Texas-Cold Larry McMurtry

After "Vows," our favorite snack from the Sunday NY Times is Deborah Solomon's "Questions for..." column. Solomon is confrontational to the point of belligerence, which Austinist finds amusing. This week, Solomon's subject is Archer City's Larry McMurtry.

McMurtry is one of Austinist's favorite novelists. He holds, apparently, the same place in George W. Bush's affections; the President has said that "Lonesome Dove" is his favorite novel. "You're a native Texan," Solomon asks during one of the interview's peaceful interludes. "What do you think of the president's ranch in Crawford?"

McMurtry, austerely:

I find it hard to think of it as a ranch. Crawford is basically a suburb of Waco, and I have been through it a million times. The president has this obsession, which he inherited from Reagan, of brush clearing. I don't get it. What do you get when you clear brush? You get a photograph of yourself with a chain saw and a cowboy hat.

We suggest that you start with "The Last Picture Show."