I was in high school when I went to see Hud at the Rio Theater in Jordan, Montana. Mom was there and she darned sure did not approve of that movie and let me know all about it! She had a way of laying the guilt on even when you unintentionally did something sinful. I mean, after all, movies were not rated in 1964. How was I supposed to know how raw it would be. Well, Mom, little did you know that Horseman, Pass By was required reading at Texas Tech and it was even more vivid than the movie. I didn't know anything about Larry McMurtry at that time, and I wasn't really interested in finding out about him, but I remember thinking as I read the book, that McMurtry must have grown up on a ranch. It was something that he said about a windmill that gave me the idea. That year Larry McMurtry spoke at Texas Tech and the English prof strongly suggested that we go listen to what he said. He was tall and skinny, dressed in a dark suit and had black rimmed glasses and I remember thinking that he didn't look like any rancher I had ever seen. Years rolled by and Lonesome Dove TV series came out, and then I read the book and loved it, but I still didn't know much about McMurtry. Then I went to the district 4H fashion show in Archer City, Texas a couple of years ago. Afterwards we went to Dairy Queen and ran into a man that told us that Larry McMurtry's bookstore was open so, we hurried down town hoping to get there before it closed. This place made me want to know more about that famous author.
George Getschow is the director and he is willing to answer any questions you may have. I have called him several times to ask questions and he is always patient and kind.
There is a nice display of Lonesome Dove memorabilia.
We were in a hurry when we drove by Larry's house in Archer City. It is right off of the beautiful golf course.
I started reading McMurtry books after this trip. It's the small things that tell me he is authentic. Here are just a few of the little things out of Horseman Pass By that make his books real.
"As we came into sight one of the buzzards flopped to the ground, began a slow cautious waddle toward the heifer." p. 27 Probably most people have seen buzzards on a dead animal but do they really see how they act? Buzzards don't just dive in and start devouring rotting meat. They land a ways off, fold their big wings and then work their way up to the carcass.
"I stood in the dark, listening to the sound of the car. I heard the pipes on the cattle guard rattle; Hud must have hit it doing about sixty-five." p. 65 I have heard that sound many a time, just not at 65 miles per hour.
"I heard the little grey moths tapping against the porch screen." p. 87 Yes, those blasted millers hitting the screen in the dark of night, just waiting for someone to open it so they can fly up to the ceiling light and flutter around it until they die. What a dirty nuisance they are. When you live in the country you get used to these pests. A family I knew (city folk) moved to the country near Ft. Collins, Colorado and were deluged with millers so they called the exterminator. Forget that! you would have to spray the whole country.
"When the horses got close enough I shook the oat bucket at them, and they filed over to me one by one. Each one stretched his neck and took a mouthful, afraid of being caught." Horses are smart and some of them do not like to work and this is how they act. They can't resist the oats but try their best to be out of reach.
"He was too wild acting to fool with, and we both shut up. He was shifting back and forth on his feet, like a bull that had been crowded too close." p. 98 This description is perfect and makes me wonder what Hud's next move will be. He sounds as unpredictable and dangerous as a cornered bull.
It's the little things that make his work so authentic.
Booked Up is fully on line now but I hope everyone gets a chance to go to Archer City and visit the store in person. The Larry McMurtry Literary Center has writing workshops scheduled. Check it out.
