The Evening Star

Larry McMurtry

Aurora Greenway and Rosie Dunlop raised Aurora's grandchildren after her daughter died over 15 years earlier. They haven't done so well - Tommy is in prison for manslaughter, Teddy has been in and out of mental hospitals, although is now settled wife a wife and son, and Melanie is pregnant and separated from the boyfriend. Aurora, on the other hand, is as feisty and gregarious as ever.

General Hector Scott still lives with Aurora and she still has men visiting frequently. Although her maid, Rosie is also her best friend. Together they visit Tommy, counsel Melanie, entertain, and generally live a full life. While not easy, they keep going.

The Evening Star is the sequel to Terms of Endearment. It chronicles the years of Aurora's and Rosie's lives now that the children are grown. Emma, Aurora's daughter, is now a sad memory. When she's in the mood, Aurora is working on a memory project, attempting to remember every day of her life. She and Rosie are still attracting and discussing men, sex, and relationships. Patsy Carpenter, Emma's friend, is still around and is in and out of their lives.

Larry McMurtry has written a saga in The Evening Star of a small group of people. While I found it slow reading, I couldn't stop reading it, either. It is complex and follows all the characters at different times in the book. I felt invested in the characters and had to discover what happens to them. What happens? Life happens with all its messiness, sadness, and happiness.