Larry McMurtry

The East End Trek

Overblown and Underrated

So you know Houston's goats, heroes and high points? Think again.

Into Africa

So you know Houston's goats, heroes and high points? Think again.

Life of a Poet

Vassar Miller is broke, hospitalized and facing an uncertain future. Doesn't one of Texas' most esteemed writers deserve better?

Press Picks

Vassar Miller is broke, hospitalized and facing an uncertain future. Doesn't one of Texas' most esteemed writers deserve better?

A Juicy Steak

Cowboys, cowgirls and a little vegan lust hit the trail

Press Picks

Cowboys, cowgirls and a little vegan lust hit the trail

The Book of James

Colorful characters fill James McMurtry's Tex-rock sound

Letters

From the week of February 03, 2000

God, Texas and Tom Waits

Tom Waits may not come from around here, but a good chunk of his favorite music does

Larry McMurtry and Willie Nelson in Houston

Tom Waits may not come from around here, but a good chunk of his favorite music does

Best Discount Bookstore

Quarter Price Books

Mexican Combo Plate

Billy Bob's adaptation of Pretty Horses mixes together too many ingredients, all of them undercooked

Homo on the Range

Ledger and Gyllenhaal are cowboys in love in Ang Lee's wrenching Brokeback Mountain

Do You Know the Way to Balmorhea?

Jesse Dayton and Lew Temple do. And now so does Hollywood.

Lazarus, Reborn

Peter Bogdanovich wasn't dead. He was just acting like it.

Skip It

Why the best teen movie of the year, based on a beloved novel, won't be in theaters

Star Turn

Shirley MacLaine shines -- but she's the only bright spot in Terms of Endearment's sequel

Life, Post-Ike

One year later, Galveston residents like Marie Creasy have dug in for the long haul

Romance Blooms Out Of The Ashes Of A Lufkin Crime Of Passion

​Paraphrasing Larry McMurtry, a woman's love is like the spring dew. It's just as likely to descend on a cowpie as an April wildflower.In the East Texas romance of Jennifer Doss and Christopher Guffey, we're leaning towards cowpie. You see, Guffey, an alleged member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison ... More >>

Inside "American Pie," Pop Music's Longest Allegory

​Rocks Off has always been a fan of symbolism, hidden meanings and puzzles in general, so besides Raymond Chandler, Stephen King and Larry McMurtry, our favorite form of "lit-rah-chah" is allegorical stuff like George Orwell's Animal Farm, William Golding's Lord of the Flies and Edgar Allan Po ... More >>

Sunny Cocktails at Shade

​The Heights is often associated with being dry, although plenty of area restaurants from casual (Onion Creek) to high-end (Zelko Bistro) have fabulous beer and wine selections. Adding to the mix is the lovely cocktail menu at Shade (250 W. 19th, 713-863-7500). General manager Rachel Loil tel ... More >>

25 Essential Eponymous Albums

​Eponymous: (of a literary work, film, etc) named after its central character or creator: The Stooges' eponymous debut album. On this day in 1983, a young woman from Michigan who had recently given up on a career as a hard-rock singer released her first album of electronic dance-pop, an album ... More >>

Top 10 Texas Movie Soundtracks

​This weekend, as the rest of the world catches Harry Potter mania for (perhaps) the final time, Houston gets a serious dose of Urban Cowboy nostalgia. Theater Under the Stars' production of the Tony-nominated 2003 musical - which The New York Times called "a conclusive demonstration that it's ... More >>

James McMurtry Can Make It Here

​One of the truly gifted Texas songsmiths, James McMurtry has carved a nice, viable career out of great lyrics, stellar playing, hard touring, a good work ethic, and common sense. His last two studio albums, Childish Things (2005) and Just Us Kids (2008), established McMurtry as one of the mos ... More >>