The Desert Rose: A NovelPulitzer Prize–winner Larry McMurtry writes novels set in the American heartland, but his real territory is the heart itself. His gift for writing about women—their love for reckless, hopeless men; their ability to see the good in losers; and their peculiar combination of emotional strength and sudden weakness—makes The Desert Rose the bittersweet, funny, and touching book that it is. Harmony is a Las Vegas showgirl with the best legs in town. At night she's a lead dancer in a gambling casino; during the day she raises peacocks. She throws her love away on second-rate men, but wakes up in the morning full of hope. She's one of a dying breed of dancers, faced with fewer and fewer jobs and an even bleaker future. Yet, she maintains a calm cheerfulness in that arid neon landscape of supermarkets, drive-in wedding chapels, and all-night casinos. While Harmony's star is fading, her beautiful, cynical daughter Pepper's is on the rise. But Harmony remains wistful and optimistic through it all. She is the unexpected blossom in the wasteland, the tough and tender desert rose. Hers is a loving portrait that only Larry McMurtry could render. |
Contents
Section 1 | 23 |
Section 2 | 63 |
Section 3 | 131 |
Section 4 | 151 |
Section 5 | 188 |
Section 6 | 199 |
Section 7 | 224 |
Section 8 | 226 |
Section 9 | 229 |
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Amoco anyway audition beautiful birthday Bonventre boyfriend Buddy Buick Caesars Palace casino Cheerios Cherri course dance dancer Dave definitely Denny Didier dressing room driveway feel felt Francois fuck fuck films G-string garage sale Gary Gary's getting Giorgio girl goat going grin happened Harmony asked Harmony pointed Harmony thought Harmony's jealous Jessie Jessie's K rations keno kind knew LARRY MCMURTRY Linda live looked Madonna makeup marry Maude Mel's mind minute Monroe mony mood mother Myrtle Myrtle's nervous never nice night okay once Pac-Man parallel parking peacocks Pepper asked Pepper thought pretty probably Reno Ross Safeway seemed showgirl sitting sleep smile sort Stardust stop Taco Belle talk tell thing tired told took topless totally trying upset Vegas vodka tonics walk wanted Wendell wonderful Woods worry