A short little book, short little chapters, a slight read. The book got savaged in reviews when it came out, but I enjoyed it. I identify with Duane and his late life crisis. He comes back from a trip to Egypt to find a new young secretary in his office, and the book revolves around his involvement with her and with his psychiatrist. A lot of raunchy sex--although that's not quite right since he has a lot of trouble with his arousal. It is an old man's fantasy, I guess, and it really leaves Duane disoriented. On top of it, he has heart problems and ends with open heart surgery. And he's still depressed, but there's something appealing about the dysfunction that is his life, his family, his friendships, and his towns. Probably Roth does a lot better in this territory, but then he's not nearly as funny as McMurtry. Parts of the book, even or especially when Ruth Popper dies, made me laugh out loud. Honor hits the nail on the head when she tells him that he never let anyone, including Karla, come close to him in his life, and maybe that's what makes him all the more appealing to me. In any case, I had to finish the book before I could move on to Rhino Ranch, which the reviews say brings the whole Thalia saga to a close.
Author: McMurtry, Larry
Date Published: 2007
Length: 195 pp
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