He was etched by the desert’s howling winds, a big, broad-shouldered man who knew the ways of the Apache and the ways of staying alive. She w...
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reviews
Feb 04, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it: 
Library book...moves to the head of the line, top of the list...read it first (or, err, listen to it) and take it back!
I had forgotten just how good (er, proficient) a writer Louis L'Amour was. I think that sometimes "we readers" those of us who read general fiction, other genres or read somewhat more eclectically may tend to look down on westerns a bit. Not a good thing to do. We miss some excellent reads. While there are things here that don't thrill me as such ther More...
I had forgotten just how good (er, proficient) a writer Louis L'Amour was. I think that sometimes "we readers" those of us who read general fiction, other genres or read somewhat more eclectically may tend to look down on westerns a bit. Not a good thing to do. We miss some excellent reads. While there are things here that don't thrill me as such ther More...
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Sep 11, 2011
Henry
rated it: 
Hondo Lane, a chain smoking man, (don't condemn him ,this is the 19th Century when it was considered good for you) without any roots .He is living day to day in the southwest U.S. Hondo loses his horse, during an indian ambush.This the
1870's , in Apache territory, it's not a good day for sight seeing .He walks carrying his saddle and with his faithful mongrel dog, Sam ,along. Seeking help,good fortune occurs finding an lonely ranch, hidden below in a basin.Meeting Angie Lowe an
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1870's , in Apache territory, it's not a good day for sight seeing .He walks carrying his saddle and with his faithful mongrel dog, Sam ,along. Seeking help,good fortune occurs finding an lonely ranch, hidden below in a basin.Meeting Angie Lowe an
More...
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Feb 02, 2011
Rocky Mountain
rated it:
There are stiff and clunky spots throughout Louis L’Amours best work, yet the tug to keep reading is right there. The prose style is a bit outdated in spots, pure poetry in others. His stories are palate-cleansers. The pretenses are low, although in “Hondo” we get more than a few stern lectures about the appropriate way to die in the face of the enemy. “Hondo” is a classic for a good reason—all the classic elements of conflict. Man against nature, man against himself, man against an enemy and ma
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Jun 10, 2009
Josh
rated it:
The man with the broad shoulders and narrow waist squatted by his fire. It was barely big enough to heat his coffee, shielded so that the warmth was reflected to him and the light was hidden as much as possible.
He had built the fire with dry leaves and wood that wouldn't give off much smoke, and what smoke there was dissipated in the leaves of the tree above.
His horse was tied nearby, standing three-legged and munching some grass when suddenly his head came up, ears pric More...
He had built the fire with dry leaves and wood that wouldn't give off much smoke, and what smoke there was dissipated in the leaves of the tree above.
His horse was tied nearby, standing three-legged and munching some grass when suddenly his head came up, ears pric More...
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Feb 20, 2009
AnnaBnana
rated it: 
I read this book for my Adult Pop Lit class, so this review is tailored to what I want to remember for class.
I'm never going to be a Western lover, but this book was okay after I got into it. I had to try sometimes to not let some of the text bother me--for instance when L'Amour writes that Angie wonders what Hondo thinks of her because she is a woman. (Men wonder, too!!) I think much of that is probably a product of the setting as well as the time that the book was written initial More...
I'm never going to be a Western lover, but this book was okay after I got into it. I had to try sometimes to not let some of the text bother me--for instance when L'Amour writes that Angie wonders what Hondo thinks of her because she is a woman. (Men wonder, too!!) I think much of that is probably a product of the setting as well as the time that the book was written initial More...
Jan 29, 2011
Mark
rated it:
There are stiff and clunky spots throughout Louis L’Amours best work, yet the tug to keep reading is right there. The prose style is a bit outdated in spots, pure poetry in others. His stories are palate-cleansers. The pretenses are low, although in “Hondo” we get more than a few stern lectures about the appropriate way to die in the face of the enemy. “Hondo” is a classic for a good reason—all the classic elements of conflict. Man against nature, man against himself, man against an enemy a
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Jul 20, 2011
Harmonybites
rated it: 
I'd long heard of Louis L'Amour as among the most famous writers of Westerns and his 1953 novel, Hondo was on a Western recommendation list I've been reading through. Well, I'd be tempted to call this a guy thing. All I can say ladies, that if any male sig other of yours sneers at your bodice rippers, you need only brandish this novel as an example of the godawful things boys are way too fond of, because this reads like the male counterpart to reeking romance aisle. From the start, the prose sou
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Feb 01, 2012
Tom
rated it:
Hondo is a dust-heeled, squinty-eyed, part-Indian and sometimes cavalry scout who, along with his mongrel, semi-feral dog/best friend, stumbles upon a woman and her young son, living on a ranch in the middle of Indian territory. Hondo's much better with lead than with words, so when he runs up against the woman's good-for-nothing gambler-of-a-husband and a whole host of Apache warriors, you're darn tootin' you know what's going to come down the pike.
Actually, I was kind of surprised More...
Actually, I was kind of surprised More...
