An icon of American letters, Larry McMurtry counts a Pulitzer Prize and a screenwriting Academy Award among his numerous accomplishments. Here, Danny Deck-Emma's friend from Terms of Endearment-is a promising young writer losing touch with his talent and drifting from Texas to California because "that's where all the writers are." Set in the early 1960s, this is an uproarious (and raunchy) satire of life in Texas and California and a true American portrait of an artist as a young man.
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"A continuing trend: I am in this very odd emotional hang over time and these books that apply so well to where I'm at, what I'm thinking, etc keep finding me. I'm beginning to feel like I live my life through books or something. This read was a suggestion from a new friend. "
— Dominic (4 out of 5 stars)
" This book reminded me a little of On the Road even though it's been years since I've read that book and I remember very little about it. The characters are rather troubled and the book is a little dark. But overall, a good read. "
— Jen, 2/11/2014" A continuing trend: I am in this very odd emotional hang over time and these books that apply so well to where I'm at, what I'm thinking, etc keep finding me. I'm beginning to feel like I live my life through books or something. This read was a suggestion from a new friend. "
— Dominic, 1/31/2014" The misadventures of a young writer in the early 1960's, although it feels much more like a relic of the early 70's when it was written(and not in a good way). Tries too hard to be quirky and hip but mostly comes off as tired and stale, (e.g. he has long hair so the cops beat him up). The main character seems to be loosely based on McMurtry himself, perhaps an autobiography would be more enjoyable than this was. "
— Andy, 1/12/2014" I don't know why I liked it so much, since it's not the kind of book I usually like. And yet, I did. I think I might even have read it twice. "
— Joanna, 1/9/2014" It reminded me a lot of "On the Road" although I think he got a lot of inspiration from those beat-nics "
— Lori, 1/6/2014" A young writer's journey. Entertaining and sad, like McMurtry's best work. "
— Kurt, 12/11/2013" Hmmmm, interesting, almost like a bad trip "
— Misty, 11/5/2013" Fun and snappy. It's hard not to like anything McMurty does. "
— Mary, 10/21/2013" Hilarious, occasionally touching; feels like a series of satirical vignettes rather than a coherent novel. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by McMurtry. "
— Jeff, 10/14/2013" Fun and bizarre situations. The dinner scene with the Hollywood producer in the icy cave is my favorite. Swell characters, too, except the narrator, who is whiny and sleeps with -- literally -- EVERY female with whom he comes into contact. I wasn't repulsed. Just bored eventually. "
— Dusty, 10/9/2013" Another McMurtry that I read back in the 70s. I don't remember too much about this one but I don't remember enjoying it like his other novels. I may need to reread it. "
— Frank, 9/29/2013" So far this book is pretty weird, i mean they say the f-word very often. everybody cheats on everybody, people see eachother naked all the time and they all feel okay with it. The most ironic thing about it is that my english IV teacher recommended it to me. "
— Angela, 9/27/2013" Again this is something I was particularly fond of at the time-I loved the fact that the main character became successful and made a ton of money and had wacky adventures on the way. I wonder what I would think of it now. "
— Lucy, 9/25/2013" This is not very easy to get through and if it were a movie it would be rated R for bad words. I suffered through it and enjoyed the ending. "
— Phyllis, 3/22/2013" his most aproachable book, not an epic. but a good idea inside the mind of an author coming into his own. loved it! "
— Jessie, 12/10/2012" One of my all time favorite books... "
— Sam, 12/1/2012" I really didn't care for this book. I guess I don't like McMurtry's writing style, although I loved the show Lonesome Dove (didn't read the book). "
— Helen, 8/10/2012" One of my favorite McMurtry books. Danny Deck is a young writer who does good deal of wandering and meets some fascinating people along the way. One of McMurtry's most memorable characters, and a great final scene. I've read this one several times. "
— Aaron, 6/13/2012" I kept waiting for the plot to reveal itself... "
— Toni, 6/11/2012" It's hard to top "Lonesome Dove" and "The Last Picture Show", but McMurtry succeeds in again proving why he's one of the best american authors, ever. This book had me laughing aloud in spots, feeling chills in others. All in all, a terrific read. "
— Matt, 1/18/2012" Enjoyable book...3.5 Stars It kind of reminded me of Catcher in the Rye a bit, with the angst and coming of age kind of themes. If you are looking for old western style Larry McMurtry, this isn't it, but it had memorable characters along the lines of The Last Picture Show. "
— Sam, 10/19/2011" re-read this right before graduating from law school and it once again made me extremely nostalgic and excited for the future all at once. "
— Lauren, 5/31/2011" I don't know why I liked it so much, since it's not the kind of book I usually like. And yet, I did. I think I might even have read it twice. "
— Joanna, 4/10/2011" Danny Deck is a very unlikable character, in fact I didn't find any, and I do mean any. of the people in this book likable. I got the feeling that McMurtry was writing about a college freshman's wildest fantasy. It was the 15th McMurtry book I've read and this was such a disappointment. "
— John, 2/14/2011" Larry McMurtry writing forty years ago. Similar style to "The Last Picture Show," but with more sophistication. A coming of age story with a few original twists. "
— Don, 12/26/2010" Love Leon the producer bit, with the lit jai alai court and 22 pound rat that was once 17 pounds. "
— Melissa, 12/13/2010" Loved it! Had just finished reading "Cadillac Jack" (which I came across by chance), and then found and read this. After (and because of) which I methodically--and with great pleasure--read everything he'd written to that date (1987). "
— Byline, 11/9/2010" I almost cried while reading the scene about Danny Deck leaving Houston, returning books and dropping off his key to the Rice library in the middle of the night. "
— Pam, 9/12/2010" Adored this book. <br/> <br/>"It would be impossible not to love her, if I stayed. My fate seemed to be to meet women it was impossible not to love, but whom it was also impossible to love right." "
— Danielle, 7/2/2010Larry McMurtry (1936–2021) was an award-winning novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and avid book collector. His novels include The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, and Lonesome Dove, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He wrote more than thirty screenplays, including the coauthorship of Brokeback Mountain, for which he received an Academy Award.
John Randolph Jones is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.