Western

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. ( )

Good western. I've read it twice. Not a bad John Wayne film too. This is L. L'Amour's first successful novel I think. Date is for the second reading. ( )

Hondo is a loner, a dispatch rider for the Army, avoiding warring Apaches through his knowledge and wits. Angie is a woman living alone on her ranch, with only a young child to keep her company, deserted by her husband. When Hondo shows up one day without a horse but toting a saddle a friendship between the two solitary people is begun.

I liked this much better than I'd recalled from a read of about 30 years ago. Lots of character development without all the self-reflection and angst that is found in some later L'Amour novels. The native tribes are presented as people too, not stereotypes. Good read, recommended. ( )

All right, four stars it is. Classic L'Amour, everything you could want from a Western and then some. For the 1950s, a surprisingly multi-faceted take on the Apache/white conflict. The history of the work (first a short story, then a film, then a novel based on the film that actually released before the film) is fun to know. I'm not sure any of the book's additional scenes are strictly necessary; when I want to revisit the story, I'll probably just watch John Wayne. But I'm glad to have read it as well. ( )