Dec 03, 2011
The Book
rated it:
Louie does it again in my opinion! This is another one of his novels that was turned into a movie featuring my favorite actor of ALL TIME John Wayne. There really is a lot going on in this book…The Apaches are uprising….Angie Lowe and her little boy have been left to fend for themselves on their ranch (which is on a watering hole that the Apaches frequent), the army is trying to get the Apache situation under control while trying to save the lives of the families around the fort and Hondo Lane i
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Feb 15, 2009
Raegan
rated it:
I can see why Louis L'Amour is one of this country's most widely read authors; he writes nice fat rolling lines that reach towards the poetic. His characterizations are well-drawn. His storytelling skills excellent. Good stuff.
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Feb 04, 2012
Andrew T
rated it:
"She handed him the blankets and the ground sheet and he shook them out, then put them down under the trees. Angie got down on her knees and spread the ground sheet over the leaves, then the blankets.
'You never forget do you? I mean about seeing things first.'
'Hope I never.'
He was oddly uncomfortable, hesitant. 'Good way to lose your hair, not noticing things.'
He sat down and pulled off his boots. The cottonwoods whispered more softly. The squirrel gave one short inq More...
'You never forget do you? I mean about seeing things first.'
'Hope I never.'
He was oddly uncomfortable, hesitant. 'Good way to lose your hair, not noticing things.'
He sat down and pulled off his boots. The cottonwoods whispered more softly. The squirrel gave one short inq More...
Nov 21, 2010
Jim
rated it: 
A book from such a different era, plain and simple story telling that was much more satisfying than ninety percent of books I pick up. In fact, the author of “Shantaram”, which I broke away from to read this, could have taken a leaf in style from Louis. Not each and every one – each and every one – of your life events are necessarily worth recording in the one book mate. And sometimes a man wants a woman because he does, without having to explain her every attractive physical and mental quality.
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Aug 02, 2010
John
rated it:
Date Read: 30-Jun-2010
I listened to a CD version of the book, “Hondo” as I commuted to work. I have read several of Louis L’Amour’s books and found this one to be one of his lesser works. It was entertaining and had some good tension and action but the story peaked after about 2/3rds of the way through the book when Ed Lowe was killed. I felt after this point in the novel that the ending was anticlimactic and predictable. I understand this was one of L’Amour’s first novels and he mig More...
I listened to a CD version of the book, “Hondo” as I commuted to work. I have read several of Louis L’Amour’s books and found this one to be one of his lesser works. It was entertaining and had some good tension and action but the story peaked after about 2/3rds of the way through the book when Ed Lowe was killed. I felt after this point in the novel that the ending was anticlimactic and predictable. I understand this was one of L’Amour’s first novels and he mig More...
Dec 29, 2008
Patrick
rated it:
Pretty iconic western. I found one of the old yellow cover paperbacks in a bin to be given away. Impressive detail about tracking. Sensitive to all the beauty of the southwest, and the nobility of the Native Americans, even while the battles were happening.
A short, quick read, and clearly an important Western if you're into that genre (or even if you're not). The ending felt a bit rushed, after the sparkling detail of some other parts of the story. There were a few issues that I More...
A short, quick read, and clearly an important Western if you're into that genre (or even if you're not). The ending felt a bit rushed, after the sparkling detail of some other parts of the story. There were a few issues that I More...
Jan 02, 2012
Ted
rated it:
L'Amour is an incredible storyteller, and he knows his genre, though there are times when he tries to step out of his comfort zone, or so it seemed in Hondo. From other books of his I have also read, L'Amour doesn't write well romantically and Hondo's relationship with Angie is very contrived, though, to be fair, L'Amour is writing for his audience. The ending was also a little hurried and the dialogue left a bit to be desired, but I didn't read Hondo because I was looking for great literature
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Jun 09, 2010
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ
rated it:
I really like this western. The John Wayne movie Hondo was based on a Louis L'Amour short story, The Gift of Cochise. A screenwriter was hired to turn the ten page short story into a movie. At the time, Louis L'Amour was not that well known an author yet. He got permission to novelize the screenplay (without giving credit to the screenwriter) and publish the book Hondo, under his own name (the first time he had a novel released in his name) and it was released at the same time as the movie. A li
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Mar 29, 2008
Mike
rated it:
This is L'Amour's first novel,1953, and it is regarded as a classic of the western genre. I found the book very enjoyable. It was exciting and had a good message. L'Amour was a man's man - world traveler, boxer, sailor, WWII vet. Here is a quote from the book that describes his values:
"She liked listening to his voice. It was slow, somehow restful, and underlying his words there was understanding, compassion. There was none of this you-get-along-on-your-own-or-die feeling. More...
"She liked listening to his voice. It was slow, somehow restful, and underlying his words there was understanding, compassion. There was none of this you-get-along-on-your-own-or-die feeling. More...
Nov 16, 2010
Jeannie
rated it:
I quote (p.62):
“What kind of man could leave a woman like that in Apache country? His eyes were suddenly wide open and he was angry, thinking about it. She was all woman, that one. And a person…a real person.”
