Rating: 
Summary: funny until the last three chapters, which will depress you.
Review: i laughed the whole way through this book. uncontrollably. it's beautiful how he just rambles about what's going on in danny's head & his character descriptions are great. the last 3 chapters, though, depressed me so much i could barely talk the rest of the day. but it's very introspective and intelligent. i highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: This is NOT a western!!!
Review: I once read somewhere that, early in his career, Larry McMurtry use to wear a sweatshirt with "Minor Regional Novelist" printed on the front, a kind of self-imposed literary scarlet letter. But whereas Hester Prynne used her talents as a seamstress to transform her scarlet letter into an individual work of art, McMurtry decided to turn his back on regionalism, the basis of his first three novels, and to write about urban Texas and Texans. The resulting so called "Urban Trilogy" (of which this novel is the middle work) tells the story of several young Texans who try to balance school, sex, careers and wanderlust during the decade of the Sixties. The first of these urban novels (Moving On) was a huge rambling affair, ill conceived and poorly written, and although this novel is better, it is still weak when compared to McMurtry's first three novels.McMurtry's story of the young author, Danny Deck, deals with writing and the various pitfalls of becoming and remaining a writer. Clearly, the author sees himself in Danny and when the book deals with Danny's personal insights into the writing process it is successful. Unfortunately, too much of the book is given to unreal characters, unreal situations and tries to become a kind of Texan "On the Road". Danny Deck (and Larry McMurtry) is no Jack Kerouac. Even McMurtry's sense of place falls apart once he is outside his native Texas, and the scenes set in California are as artificial as some of the plastic grass that often serves as lawn out there. Throughout the book, McMurtry has Danny ponder the role of the Texan frontier in his own life as well as how it affects the creative process. It seems as if McMurtry (and Danny) knows that this is the important issue and that this is what he should be writing about, but instead falls prey to the lure of Sixties bohemianism, casual sex (I'm sure with a few more pages McMurtry would have gotten Danny and his eighty year old aunt into bed), and trite plot twists. Too bad. Because that part of the novel set at Uncle Laredo's ranch is very good, almost becoming a short story in its economy of words and bare as bone style. The scene of the two aging cowboys tending the watchfire for the possible return of Emiliano Zapata is haunting and is by far the more memorable thing about this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A good dose of Texan angst.
Review: I once read somewhere that, early in his career, Larry McMurtry use to wear a sweatshirt with "Minor Regional Novelist" printed on the front, a kind of self-imposed literary scarlet letter. But whereas Hester Prynne used her talents as a seamstress to transform her scarlet letter into an individual work of art, McMurtry decided to turn his back on regionalism, the basis of his first three novels, and to write about urban Texas and Texans. The resulting so called "Urban Trilogy" (of which this novel is the middle work) tells the story of several young Texans who try to balance school, sex, careers and wanderlust during the decade of the Sixties. The first of these urban novels (Moving On) was a huge rambling affair, ill conceived and poorly written, and although this novel is better, it is still weak when compared to McMurtry's first three novels. McMurtry's story of the young author, Danny Deck, deals with writing and the various pitfalls of becoming and remaining a writer. Clearly, the author sees himself in Danny and when the book deals with Danny's personal insights into the writing process it is successful. Unfortunately, too much of the book is given to unreal characters, unreal situations and tries to become a kind of Texan "On the Road". Danny Deck (and Larry McMurtry) is no Jack Kerouac. Even McMurtry's sense of place falls apart once he is outside his native Texas, and the scenes set in California are as artificial as some of the plastic grass that often serves as lawn out there. Throughout the book, McMurtry has Danny ponder the role of the Texan frontier in his own life as well as how it affects the creative process. It seems as if McMurtry (and Danny) knows that this is the important issue and that this is what he should be writing about, but instead falls prey to the lure of Sixties bohemianism, casual sex (I'm sure with a few more pages McMurtry would have gotten Danny and his eighty year old aunt into bed), and trite plot twists. Too bad. Because that part of the novel set at Uncle Laredo's ranch is very good, almost becoming a short story in its economy of words and bare as bone style. The scene of the two aging cowboys tending the watchfire for the possible return of Emiliano Zapata is haunting and is by far the more memorable thing about this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I read this book when I was 23 and found it profounding, educational & entertaining. It made a huge impact on my life at the time. Every young man looking for a direction in life should read about Danny Deck. A great read and the best book I ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit of a disappointment.
Review: I was hoping for more of that "laugh-out-loud" type of humor that "Texasville" was so filled with, but not this time. This one was interesting, but sad.
Rating:
Summary: This is NOT a western!!!
Review: One of the best books ever written. This is McMurtry at his finest. I have missed Danny Deck (main character) since I read the last line of this novel. This is the first McMurtry book I ever read. I later read every fictional book he wrote just to hear his "voice" again. This says volumes seeing that I normally have no interest in western genre; but I'll read the western ones because I grow to care for his characters as they dance off of the pages. After reading this book you should also read Terms of Endearment, Evening Star and Moving On for some of the same characters. This book really should become a film. I would cast Johnny Depp as Danny Deck. Thank you Mr. McMurtry!!!
Rating:
Summary: An Exploration in Down-and-Out
Review: The book is about an up-and-coming writer who can't keep his pants zipped up. He wanders from bed to bed, even sleeping with his best friend's wife. I did enjoy the scene when Danny visits old Uncle Laredo, an onery, almost decrepit man who slices the throats of goats without a second thought. But much of the book was hum-drum and even quite depressing, especially toward the end of the book. Danny wanders from place to place, trying, struggling, to find happiness, but never does. If you want a lesson on how to be unhappy, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: This one will get you rolling!
Review: This is a fun one, especially on audio tape. The dialogue is hilarious, and you get involved in the pitifulness of the main character. Buy it!!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books of all time-
Review: This is a little journey through Americana by way of the protagonist, Danny. He bumbles his way through life and does little right except write a novel and see it published. He also sees his life changing in ways he doesn't like or understand. He lives by his own code but that doesn't always jive with the rest of the world. He's impulsive and sensitive and if you aren't in love with him by the 4th chapter, put this book down. This is a very quick read. I read most of it on a flight to New York and finished it on the way back.
Rating: 
Summary: smitty... : /
Review: This is just a romance novel with a moral.
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