Tuesday, August 18, 2009

His Words Are Better Than Mine. Especially Today.


Finding myself without any words today but the same, sick, sorry ones and because I am tired of them myself and I feel certain that you are too, I am going to give you an entire chapter of Rhino Ranch by Larry McMurtry. I just finished reading it last night and although it is not his best book, it is not his worst and his prose is so spare and he gets so much said in so few words that I can't help but love him.

This is Chapter 24. It's short:

Bobby Lee Baxter, who had had both testicular cancer, losing one ball in the process, and also a daring penile implant that he liked to talk about when he could find anyone who would listen, was riveted by the news of Hondo Honda's problem.

"I've heard of that disease- it's one reason I stay out of Old Mexico," he said. "They say your balls get as big as grapefruits."


"But, Bobby, there's hormones now- if you was to lose your other ball you get by on hormones and probably do fine."


"Hormones might make me grow tits," Bobby said. "Could you imagine me with tits?" he asked.

"Even if I could I'd rather not," Duane admitted.

"It was you brought up Hondo and his problems," Bobby reminded him.

"Yes, and I bitterly regret it," Duane said.

11 comments:

  1. That's two days in a row of laughing. Thanks, Ms. Moon.

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  2. This makes me think of the time our friend who worked in a vet's office got bit on the dick by a black chow named Honcho, and when he told me I thought he said a CHILD named Honcho, and was aghast.
    It really has nothing to do with the chapter, but it made me think of it.

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  3. Good stuff. And I would bet my life I have had a conversation with one of my friends about one of us growing tits. Thanks for the laugh, and hope your Tuesday is going OK.

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  4. That's just funny stuff. thanks for giving my PMS'd up day a little lift.

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  5. That's a very short chapter. Is the book very short as well?

    I'm reading the Dirty Havana Trilogy by Pedro Juan GutiƩrrez. It also has short chapters (slightly longer) and lots of mentions of men's parts.

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  6. Sue would have smiled that sweet wide smile... especially at the titties part!

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  7. Elizabeth- Well, Mr. McMurtry and May made you laugh, not me.

    May- Aghast is a word we should all use more often.

    Ms. Bastard- Are you familiar with Mr. McMurtry's vast body of work?

    Mr. Shife- My day was made better by that picture of your son.

    Rachel- The only good thing about PMS is that it does, by definition, pass. Menopause, on the other hand, does not seem to.

    Mwa- It's sort of short but not ridiculously so. Should I read that trilogy? It sounds like it.

    Mr. Fleur- Sue loved her McMurtry.

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  8. I like Larry McMurtry's writing but haven't read this one. Now I have another book to look forward to! Thanks!

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  9. Well, my sister loves loves loves it and so does my father, so yes. I haven't finished it yet. It's about a very troubled guy living in Cuba. There's a lot of philosophy and a lot of sex. Both are good. I am liking it, but not loving it to death yet.

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  10. Actually, I'm probably quietly loving it already. I will know when I'm sorry to finish it.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.