The Last Picture Show

Thalia Trilogy, Book 1

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: John Randolph Jones

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

An almost-true story about a small town in Texas that ought to exist if it doesn’t, with characters like Sam the Lion, the delectable Jacy, and Ruth Popper, the coach’s wife. Set in a small, dusty, Texas town, The Last Picture Show introduced the characters of Jacy, Duane, and Sonny: teenagers stumbling toward adulthood, discovering the beguiling mysteries of sex and the even more baffling mysteries of love. Populated by a wonderful cast of eccentrics and animated by McMurtry's wry and raucous humor, The Last Picture Show is a wild, heartbreaking, and poignant novel that resonates with the magical passion of youth.

©1966 Larry McMurtry (P)1989 Recorded Books

Perfect complement to the movie

Would you listen to The Last Picture Show again? Why?

Yes. Saw the movie (again) recently after having seen it when it first came out. The DVD had an interview with the Producer, Peter Bogdanovich, in which he revealed that he had to cut the movie down in order to please the movie company. He regretted this and that led me to download the book to see what was missing. I highly recommend seeing the movie first, then read/listen to the book. They complement each other in that you will have a visualization of the movie characters who were all excellent. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a story as much as this one. What a wonderful writer!

What other book might you compare The Last Picture Show to and why?

American Graffiti comes to mind even though it wasn't a book. I suppose if you grew up in the 60's or late 50's as I did, it makes it all that more enjoyable to be able to relate to those moments in the both The Last Picture Show and American Graffiti..

What about John Randolph Jones’s performance did you like?

Perfect! In fact, I will probably listen to several more that he has narrated just to listen to his great delivery and performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both! The characters were painted with such richness almost like an artist painting.

Any additional comments?

If you have seen the movie way back when, see it again. Then listen to the Audible version. It's like eating chocolate cake and washing it down with a glass of cold milk.

Riveting

I got this title because I am a huge fan of Lonesome Dove, and hoped to get more of that.
At first, I was mildly interested in what this very (seemingly) vile cast of characters might do next, but, by the halfway mark, I was, and am, haunted by the goings on in this old Texas town.
One thing that put me off was the many sex scenes; some very gross. Looking back, they had to be told somehow in order to tell this story.
Another thing that also sometimes turns me off is the third person omniscient POV. Looking back, again, it’s nice to have everyone’s thoughts just right there together so the whole picture is understood, and there is no mystery.
There are no protagonists. These characters just “are”, and I think that will resonate with a lot of listeners. No doubt, some of them will remind you of actual people you know, and events you’ve experienced in your own life.
The narrator sounds great. He does add in certain accents that bring the story to life in your ear.

Still a great book

Although the setting- rural Texas in the 1950's- is distant, the stories of adolescence, and the difficulties in growing up and moving on are universal. The writing is impeccable and always interesting. Even, and maybe especially, adults have difficulties with transitions.

Expected more of an overall plot line

McMurtry is great at character development, but I didn’t find that this story developed and went anywhere.

Was looking for more than a soap opera

After reading the Lonesome Dove series I hoped for more from this book but was a bit disappointed. It really was a small town soap opera with a few interesting things thrown in. Not at all what I remember growing up In a small Texas town. He also talked about "ragweeds" blowing and rolling across the road. Not sure if he was talking about tumbleweeds or broomweed, but ragweed doesn't do that. That and a couple of other inconsistencies made me wonder if he had ever really even been to Texas, much less grew up here. Kind of surprising, but I'll chalk it up to growing up in a different era. I would have rated lower but I did get interested in hearing out all the stories to the end.

McMurtry is a great storyteller

Had never read the book just seen the movie. McMurtry is a master storyteller and captures his characters and the scenery so well.

Another Texas Story

This was recommended as a read after I finished “All The Pretty Horses.” The reader read the story much like Jack Webb would have. For all the hype I’ve heard over the years about this story, it was just okay.

Small town Texas...

This book is the truth about small town Texas and the people who grew up there. It was definitely one of the racier books that I have read by McMurtry. Although it left me blushing several times, it was still honest. The truth about small towns is that you escape or you die there, sometimes quickly and other times slowly, both being equally tragic......

Struggles

McMurtry so clearly creates realistic characters and, here, thee struggle between the blinders of youth and the desperate realities of adult life between the poles of joy and despair

The theme of decay and the inevitability of passing time

Characters, description of life in windswept Texas, how people don’t realize what they liove intil it’s too late