Louis L'Amour 2021 Shared Read Challenge
Discussão75 Books Challenge for 2021
Entre no LibraryThing para poder publicar.
1SilverWolf28
Hi everyone!
I volunteered to host this year's Louis L'Amour shared read challenge, and harrygbutler had some good suggestions for what to read. I combined his lists, alternating between books that have been made into movies, and books of short stories.
If you watch the movie please let us know how/if it differs from the book. You can just watch the movie if you want and still count it for the challenge.
January - The Broken Gun
February - Law of the Desert Born
March - Guns of the Timberlands
April - Buckskin Run
May - Last Stand at Papago Wells
June - The Hills of Homicide
July - Hondo
August - Night Over the Solomons
September - The Burning Hills
October - Lonigan
November - Utah Blaine
December - War Party
Here's the wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Louis_L%27Amour_2021_Shared_Read_Challen...
When you read a book simply add your name beneath the appropriate book.
I volunteered to host this year's Louis L'Amour shared read challenge, and harrygbutler had some good suggestions for what to read. I combined his lists, alternating between books that have been made into movies, and books of short stories.
If you watch the movie please let us know how/if it differs from the book. You can just watch the movie if you want and still count it for the challenge.
January - The Broken Gun
February - Law of the Desert Born
March - Guns of the Timberlands
April - Buckskin Run
May - Last Stand at Papago Wells
June - The Hills of Homicide
July - Hondo
August - Night Over the Solomons
September - The Burning Hills
October - Lonigan
November - Utah Blaine
December - War Party
Here's the wiki: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Louis_L%27Amour_2021_Shared_Read_Challen...
When you read a book simply add your name beneath the appropriate book.
2harrygbutler
Thanks for getting things started! I know I'll be trying to watch the corresponding movies whenever I can.
3SilverWolf28
I created the wiki!
4harrygbutler
>3 SilverWolf28: Thank you! I've already started reading The Broken Gun and should finish it within a day or so.
5SilverWolf28
>4 harrygbutler: You're welcome!
7fuzzi
I got sidetracked with Real Life Issues, have only read part of The Broken Gun...anyone finish this month's book?
8harrygbutler
>7 fuzzi: I've read The Broken Gun, and I've watched the movie loosely based on it (Cancel My Reservation). I'll try to post about them here sometime this weekend.
9fuzzi
>8 harrygbutler: movie, with Bob Hope?????
10harrygbutler
>9 fuzzi: Yep, that's the one.
11fuzzi
I have no recollection of reading this before, though I know I did...some 25-30 years ago.
The Broken Gun by Louis L'Amour
A mystery set in the American west, but in the mid twentieth century instead of the author's usual late 1800s period. Not L'Amour's best, but worth a read.
The Broken Gun by Louis L'Amour
A mystery set in the American west, but in the mid twentieth century instead of the author's usual late 1800s period. Not L'Amour's best, but worth a read.
12fuzzi
Law of the Desert Born by Louis L'Amour
This is an above-average collection of short stories by that iconic Western author. Included are two stories about Mathurin "Matt" Sabre, and one with Kim Sartain, familiar to those who have read stories of Ward McQueen from the Tumbling K ranch. Included, too, is the gripping "Trap of Gold", also in the "War Party" collection. Not a lame steer in this bunch, recommended to any who just like a good short story.
13fuzzi
One of my favorite Louis L'Amour short story collections Riding for the Brand is on sale today for $1.99 US at Amazon (and others):
https://www.amazon.com/Riding-Brand-Western-Louis-LAmour-ebook/dp/B00W0LW7JO?_bb...
https://www.amazon.com/Riding-Brand-Western-Louis-LAmour-ebook/dp/B00W0LW7JO?_bb...
14fuzzi
Guns of the Timberlands by Louis L'Amour
A stranger arrives in a small western town with a score of lumberjacks on payroll and the intent to cut down a growth of virgin timber before the government can stop him.
While a little slow to start, I felt this is one of the author's better stories.
16harrygbutler
>15 fuzzi: I've read all four books for the year so far, but I haven't gotten around to posting about them.
17fuzzi
>16 harrygbutler: I have Buckskin Run in the queue, should be getting to it by the weekend.
Looking forward to seeing your comments about this year's reads.
Looking forward to seeing your comments about this year's reads.
18harrygbutler
>17 fuzzi: I expect you'll enjoy Buckskin Run, as it's another collection of his short stories.
