Title: Hondo
Publication Year: 1953
Plot: 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 was a woman alone raising a young son on a remote Arizona ranch. And between Hondo Lane and Angie Lowe was the warrior Vittoro, whose people were preparing to rise against the white men. Now the pioneer woman, the gunman, and the Apache warrior are caught in a drama of love, war, and honor.
Miscellaneous: The screenplay is based on the 1952 Collier's short story "The Gift of Cochise" by Louis L'Amour. The book Hondo was a novelization of the film also written by L'Amour, and published by Gold Medal Books in 1953.
The readers thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The group leader said he had to look up a surprising amount of words because he didn’t quite know what they meant, like “arroyo.” And with this came a real sense of immersion. We agreed that L’Amour is an expert and transporting us to the world of Hondo. Similar with last week’s Riders of the Purple Sage, they all found it to be an enjoyable escape.
One reader commended L’Amour for his blend of romance and adventure. “This is a romance book written by a man for men.,” he said. “He sneaks it in there.” There were some great, melodramatic moments where Hondo and Angie kiss. Yes, the action drives the story, but the romantic relationship drives it just as much. With the exception of one reader, nobody felt the romance was contrived or “too much.”
Spoiler alert: nobody was happy when the dog died! Something about the horse dying in Riders and the dog in this novel really didn’t sit well. But the fact that it provokes these emotional reactions only speaks to the authors’ strength of writing the animal companions in detail. Johnny’s relationship with Hondo also evoked emotion. In the scene where Hondo threw the boy in water and told him how to swim reminded some of the readers of how they learned to swim, or their relationships with their fathers.
L’Amour’s depiction of Native Americans was appreciated by the readers as well. They commented that he makes them and their lifestyle cool and appealing. In short, L’Amour made every character three-dimensional. He gives special detail to everyone, making the world feel real and more lived-in.
Lastly, the novel smuggled in some sound bits of philosophy:
To each of us is given a life. To live with honor and to pass on having left our mark, it is only essential that we do our part, that we leave our children strong. Nothing exists long when its time is past. Wealth is important only to the small of mind. The important thing is to do the best one can with what one has.
L’Amour is not trying to obscure his thoughts or truths. He is not using a great allegory or metaphorical language. He lays it out plain a simple. And he does not let up. On the next page, he writes:
…reserve of judgement, and to judge no man or woman by a grouping, but each his own character, his own ground.
This wisdom is from Angie’s father to her, but we agreed everyone we know now should take that to heart. How would it be if people did not judge people based on the actions of a group but on their own character. L’Amour has something to say and he’s not shy about it!
The readers could not say enough good things about this slim little novel. The action, the romance, the characters, and the setting made for a great read. Everyone said they would read another L’Amour if they had the chance. Might have to work on getting some more in the prison library at some point.
Next week we’ll be discussing Willa Cather’s My Ántonia. A change in pace, to be sure, but I think it’ll be a worthwhile discussion. Hope you are reading something good!
Until then,
E
If you’d like to read Hondo, here are some links:
Libro.FM (narrated by David Straitharn!)