And this (p.130):
“A man without a woman, without a home, and without a child was no man at all.”
I'd heard that Louis L'Amour couldn't write a woman to save his life. After reading this, I wonder whether he knew any.
“What kind of man could leave a woman like that in Apache country? His eyes were suddenly wide open and he was angry, thinking about it. She was all woman, that one. And a person…a real person.”
And this (p.130):
“A man without a woman, without a home, and without a child was no man at all.”
I'd heard that Louis L'Amour couldn't write a woman to save his life. After reading this, I wonder whether he knew any.
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Mar 27, 2011
Gregory
rated it:
So easy to read. This book boils every paragraph down to what's necessary for the story. Which is a good story.
I DID see a pattern between this and the Elmore Leonard western I read a month ago, where the main character is usually either half native American or a white guy raised by native Americans. I guess it makes them interesting? I'll read a few more. Hopefully they're not all that predictable.
I DID see a pattern between this and the Elmore Leonard western I read a month ago, where the main character is usually either half native American or a white guy raised by native Americans. I guess it makes them interesting? I'll read a few more. Hopefully they're not all that predictable.
Jul 24, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I love historical fiction, so it is no surprise to me that I loved Hondo by Louis L'Amour. If you like a good cowboy story you'll enjoy this book. Hondo Lane, Angie Lowe, and Johnny are all very likable characters...all brave in their own way. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, and if you like westerns it's a MUST!
Jun 21, 2011
Shawnee
rated it:
A great western! It had just enough romance to not be disgusting as are many books on the market today. It was descriptive in a way that helped the reader picture the scenes in mind and want to be there watching in person. I liked the way the author was respectful of the Native American Indians. Also, the main character was solid and believable.
Jul 25, 2009
Qt
rated it:
I don't read a lot of Westerns, but I opened this book to the middle, read a few pages, and knew I had to start from the beginning and read the whole thing :-) It's a fast paced, highly readable book--quite a bit of action and strongly described characters. The end seems a bit abrupt, but is still satisfying. Louis L'Amour's reputation as a first-class writer is well deserved :-)
Jul 21, 2010
Jonathan
rated it:
This was the first Louis L'Amour book I ever read. I've re-read it several times and will continue to do so. This book reminds me of my entire family, extending generations back. I would love to have every Louis L'Amour book ever published because you will always have a good read with one of his books.
Jul 27, 2009
Hazel
rated it:
If I remember correctly, Hondo was my first great crush. I was about 10 and he made my little heart go 'pitter-pat' in ways that The Three Musketeers and Ivanhoe and Robin Hood didn't. Rereading this in middle age, I can see that L'Amour intended females to fall for Hondo. Perhaps he wanted to be Hondo? I must find out how old he was when he wrote it.
Aside from the sex-appeal, this was quite an exciting adventure story, full of convincing bits of frontier lore. I shall probably rerea More...
Aside from the sex-appeal, this was quite an exciting adventure story, full of convincing bits of frontier lore. I shall probably rerea More...
Dec 16, 2011
Craig
rated it:
This is one of L'Amour's more fameous books, perhaps because it was made into a 1953 movie starring John Wayne and Geradine Page. The story involves isolated settlers, Indians, US Cavalry and a strong individualist who (of course) saves the day. Not great literature, but fun reading.
Dec 21, 2011
AJ
rated it:
Part 2 of my attempt to "appreciate" Arizona via fiction. Includes lines like "she was a woman and he was a man." I should probably be offended by its rampant sexism, but mostly I kept wondering why my Nana loved these so much. I remember she had a shelf of Louis L'Amour books.
Mar 27, 2010
Celeste
rated it:
Justin really wanted me to read this one to prove to me that Westerns were also good reading material (that's all he reads). So I read it and was pleasantly surprised. It kept me interested and still had all of the important elements of a Western. Easy, quick read that wasn't predictable.
May 12, 2008
James
rated it:
In thirty five years, L'Amour wrote over one hundred books. Every one is still in print. Quite an accomplishment. I've read dozens of his books and Hondo is unquestionably my favorite.
Louis Lamoure is often described as a good storyteller, but a mediocre writer. Hondo, his first novel, proves that Lamoure could write when he paid attention to his craft. When you start late and publish over one hundred books, it's difficult to maintain the quality required to get a first novel publis More...
Louis Lamoure is often described as a good storyteller, but a mediocre writer. Hondo, his first novel, proves that Lamoure could write when he paid attention to his craft. When you start late and publish over one hundred books, it's difficult to maintain the quality required to get a first novel publis More...
Jun 03, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I can see why westerns are so popular for men - they are very similar to romance novels in their characterization, plot development & writing styles. (At least L'Amour is...) I listened to his audiobook & enjoyed it a lot.
May 18, 2009
Kniephof
rated it:
I like his style of writing. I especially like how he taught the kid the simple and important things about surviing life on the desert. Know where to talk to avoid snakes, follow bees to water, don't fish casting a shadow, etc.