19fuzzi
>18 harrygbutler: I did, thanks!
Buckskin Run by Louis L'Amour
I feel that Louis L'Amour excels in the short story format, and this collection is a good example of entertaining and interesting stories set in the 1800's American west. I especially enjoyed Jackson of Horntown and Down the Pogonip Trail, and one other story in which the ending surprised me. Recommended.
Buckskin Run by Louis L'Amour
I feel that Louis L'Amour excels in the short story format, and this collection is a good example of entertaining and interesting stories set in the 1800's American west. I especially enjoyed Jackson of Horntown and Down the Pogonip Trail, and one other story in which the ending surprised me. Recommended.
20fuzzi
I needed a comfort read last night, so I chose Westward the Tide. I recall reading it before, though not the details. And since I haven't reviewed it here that tells me it's been long enough in between readings!
21fuzzi
Last Stand at Papago Wells by Louis L'Amour
A renegade group of Apaches are on the warpath, killing as they go. Meanwhile strangers converge at the only water hole for miles, hoping their numbers will hold off the attacks until help arrives...but will it?
A bit slow starting, but a solid middle and ending to this tale.
22countrylife
I only just figured out that we have a wiki this year. I've added myself to the books I've read, but I'm yet a month behind. I enjoy this group, though I don't post much. Thank you, SilverWolf, for running it.
23SilverWolf28
>22 countrylife: You're welcome!
24countrylife
My sister posted this in our family facebook group, because we have several L'Amour readers, and many of us are in Oklahoma. I don't know where she found it, but I thought the L'Amour history was interesting.
"My Search for Louis L’Amour
In the early 1990s, I read Louis L’Amour’s autobiography, “Education of a Wandering Man.” I was not a big fan of his but what interested me most about the book was a picture that depicted him living during the 1930s in Choctaw, Oklahoma. I have lived in Choctaw since 1977 and never had heard L’Amour had been a prior resident. The landscape in the picture also looked like part of my father’s farm in Choctaw.
I initially checked with the Choctaw Library, but they failed to come up with any information. In 1995, I read a book by Robert Polito on Oklahoma author Jim Thompson. The book noted that during the 1930s Thompson and L’Amour had been acquaintances in Oklahoma City.
In 2019, the Norman NPR station, KGOU, ran a series titled “How Curious.” My wife e-mailed them a question, did Louis L’Amour ever live in Choctaw, Oklahoma? The program contacted L’Amour’s son, Beau, who was living in Los Angeles. He verified L’Amour’s brother, Parker, had owned some property on Rural Route Two in Choctaw, Oklahoma. According to Beau, the author and his parents had lived on a farm there from 1931 until 1942. The program also checked with Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein. He advised he could not find any record of anyone named L’Amour owning property in Oklahoma County during that time.
In March 2020, I attended an author event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I met Robert Polito who had written the earlier book on Jim Thompson. Polito again verified that L’Amour had lived in the Oklahoma City area during the 1930s but he did not know the location of his residence.
Last year I was on a local Facebook page, “Friends of Choctaw.” It dawned on me that with 7,500 readers on the site, someone might have information on Louis L’Amour.
My post was only up a few minutes when the comments started rolling in. A Gary Shelby advised that Louie L’Amour and his family had lived in Choctaw on SE 12th Street, just about a block west of Choctaw Road. Shelby also advised his grandfather, J.D. Womack, worked at the Daily Oklahoman at the time. Louie L’Amour would ride with Womack into Oklahoma City almost every day. He would spend the day at the Oklahoma City Library and return to Choctaw with Womack in the evening. Shelby also noted L’Amour trained a boxing team in Choctaw and that his uncle, Johnny Womack, had been a member of the team. Another teammate, Albert Hester, became an Oklahoma Golden Gloves Champion. In his autobiography, L’Amour mentions training a group of young boxers when he lived in Choctaw.
Another Facebook respondent, Phyllis Weatherly, reported her parents were neighbors with the L’Amour’s on SE 12th Street. Her father also gave the author rides into Oklahoma City. L’Amour would spend the day writing at the Black Hotel and then ride back to Choctaw in the evening. Mrs. Weatherly recalls visiting with the L’Amours' as a young girl to get cookies. Finally, she showed me a copy of an abstract verifying the ownership of the 10 acres on SE 12th Street by Parker L’Amour. Viewing the abstract, I saw why it has been so hard to verify the ownership of the land. The author’s family spelled their last name Lamoore!
