about the search for an evil young bandit, and sometimes terrifying characters--the result is eminently suitable for audio. Several characters have aged considerably since we last saw them in Lonesome Dove, and narrator Daniel von Bargen reflects the passage of time by using the voice of an elderly man. His unhurried, plain-speaking delivery is consistent with the Texas and Mexican settings of the story. His skillful interpretation of Spanish and American accents is flawless; his differentiation of characters is sensitive and consistent. While somewhat violent, this program is superbly produced. S.K. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine
