My Thoughts on the Novel, Midnight Cowboy, 5/6/2026…

There’s nothing like watching a trainwreck: everything is in slow motion—the derailment, the toppling, the accordioning and piling up of train cars—but, knowing exactly what’s coming, you watch anyway, fascinated, enthralled, bewildered. These were my thoughts as I read Midnight Cowboy, by James Leo Herlihy. But, surprisingly, it ended with such a whisper—a whimper, even—that I forgot that the train was crashing.

This is not a bad thing.

As mentioned, I chose to read this novel since my Weekly Movie Club is set to discuss the film on Sunday. I wanted to read the book first and then compare it after watching the movie. I’m glad I did. I can just predict what they’ll cut from the book.

This book moved me. The main character, Joe Buck, moved me as well. In true Joseph Campbell fashion, Joe leaves Albuquerque, New Mexico, and goes on an adventure to New York City to become a hustler, a male prostitute, and find his fortune.

Joe didn’t find his fortune there. He finds himself.

He also finds Rico “Ratso” Rizzo, a handicapped grifter. Ratso swindles Joe the first time they meet. Joe soon loses his hotel room and winds up on the street. Despite his good looks and talents, Joe has not transformed into the hustler he envisions himself to be, following numerous false starts and unsuccessful efforts. He and Ratso end up becoming buddies, making it through by crashing in empty apartments and scavenging for food.

The conclusion makes me both happy and sad—happy at the transformation, sad at the tragedy. I highly recommend this book.