Finally, I would like to share a story I heard about Louis L’Amour from a high school friend, Gary Hardin. Back in 1962, Gary’s uncle, Van Hardin, met Louis L’Amour during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport while Van Hardin was on leave in the Navy. They talked and at some point the author wrote down Van Hardin’s name. Years later, Gary was reading one of Louis L’Amour’s book of short stories, “Dutchman Flats.” One of the characters in the book was named Van Hardin! Gary contacted his uncle who then tearfully told Gary the story of their meeting in Los Angeles many years before.
My wife and I eventurally drove over to SE 12th where the 10 acre farm used to be. It is about a mile from where I live now. On my property there used to be an old barn. All that is left is part of the foundation. People told my dad years ago that back in the 20s and 30s there used to be barn dances held there every weekend. I am confident that Louis L’Amour probably did a little dancing on my property.
Just like the old barn, sometimes time erases much of history. That said, old foundations remain that lead us to the truth. Thanks to everyone who contributed to help illuminate the path of my journey to find the Louis L’Amour/Choctaw connection."
"My Search for Louis L’Amour
In the early 1990s, I read Louis L’Amour’s autobiography, “Education of a Wandering Man.” I was not a big fan of his but what interested me most about the book was a picture that depicted him living during the 1930s in Choctaw, Oklahoma. I have lived in Choctaw since 1977 and never had heard L’Amour had been a prior resident. The landscape in the picture also looked like part of my father’s farm in Choctaw.
I initially checked with the Choctaw Library, but they failed to come up with any information. In 1995, I read a book by Robert Polito on Oklahoma author Jim Thompson. The book noted that during the 1930s Thompson and L’Amour had been acquaintances in Oklahoma City.
In 2019, the Norman NPR station, KGOU, ran a series titled “How Curious.” My wife e-mailed them a question, did Louis L’Amour ever live in Choctaw, Oklahoma? The program contacted L’Amour’s son, Beau, who was living in Los Angeles. He verified L’Amour’s brother, Parker, had owned some property on Rural Route Two in Choctaw, Oklahoma. According to Beau, the author and his parents had lived on a farm there from 1931 until 1942. The program also checked with Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein. He advised he could not find any record of anyone named L’Amour owning property in Oklahoma County during that time.
In March 2020, I attended an author event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I met Robert Polito who had written the earlier book on Jim Thompson. Polito again verified that L’Amour had lived in the Oklahoma City area during the 1930s but he did not know the location of his residence.
Last year I was on a local Facebook page, “Friends of Choctaw.” It dawned on me that with 7,500 readers on the site, someone might have information on Louis L’Amour.
My post was only up a few minutes when the comments started rolling in. A Gary Shelby advised that Louie L’Amour and his family had lived in Choctaw on SE 12th Street, just about a block west of Choctaw Road. Shelby also advised his grandfather, J.D. Womack, worked at the Daily Oklahoman at the time. Louie L’Amour would ride with Womack into Oklahoma City almost every day. He would spend the day at the Oklahoma City Library and return to Choctaw with Womack in the evening. Shelby also noted L’Amour trained a boxing team in Choctaw and that his uncle, Johnny Womack, had been a member of the team. Another teammate, Albert Hester, became an Oklahoma Golden Gloves Champion. In his autobiography, L’Amour mentions training a group of young boxers when he lived in Choctaw.
Another Facebook respondent, Phyllis Weatherly, reported her parents were neighbors with the L’Amour’s on SE 12th Street. Her father also gave the author rides into Oklahoma City. L’Amour would spend the day writing at the Black Hotel and then ride back to Choctaw in the evening. Mrs. Weatherly recalls visiting with the L’Amours' as a young girl to get cookies. Finally, she showed me a copy of an abstract verifying the ownership of the 10 acres on SE 12th Street by Parker L’Amour. Viewing the abstract, I saw why it has been so hard to verify the ownership of the land. The author’s family spelled their last name Lamoore!
Finally, I would like to share a story I heard about Louis L’Amour from a high school friend, Gary Hardin. Back in 1962, Gary’s uncle, Van Hardin, met Louis L’Amour during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport while Van Hardin was on leave in the Navy. They talked and at some point the author wrote down Van Hardin’s name. Years later, Gary was reading one of Louis L’Amour’s book of short stories, “Dutchman Flats.” One of the characters in the book was named Van Hardin! Gary contacted his uncle who then tearfully told Gary the story of their meeting in Los Angeles many years before.
