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The Lonesome Gods
Orphan Johannes Verne, raised partly by desert Indians, seeks his fortune in the Palm Springs desert amid the opportunity of early Los Angeles, in a tale of the California frontier
450 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1983
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4,455 people want to read
About the author
Louis L'Amour
908 books3,274 followersLouis Dearborn L'Amour was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels, though he called his work "frontier stories". His most widely known Western fiction works include Last of the Breed, Hondo, Shalako, and the Sackett series. L'Amour also wrote historical fiction (The Walking Drum), science fiction (The Haunted Mesa), non-fiction (Frontier), and poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into films. His books remain popular and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death, almost all of his 105 existing works (89 novels, 14 short-story collections, and two full-length works of nonfiction) were still in print, and he was "one of the world's most popular writers".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 754 reviews
May 7, 2020
Johannes Verne repeats often....I am Johannes Verne , and I am not afraid; he needs to. As a boy of six traveling many weeks from New Mexico to California in the early 1840's, inside a single slow moving wagon with his brave dying father Zachary , a widower and a few others including the kind Miss Nesselrode , he will require continuous courage . Toxic outlaws, unfriendly Indians and hot deserts, cold mountains, dangerous animals, bad weather a smorgasbord of death. However little Johannes must get to his grandfather's ranch near the sleepy town of Los Angeles, population 3,000 ( now 4 million) the only relative he will soon have left , but there are complications. Grandpa from an old, wealthy very distinguished Spanish family hates him, his despised father eloped with the only daughter fleeing into the desert, pursued by a vengeful incensed Don Isidro, leaving the hacienda to kill the outrageous foreigner. Life is unpredictable, sometimes turning unexpectedly in a different path....salvation. Mr. Zachary Verne and the bride Consuelo avoid destruction as the posse and I use the word loosely unending hunt, bares pebbles instead of fruit. The better man wins for now at least, an expert in surviving the land of sand and rock, the desolate Mojave Desert can be beautiful if you discover delicious water which refreshes the throat. For the seemingly empty territory a spirituality to fill our mind, existence has meaning and the earth a place of wonder and happiness. If we just stop and looks around, nature has a soothing effect for the agitated....But the harsh seething desert will never give up its prey, a perceived mirage nearby , a big hope for the distraught two,
stay solid and the alluring lake wet , the couple becomes discombobulated ...Anyhow years pass and coming from the civilized east, Mr.Zachary miscalculated the still strong intensity of the old gentleman, the proud Don's hate has not been quenched until he kills the fiend who stole the beloved daughter and her mistake . Poor little Johannes, suffering greatly like his intrepid much loved father before, all alone in the merciless terrain trying to find an oasis, step by step the boy walks not towards the sunset but in the opposite direction the mountains, nevertheless says he is not afraid...The reader almost believes him... One of Louis L'Amour's outstanding efforts, the love of the outdoors reverberates through the entire novel, a feeling which makes for an ideal adventure beauty and ugliness side by side, come to think .... like the real world. An adult western which rises above the genre and becomes plainly much more...
stay solid and the alluring lake wet , the couple becomes discombobulated ...Anyhow years pass and coming from the civilized east, Mr.Zachary miscalculated the still strong intensity of the old gentleman, the proud Don's hate has not been quenched until he kills the fiend who stole the beloved daughter and her mistake . Poor little Johannes, suffering greatly like his intrepid much loved father before, all alone in the merciless terrain trying to find an oasis, step by step the boy walks not towards the sunset but in the opposite direction the mountains, nevertheless says he is not afraid...The reader almost believes him... One of Louis L'Amour's outstanding efforts, the love of the outdoors reverberates through the entire novel, a feeling which makes for an ideal adventure beauty and ugliness side by side, come to think .... like the real world. An adult western which rises above the genre and becomes plainly much more...
March 29, 2015
This was my first Louis L'Amour and I was blown away. I had an unfair prejudice against L'Amour based on tidbits of conversations I had overheard as a child that proved to be totally irrelevant to the writing of the this brilliant author. I wish that I had not leapt to conclusions and in so doing been led astray for so long. I am grateful that this book was recommended reading in my scholarship group because it has given me a whole new world and author to fall in love with.
This book is nothing short of exciting and inspiring. I spent the first half of the book highlighting most of what Johannes's father and Miss Nesselrod said. The life lessons in those admonitions were powerful and are timeless. The second half of the book had fewer teachable moments and more of an exercise in moral stamina. What a brilliant commentary for life! Learn the lessons intellectually as a child and walk them out both then but especially as an adult.
This book is romantic, high adventure, rich with Spanish, Mexican, Indian and Anglo Californian culture and alive with literature. It even reaches a bit into Asian nomadic culture for a great plot twist. I love L'Amour's use of classic novels to foster friendship and serve as a currency for love and communication.When it was finished, I was satisfied but also wanting more.
I finished today but am starting it tonight with my family for family read aloud. Two thumbs up!
