I love books, but I’m weird about reading them. Not all books, but books by my favorite authors. I have to pace myself for fear of running out of their work.
Larry McMurtry is the perfect example of this. He has been my favorite writer for more than 30 years, yet I have not read all of his books. I own them all, but I pace myself. I have read a couple of my favorites twice. I’m looking at you Leaving Cheyenne and Lonesome Dove.
With his death a couple of years ago, I really treasure the stories of his I have yet to discover. His writing is my happy place. Even when he is making me sob uncontrollably, I’m happy for how beautifully his words make that happen.
It has been a while since I’ve read any Larry, but while sitting at breakfast a couple of weeks ago, a thought came out of nowhere, “I need to read Terms of Endearment now.”
To be honest, I don’t know if I ever planned on reading this book. I’ve seen the movie and I know it is sad AF. I try to avoid sad stuff. Nevertheless, I felt very strongly Larry had something to tell me in this book, something I needed to hear. I went and got the book off the shelf and began reading.
It was nice to step back into the world of Emma Horton. She is a small character in a few of Larry’s other books but is front and center in Terms of Endearment. Well, as front and center as anyone can be with Aroura Greenway for a mother.
Larry’s ability to create some of the strongest and most interesting female characters is why I initially fell in love with him. He gets women. He loves women. And he never fails to make them interesting. Of all his female characters, Aurora Greenway may be the most interesting.
I was young when I saw the movie and probably related more to Emma played by Debra Winger. Now at 52, I feel Aurora to my very core. Shirley McClain was a fantastic Aurora. That was some good casting. As I read the book, I still see Shirley in this role, but there are times when I totally see myself. If I’m not seeing myself in Aurora, I find myself thinking, “Fuck, I need to be more like Aurora.”
Aurora says and does the craziest shit, but she makes no apologies for who she is. She does things her way and to hell with everyone else. There is something to be said for that.
Of course, it isn’t just all about her. She loves Emma fiercely. She may not be a fan of her choices, but she is a honey badger of a mother till the end. I respect that, too.
I’m only about halfway through the book. I’m not sure yet exactly what Larry needed me to know, but I will know it by the end. Larry never lets me down.
Every time I step into a world created by Larry McMurtry, I leave a better person. He makes me laugh, cry and love. He is my definition of an author. I’m truly glad he was as prolific as he was. I look forward to stepping into his worlds for years to come.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
