Hollywood

This installment of Pulitzer Prize winner McMurtry's memoirs consists of charming vignettes of his 40 years as a Hollywood screenwriter. His hits include the novels on which the film HUD and the TV miniseries LONESOME DOVE were based, as well as the screenplay for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. While the author's memories are predominantly gentle and reflective, Henry Strozier's narration is gravelly and somewhat cynical, a style that works well. His direct and warm tone is reassuring and approachable. Further, his grizzled timbre supports the reading of material that is keenly observed but occasionally repetitive, ambling, and a bit confusing as the time frames of the stories wander. W.A.G. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine