Hondo
Author: Louis L'Amour
Genre: Western
Publication Date: 1953
Number of Pages: 191
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Geographical Setting: Arizona/Apache Land
Subject Heading: western, gun fights, Apaches, ranch, land rights
Summary: Hondo Lane is a gunslinger who has a reputation. He once lived with the Apaches and had an Indian wife. Now he works for the cavalry and on occasion doles out his own form of justice. Angie Lowe has been abandoned by her gambling, alcoholic husband and left to run her ranch and raise her son alone. Both of them are in Apache land and the Apaches have vowed to rid their lands of the white man. Hondo meets Angie while he is scouting for the cavalry and is drawn to her instantly. She does not understand why a woman would live alone with her son on land that the Apaches intend to claim as their own. Angie has always gotten along with the Apaches. Her son is an honorary blood brother. Vittoro, chief of the Apaches, has bonded with Angie's son and wants him to learn the Apache way. This is the condition of Angie and Johnny staying on their ranch. When worlds collide Hondo and Angie are both questioning what is right and what they should do to survive the war that has started in the West between the Apaches and the white man.
Western Elements:
Loner hero is a central character to Westerns. Hondo Lane lives alone and from the first description of him a reader can pick up on this detail. He can take care of himself but he has a sense of justice in the world that he instantly gains respect from strangers. He is known throughout the West and is admired by all who meet him. He is the loner hero.
Detailed landscapes are prominent in every chapter. Between Hondo, Angie, and Vittoro readers can picture the Arizona ranch or the hills where the Apaches live. This takes readers back to a forgotten era and they can imagine each part of the story in their heads and get a sense for the surrounding landscapes. Not only are the landscapes detailed but the animals and people.
3 Terms to Describe the Book:
- Vivid characters
- Fast paced
- Action packed
Read-Alikes:
- The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
- Tucker's Reckoning: A Ralph Compton Novel by Matthew P. Mayo
- North of Laramie by William W. Johnstone
- Rio Grande (1950)
- Broken Arrow (1950)
- Broken Trail (2006)
- Cheyenne (1955)
References for the Western Elements Section:
Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.
Excellent annotation! Full points!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds super interesting! Did you enjoy it? Last year I read my first ever western, True Grit, and was surprised by how much I loved it.
ReplyDeleteHi Darla,
DeleteIt was really good! It started a little slow for me but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. I listened to it on audio and read some of the print version, and I could picture it being a western movie (it is). I have never read westerns but I love watching movies so I figured why not try a classic author for the genre. I will have to give True Grit a try.
Abby Abbott
Abby,
ReplyDeleteLouis L'Amour is the most popular Western author at our library. Despite checking them out a lot and hearing patrons talk a bit about them, I had not really looked into them. Your summary intrigued me. The only book I have read that was maybe a Western is An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris. I like the author so thought it would be a good intro into the genre. I will have to expand my horizons and give another one a try!
Hi Bobbi,
DeleteHe has always been popular at our library as well and I figured he was the best place to start for westerns.
Abby Abbott