Boone's Lick

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Boone's Lick is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry's triumphant return to the kind of story that made him famous - an enthralling tale of the 19th-century West. McMurtry brings his unique blend of historical fact and sheer storytelling genius to the Cecil family's arduous journey from Boone's Lick, Missouri, to Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming. Fifteen-year-old Shay describes the journey that begins when his Ma, Mary Margaret, decides to hunt down her elusive husband, Dick, to tell him she's leaving him.

The family sets out across the plains in search of him, encountering grizzly bears, stormy weather, and hostile Indians as they go. With them are Shay's siblings G.T., Neva, and Baby Marcy, Shay's uncle Seth, his Granpa Crackenthorpe, and Mary Margaret's beautiful half-sister Rose. During their journey they pick up a bare-footed priest named Father Villy, and a Snake Indian named Charlie Seven Days, and persuade them to come along.

Boone's Lick is high adventure, a perfect Western tale and a moving love story - it is vintage McMurtry, combining his brilliant character portraits, his unerring sense of the West and his unrivalled eye for the telling detail.

©2000 Larry McMurtry, All Rights Reserved (P)2000 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

Nominee for Audio Publishers Association 2001 Audie Award, Solo Narration - Male

"A zany performance of a zany story." (AudioFile)

simply amazing

a simple story that follows a family across the west. hilarious and exciting. fill danger and comedy.

Boone's Lick

A great story by a great story teller. McMurtry's writing puts you in the wagon, on the trail.

Absolutely wonderful.

another great western story.. worth the credit. sadness and adventure all in one. just the way i like them

Splendid story telling!

This is a splendid telling of yet another wonderful, colorful story by author Larry McMurtry. There is a precarious balance of dry, very human, matter-of-fact humor and of horrific tragedy that caused me to spontaneously think of the Greek masks that symbolize comedy and tragedy. McMurtry weaves these concepts masterfully.

Nice story

I love having Will Patton read to me as I knit. type four more words.

Okay, but not great

Lonesome Dove this book is not. It is okay, pretty good, but not great. The story was good enough that it shocked me to find myself already at the end of the book, but it was such an abrupt ending... seemed there should have been more to the story.

A great story made real by brilliant narration

Both voracious readers, my husband suggested that I might like Larry McMurtry's books; he was right as usual. I chose Boone's Lick to start because as an audio-book addict, I especially like to listen to the brilliant narration of Will Patton (check out his other works as he is the best narrator I listen to....) Boone's Lick captured my interest from the beginning as McMurtry's characters are engaging and intriguing. Patton brings each to life with their unique personalities as he gives a distinctive voice to every character. I can't wait to listen to more McMurtry and will keep looking for Patton's narrations.

McMurtry on autopilot

Don't expect the power of Lonesome Dove. McMurtry is like Stephen King and others-- sometimes he is stunning, sometimes he seems to put it in autopilot. Here, he recreates the West entertainingly, and that is what this novel is-- enertaining. If you want depth, look elsewhere. In fact, I was hoping the worst for many of the central protagonists, especially the self-righteous, stereotypically Midwestern "Ma". Annoying also was the too-heavy country drawl of the narrator. A confusing aspect is the inclusion of Wild Bill Hickock, who just suddenly disappears like a side thought, much the way television brings in a character to a successful show briefly in order to do a spin-off. Still it is what it is, and it is always a joy to visit his version of the Wild West.

Terrific

Wonderful book with the best narration of any audio book I’ve listened to. McMurtry will be sorely missed.

Overall

Loved it all. 15 words are not adequate to describe my enjoyment. But that’s only 12?