RHINO RANCH

No one writes amiable better than Larry McMurtry (think Gus McCrae), and happily, the wonderful Will Patton does amiable just fine. Texas amiable, too. There isn't terribly much plot to McMurtry's novel, but there are characters galore, and Patton not only ably voices all of them, he seems perfectly in tune with the aimless but likeble rhythm of the novel, which, in the broadest terms, concerns a billionairess named K.K. Slater who comes to town to locate a preserve for African rhinos. But the novel's real concern is one of the locals K.K. befriends, Duane Moore, whom McMurtry fans will remember from THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. He is far advanced in age now and is contemplating how to live a life of value as he finds himself more alone every week. But fear not, the novel may be wistful in places, but thanks to McMurtry and Patton, it is never less than affable. M.O. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2010]