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Larry McMurtry Hates Giving Interviews, Dislikes His Own Books

Posted on December 23rd, 2009 10:22am by Kristiana Heap
Filed under Literature, Media

An interview with Texas literary icon Larry McMurtry aired on KERA during Morning Edition today, and it was excruciating—you can listen to it here. Linda Wertheimer tried to praise the author for his career achievements, but he pretty much trashed his famous novels and left Wertheimer hanging. When asked about Lonesome Dove, McMurtry replied, “I don’t hate it or anything.” As for The Last Picture Show: “It wasn’t a very good book. I’ve never liked it much, and I think I’ve written a dozen novels that are better, maybe more.”

Our own Glenn Hunter interviewed McMurtry this summer, and says McMurtry was “terse and not terribly friendly.” I think Wertheimer would agree.

7 Comments to “Larry McMurtry Hates Giving Interviews, Dislikes His Own Books”

Ed Bark @ December 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 am

Also from personal experience, he really is a famously sour guy. A shame. “Terse and not terribly friendly” pretty much describes his persona on way too many occasions.
Jackson @ December 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 am

McMurtry has always been a first class jerk. The guy who was famously running around Texas impersonating him in bars and restaurants about 10-15 years ago was MUCH more pleasant to be around.

More fake McMurtry, please!

By the way, Larry’s son, the singer-songwriter James McMurtry, is just like his old man.
VM @ December 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Met him at some Fair Park function years ago, yes, very terse and unfriendly. However last year when he spoke at the Nasher he was just the opposite. Engaging, funny(ish), candid, nothing like his reputation.
For the record... @ December 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Jackson, James M. is not nearly as unfriendly as M. pere seems to be. Taciturn? Yes. Unfriendly? Not at all. Self-deprecating about his own work? No, although he has been known to “mail it in” in repeated performances of his older material, understandably. James, ironically known as “Mike” to friends, is just a very quiet fellow, seems lost in his own thoughts sometimes, but converses well when engaged. There must have been some unusual family dynamics in the McM. home, for sure.
Bill Marvel @ December 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Where is it written that authors have to be cheerful and bubbly interview subjects, huh? Who says he has to be a pleasant drinking companion or a genial guest or even a nice guy? He’s a writer, for heaven’s sakes. Read his books, if you like them. Otherwise get the hell out of the eay.
James Michael Starr @ December 23rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Excruciating? All I heard was a writer talking openly and honestly about his work, and probably from a position of not needing to impress anybody anymore. Maybe our ears have become so attuned to book-touring writers being so chirped up about their own books that one who doesn’t care whether he sells you or not sounds grumpy. As an artist, I identified very much with what I believe is McMurtrey’s main point: that for an artist doing honest work, it’s more about the producing than it is about the product. You may love his work, but that doesn’t mean he has to.
Ed Bark @ December 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm

It’s still kind of a shame to be so damned joyless. And Bill, when you’re promoting your new and no doubt very worthy book on a WWII veteran, I’ll bet you’ll be lots more accommodating. Just a guess, though. Happy holidays everyone!