[.ca] Telegraph Days: A Novel (ISBN 0743476913)

McMurtry's attempts to destroy the western myth, only seem to make it stronger!:
I have always been a big fan of McMurtry's western novels, though his most recent efforts have not been his best. MrMurtry likes to tell us he is demythologize the west, yet his best books seem to resonate with readers because they have the exact opposite effect. Folks loved "Lonesome Dove" because it gave them every thing they wanted in a western (the myth) and more. In "Telegraph days" we are shown the final days of the frontier (when most of these myths were born) and we are introduced to Nellie Courtright, a telegraph operator in Rita Blanca, in the then outlaw territory of Oklahoma. Nellie's fortunes change when she writes a dime novel about her younger brother single handedly wiping out a gang of desperate outlaws (something he did do, but only through dumb luck). The story follows Nellie's life as she meets many of the iconic figures of the American west from Buffalo Bill to Wyatt Earp (Even witnessing the shoot out at the OK Corral, and of course McMurtry puts his spin on this very mythic event of the old west!). As in his best works McMurtry deftly mixes humor with a sadness for things past, that in the end only seems to create his own myth of the west-one I enjoyed very much! If you like McMurtry, Check out "Across the High Lonesome" a modern day western that I purchased after seeing McMurtry had given the book high marks----and he was right, great story!

Tongue in Cheek Look at the Old West:
Westerns have always been morality tales. Black hats and white hats fight it out to civilize the frontier. Sometimes the identities shift as the black hats become wealthy ranchers trying to keep farmers (white hats) off range land. The ladies of joy are always treated with respect, even if they don't sleep on the right side of the bed covers. After all, women deserve respect. Larry McMurtry continues his look at strong, unconventional women in the West by creating an unforgettable character, Nellie Cartwright, who is bigger than the West. While some will compare her to Tasmin Berrybender, Tasmin is a weak reed compared to Nellie. Nellie comes from a fine Virginia family that has fallen on hard times after her father chooses to head West . . . a place where he's not well equipped to thrive. Nellie takes her brother, Jackson, into town to start a new life after their father "suicided himself". Nellie has an eye for men, but they have a bigger yen for her than she usually has for them. Nellie does, however, enjoy a good toss in the hay with an appealing and energetic man of her choice. Nellie persuades the local sheriff, who proposes marriage early and often, to take on Jackson as a deputy despite his inexperience. Jackson soon proves his worth and becomes a legend for wiping out six gunfighters. Ironically, Jackson proves to be a poor shot for the rest of his life. Nellie decides to earn her keep by becoming the local telegrapher. She soon has messages heading all over the West. Mr. McMurtry uses Nellie to pop illusions about Western characters as he sends her all over just in time to meet many of the most famous people. She works for Buffalo Bill. One of the Earp brothers proposes to her. She meets Billy the Kid. She travels to Tombstone just in time for the shootout at the O.K. Corral. After the West is over, she also travels in movie circles as the legends are born on the silver screen. The book's plot seems very contrived which is its weakness. Nellie's unique qualities and deeply practical orientation serve as a breath of fresh air in the Western genre. Since I love character development so much, I found Telegraph Days to be a fun read. Mr. McMurtry's sense of humor is strong, and you'll find yourself chuckling along with him. Should we take this book seriously? Not really. Instead, Telegraph Days should caution us about our need to make people into more than they are . . . a lesson that still applies today.