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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was fine. In these shorter novels I think L'Amour should have spent less time introducing a large cast and more time improving the story. There is 10lbs of characters in this 5lbs bag.
Virtually identical to the movie. Probably a tad better for the few scenes only mentioned in the film that are seen here, and for the superior portrayal of Mrs. Lowe and her son which is my least favorite part of the movie.
I haven't seen the John Wayne movie, but I think I'd prefer the book in any case. It's beautiful and lonely and wild and romantic.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good friend picked up a half dozen Louis L'Amour paperbacks for a couple bucks each at her local used bookstore. I raced through Hondo and Treasure Mountain. For me it's like sliding into a hot tub outdoors on a cold stormy night. Great stories. This from Treasure Mountain: "Well, I just looked at her, but I wasn't seeing her. I was seeing the La Plata River where it comes along, tumbling over the rocks, shaded by trees, chilled by the snow water, catching the color of the sky and the shadows of clouds. The stillness of beaver ponds, broken only by the widening V of a beaver swimming, mirroring the trunks of the aspen, catching the gold of the sun. Canyons quiet as the day after the earth was born, heights where the air was so clear the miles vanished and the faraway mountains of New Mexico showed themselves through the purple haze."
Book on CD performed by David Straithairn
3.5***
An iconic work of American Western genre, featuring a strong, rather taciturn, loner who lives, and is willing to die, by his principles, and a vulnerable but equally strong woman determined to keep her family home and protect what she holds dear.
The setting is practically a character: the southeast corner of Arizona, populated by rattlesnakes, gila monsters, coyotes, jackrabbits and pumas, not to mention the various Apache tribes fighting to regain their historic lands. Hondo Lane is at home in this unforgiving landscape, having lived with the native Apaches for some years and learned how to find water where this is none, how to track game (and men), and how to avoid being tracked. Angie Lowe is also at home here, having grown up on the ranch with her father who was on friendly terms with the local chief, Vitorro. They are, obviously, perfect for each other. Except … he’s a confirmed loner acting as a scout for the local military unit, and she is already married (though her good-for-nothing husband has been missing for a few months).
As tensions between the Native Americans and the military units increase, Hondo feels compelled to return to Angie Lowe’s side.
David Straithairn does a fabulous job of performing the audiobook. He brings these characters to life.
The text I had handy included a significant afterword by L’Amour’s son that gave more background into how the author came to write this work which launched his fame and career as a writer of Westerns. I’m glad I took the time to read it after listening to the audiobook.
3.5***
An iconic work of American Western genre, featuring a strong, rather taciturn, loner who lives, and is willing to die, by his principles, and a vulnerable but equally strong woman determined to keep her family home and protect what she holds dear.
The setting is practically a character: the southeast corner of Arizona, populated by rattlesnakes, gila monsters, coyotes, jackrabbits and pumas, not to mention the various Apache tribes fighting to regain their historic lands. Hondo Lane is at home in this unforgiving landscape, having lived with the native Apaches for some years and learned how to find water where this is none, how to track game (and men), and how to avoid being tracked. Angie Lowe is also at home here, having grown up on the ranch with her father who was on friendly terms with the local chief, Vitorro. They are, obviously, perfect for each other. Except … he’s a confirmed loner acting as a scout for the local military unit, and she is already married (though her good-for-nothing husband has been missing for a few months).
As tensions between the Native Americans and the military units increase, Hondo feels compelled to return to Angie Lowe’s side.
David Straithairn does a fabulous job of performing the audiobook. He brings these characters to life.
The text I had handy included a significant afterword by L’Amour’s son that gave more background into how the author came to write this work which launched his fame and career as a writer of Westerns. I’m glad I took the time to read it after listening to the audiobook.
Who doesn’t love an ole romantic western? There’s some sound philosophy of life in here. My first L’Amour. Not itching to read another one, but certainly not opposed.
L'Amour paints a beautiful picture of the American western landscapes and brilliantly describes the thoughts and ponderings of each of the characters. A book that is both exciting and rather sad, L'Amour is nothing if not a storyteller.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No