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59th out of 89 books
—
8 voters
Reilly's Luck
Val Darrant was just four years old the snowy night his mother abandoned him. But instead of meeting a lonely death, he met Will Reilly-a gentleman, a gambler, and a worldly, self-taught scholar. For ten years the each were all the family the other had, traveling from dusty American boomtowns to the cities of Europe-until the day Reilly's luck ran out in a roar of gunfire....more
Paperback, 218 pages
Published
December 28th 2004
by Bantam
(first published 1970)
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A friend of mine once said to me, "I love using your bathroom because I never know what I'll find to read in there!" It's true. My husband and I are both inveterate readers and we carry material with us where ever we go. We always have catalogs, magazines, and at least a couple of books in the bathroom at any given time. I say all this because, sometimes I pick up his things and flip through them and (usually) put them back down - not this time.
I'm not a western fan - don't like the movies, don'...more
I'm not a western fan - don't like the movies, don'...more
Louis L'Amour is an old friend to all who devour his books. If you are looking for a technically perfect book, his work is not the place. There are often slight discontinuities in his work for example in this book he met Wild Bill for the first and last time then several chapters later met him again. If you are looking for a rollicking good read however you will have a hard time beating a Louis L'Amour story.
I learned from reading his books that first the story must flow. If the story does not g...more
I learned from reading his books that first the story must flow. If the story does not g...more
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Okay - my father-in-law, husband, and all his siblings are Louis L'Amour fans. They grew up reading his novels. So, after 7 years of marriage, my husband finally asked me to read just one. I did, and I have to say it was really fun. Pure escapism, totally predictable and unrealistic, 100% western, but that's what made it fun! I smiled the whole way through. I think it's really nice, once and a while, to take a break and read a novel that you KNOW the good guy's gonna win and get the girl, etc. (...more
This is one of my favorite Louis L'Amour books. A gambler takes in an abandoned child and raises him in the old west. Eventually, Rielly, the gambler is ambushed and killed. The boy goes east, and gets an education, but eventually returns to the west, ultimately finding himself up against a formidable opponent--his birth mother, a ruthless womanh.
I don't go to Louis L'Amour for deep, world changing thought, but fun, adventure, and some history lessons on the old west. This is a title I go back...more
I don't go to Louis L'Amour for deep, world changing thought, but fun, adventure, and some history lessons on the old west. This is a title I go back...more
Reilly’s Luck is a fun little western. Very forgettable though. Billy The Kid makes an appearance and I thought that was pretty interesting that the author worked him into the story for a brief moment. Also, L’amour’s protagonist, Val, is what I’d call a “cool dude.” There is a scene where he manages to finish his meal without any trouble from the loud-mouthed and confrontational men in the restaurant with a brilliant trick that, despite the rest of the story being forgettable, is almost worth r...more
One of my favorite Louis L'Amour books. You have to suspend a little disbelief that the protagonist, Val Durrant, could have done so many things in his young life, but it's fun to read. You've got gun fights and fistfights, royalty and peasants, wild west and back east, heroes and villains. Who could ask for anything more?
Abandoned as a child, Val Durrant, is raised by gambler gentleman Will Reilly. When Will is ambushed, Val-by then a young man-must decide his own destiny.
Abandoned as a child, Val Durrant, is raised by gambler gentleman Will Reilly. When Will is ambushed, Val-by then a young man-must decide his own destiny.
This book was recommended to me by two men who love Western stories, especially works by Louis L'Amour. I can't remember if I've ever READ a Western before, but after reading Reilly's Luck, I'll search out more books by L'Amour.