My wife and I eventurally drove over to SE 12th where the 10 acre farm used to be. It is about a mile from where I live now. On my property there used to be an old barn. All that is left is part of the foundation. People told my dad years ago that back in the 20s and 30s there used to be barn dances held there every weekend. I am confident that Louis L’Amour probably did a little dancing on my property.
Just like the old barn, sometimes time erases much of history. That said, old foundations remain that lead us to the truth. Thanks to everyone who contributed to help illuminate the path of my journey to find the Louis L’Amour/Choctaw connection."
25harrygbutler
>24 countrylife: Thanks for sharing!
26fuzzi
>24 countrylife: I enjoyed that recollection quite a bit.
27fuzzi
Finished reading Hondo, it was better than I recalled from my previous read, about 30 years ago.
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.
28fuzzi
Hello? Anyone here?
Due to a severe reading slump I did not read the August book.
Here's the September read:
The Burning Hills by Louis L'Amour
Pretty good read about a posse trying to eliminate someone who killed a cattle baron, even though it was done in self-defense. The interesting portion of this story is who comes to his aid, though some of the scenes might cause modern readers a little discomfort.
Due to a severe reading slump I did not read the August book.
Here's the September read:
The Burning Hills by Louis L'Amour
Pretty good read about a posse trying to eliminate someone who killed a cattle baron, even though it was done in self-defense. The interesting portion of this story is who comes to his aid, though some of the scenes might cause modern readers a little discomfort.
29fuzzi
Forgot to post my review of Lonigan for October...
Lonigan by Louis L'Amour
Good, solid set of stories about people and situations in the west.
And now November's book:
Utah Blaine by Louis L'Amour
One of my favorites by this author. A young gunfighter finds himself hired to manage a huge ranch in the middle of a range war. Interesting characters, plenty of action, fun read.
Lonigan by Louis L'Amour
Good, solid set of stories about people and situations in the west.
And now November's book:
Utah Blaine by Louis L'Amour
One of my favorites by this author. A young gunfighter finds himself hired to manage a huge ranch in the middle of a range war. Interesting characters, plenty of action, fun read.
30countrylife
I did better on this challenge when more books were available in audiobook from my library. These last months, the only editions available have been paper books, so I'm way behind. I did update the wiki for the ones that I have completed.
31fuzzi
>30 countrylife: my bad, I forgot all about the wiki!
32fuzzi
War Party by Louis L'Amour
(Review from 2014)
War Party continues to be one of my favorite collections of short stories by this author. The story that gave this book its name was later expanded into Bendigo Shafter, in which one of the key characters is a strong and resourceful widow. The Gift of Cochise was eventually expanded into a full length story, Hondo, which is a good novel in itself but I prefer the simplicity of the shorter version. Even virtually unknown stories such as One for the Pot, about a mail-order bride's role in a land war, remain my favorite "comfort reads", to be read and enjoyed over and over. If you want to see why some of us enjoy Louis L'Amour's books so much, this would be a good place to start reading.
33fuzzi
>1 SilverWolf28: will you be hosting another L'Amour challenge in 2022?
34SilverWolf28
If you want me to I will.
37SilverWolf28
>35 fuzzi: Okay I will.
38SilverWolf28
Does anyone have suggestions for what to read?
39fuzzi
>38 SilverWolf28: short story collections?
We did some collections in 2021, but not these 13:
Beyond the Great Snow Mountains
Bowdrie
Bowdrie's Law
Dutchman's Flat
End of the Drive
From the Listening Hills
Long Ride Home
May There Be a Road
Riding For the Brand
The Strong Shall Live
Valley of the Sun
West of Dodge
Yondering
We did some collections in 2021, but not these 13:
Beyond the Great Snow Mountains
Bowdrie
Bowdrie's Law
Dutchman's Flat
End of the Drive
From the Listening Hills
Long Ride Home
May There Be a Road
Riding For the Brand
The Strong Shall Live
Valley of the Sun
West of Dodge
Yondering
40SilverWolf28
>39 fuzzi: This will work good. I'll set it up tonight or tomorrow night.
41fuzzi
>40 SilverWolf28: yippee!
42harrygbutler
>40 SilverWolf28: Thank you! I did read all the books for 2021's challenge, but I've not been on LT much at all. I'll definitely take part again in 2022.