In the book are the usual gun-slinging scenes, but there is more. Integrity, self-reliance, and fairness to others are imbedded in the "lessons" of this book. Plus, it's a good story about a man and the boy he helps become a man. There are strong female characters -- no...more
In the book are the usual gun-slinging scenes, but there is more. Integrity, self-reliance, and fairness to others are imbedded in the "lessons" of this book. Plus, it's a good story about a man and the boy he helps become a man. There are strong female characters -- no...more
Val Darrant was just four years old the snowy night his mother abandoned him. But instead of meeting a lonely death, he met Will Reilly-a gentleman, a gambler, and a worldly, self-taught scholar. For ten years the each were all the family the other had, traveling from dusty American boomtowns to the cities of Europe-until the day Reilly's luck ran out in a roar of gunfire. But it wasn't a gambling brawl or a pack of thieves that sealed Will's fate. It was a far more complex story that Val would...more
It is interesting, has a lot of action So that is why I like the book. He is a kid at the Begging of the book. So it is kind of like a long period book, but shortened. I think it is good because it had a little of every thing in the book. It made you sad, funny, and happy, in some part of the book.
A four year old boy, Val Darrant, is abandoned by his mother and a gambler, Will Reilly, takes him in. Val travels the West and a year in Europe and gets an education from the best rifle shot in the West as well as an education in living and taking care of himself. Reread occasionally.
I have read this book several times. It is a good book. A young boy is almost left to die in the cold, but he is given to a young gambler named Will Reilly. They travel the world until Will is killed. Then Val, the young boy who is now about 15, has several adventures on his own.
I accidentally deleted my review of Reilly's Luck, and I am feeling too petulant to retype the whole thing. Suffice it to say that it has been a long time since I read this book, and I once again loved it. Also, Beau Bridges is the reader on this audio version; he is amazing.
Third time around and still as good as ever. If you wait a couple of years before reading it again it is like a brand new book. The heros may seem larger than life but there is always good words of wisdom in Mr L'Amour's books that are worth hanging onto.
I love Louis L'Amour's work, and this book was no exception. It also had a big surprise in the middle of the book that I wasn't expecting at all. It's a good read if you have never tried a Western before, any Louis L'Amour would be good actually.
Read most of Louis Lamour's books when I was in my late teens and early twenties. They are important to me as they were some of the first books that got me into the reading habit. For that I shall be forever grateful
little longer than typical L'Amour fare, but he can handle it. this seems short. should I call him the kid. um. it's a little longer than normal but the kid can handle it.
I love this book. It is a lot of fun, a total Louis L'amour western, and the most fun I have had in a long time. the premise is awesome....... it is just amazing.
Steven
Steven
Somehow I missed this one. One of the better L'Amours. A small boy is abandoned, not into the snow as his mother wanted, but with a gambler. Good all the way through.
I love Louis L'Amour. Everything the guy writes is incredible. I only started reading westerns last year, and thanks to Louis L'Amour, I am now hooked. This book is so far one of my favorites.
I love this one, not just for the characters and story, but for mentioning two of my very favorite places - Silver City, NM and El Paso, TX.
This is by far one of my favorite Louis L'Amour westerns, I have read it 9 times,every time I pick it up it is like catching up with an old friend.
This is my second favorite of L'Amour's. Once you pick this up you will not set it down. I highly recomend this book for everyone.
A small boy becomes the ward of a gambler, Reilly. The boy learns life lessons he must use later. Well written. Historical fiction.
I've never read louis l'amour before, and this was the first book I read by him, and I thought that it was pretty good.
L'Amour books are about more than westerns, it's about the values and mindsets of people who made this country great.
Grandpa gave me another bag of L'Amours, but said I can't keep these ones, so making a note.
Probably my favorite Louis L'Amour book, but any of the Sackett's series runs a close second!
my first Louis L'Amour novel. listened to it on audiobook and really enjoyed it!
Love where Louis L'amour takes me. This was a great story with fun characters.
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Louis L'Amour was an American author. L'Amour's books, primarily Western fiction, remain enormously popular, and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death all 101 of his works were in print (86 novels, 14 short-story collections and one full-length work of nonfiction) and he was considered "one of the world's most popular writers".
-Wikipedia
More about Louis L'Amour...
-Wikipedia
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Feb 19, 2013 05:50pm