This book is nothing short of exciting and inspiring. I spent the first half of the book highlighting most of what Johannes's father and Miss Nesselrod said. The life lessons in those admonitions were powerful and are timeless. The second half of the book had fewer teachable moments and more of an exercise in moral stamina. What a brilliant commentary for life! Learn the lessons intellectually as a child and walk them out both then but especially as an adult.
This book is romantic, high adventure, rich with Spanish, Mexican, Indian and Anglo Californian culture and alive with literature. It even reaches a bit into Asian nomadic culture for a great plot twist. I love L'Amour's use of classic novels to foster friendship and serve as a currency for love and communication.When it was finished, I was satisfied but also wanting more.
I finished today but am starting it tonight with my family for family read aloud. Two thumbs up!
January 31, 2008
This book was not just a cowboy, shoot ‘em up story, but if it weren’t an assignment, I don’t know if I would have read it. My sister said it was a book for old men! If you have children that you want to grow up with a strong moral character and the best education they can possibly get, this book is a must read. It is a model for an excellent education. Louis L’Amour makes it clear that history taught in public schools is not accurate, pointing out that Christopher Columbus only “discovered” a land that has been inhabited and discovered for centuries before he came along.
The main character Johannes had an intelligent father and he was driven to learn from classic literature all that he could and was on a quest to become a man of character through his life experiences and choices. He killed a lot of men, but only in self-defense and in defense of what he stood for. Like his father, he wanted to learn more of how government works so he could become a great citizen and be a part of what Los Angeles could become. At the age of 3 his parents were reading him literature that most American parents wouldn’t even consider reading to their kids and probably have a hard time understanding themselves!
Johannes’ life wasn’t driven by revenge mainly because he read books which expanded his mind. Through characters he read about, he gained compassion and understanding from his enemy’s perspective. He didn’t have a lot of life experience that would teach him that compassion and he could have spiraled into misery just focusing on avenging his father’s death.
The mystery giant who read a lot of books and built the house of Tahquitz was one of my favorite characters. He was misunderstood by most people, he loved learning and gleaned knowledge from literature like “The Illiad” and he had a passion for creating beauty with his hands. The main theme of this book seems to be, discovering what your mission and passion in life is through a great education and making wise choices.
The main character Johannes had an intelligent father and he was driven to learn from classic literature all that he could and was on a quest to become a man of character through his life experiences and choices. He killed a lot of men, but only in self-defense and in defense of what he stood for. Like his father, he wanted to learn more of how government works so he could become a great citizen and be a part of what Los Angeles could become. At the age of 3 his parents were reading him literature that most American parents wouldn’t even consider reading to their kids and probably have a hard time understanding themselves!
Johannes’ life wasn’t driven by revenge mainly because he read books which expanded his mind. Through characters he read about, he gained compassion and understanding from his enemy’s perspective. He didn’t have a lot of life experience that would teach him that compassion and he could have spiraled into misery just focusing on avenging his father’s death.
The mystery giant who read a lot of books and built the house of Tahquitz was one of my favorite characters. He was misunderstood by most people, he loved learning and gleaned knowledge from literature like “The Illiad” and he had a passion for creating beauty with his hands. The main theme of this book seems to be, discovering what your mission and passion in life is through a great education and making wise choices.
September 13, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. For most of my life I had no desire to see California and then two years ago I visited it and fell in love. This book makes even the desert sound enticing.
November 17, 2008
I read this book as it was part of the follow-on "assignments" included as part of the epilogue in "A Thomas Jefferson Education." I never would have selected it on my own. It was exceptional, and the ties to "A Thomas Jefferson..." were apparent. An entertaining read, full of wonderful "gems" of wisdom.
The protagonist is well developed, perhaps over developed. The evil that pursues him is absolutely abomiable but also quite reflective of contemporary selfishness and materialism. I would have loved to see the relationship between the protagonist and his true love develop more, but that is perhaps another book and more likely, another author.
The protagonist is well developed, perhaps over developed. The evil that pursues him is absolutely abomiable but also quite reflective of contemporary selfishness and materialism. I would have loved to see the relationship between the protagonist and his true love develop more, but that is perhaps another book and more likely, another author.
May 6, 2022
Wow!
That is the best I can say abut this book. To think that my husband has all his books, and while I read one of them years ago, I was not impressed. I did not give L’Amour a real chance, and my husband kept telling me to read this book, but it is only now that I listened.
L’Amour should have won the Pulitzer for this book. It was better than “The Lonesome Dove” but not by much. It is better than A.B. Guthrie’s trilogy. If you love any of these books, you should read it. I suggested these other books to my husband, but they are on my Kindle, and he doesn’t like the Kindle. He suggested I also read “Comstock Lode” by L’Amoure. It is on my list. Anyway, I wished that this book had never ended. I wish it had never ended. Maybe someday I will forget the story in time and be able to read it again.
Louis L’Amour loved California, particularly Los Angeles. He moved there in the 20s and died there on June 10, 1988, three weeks before I met my husband and his stack of L’Amour books I loved the history in the book and learned tht L’Amour did a lot of research. I can understand now why my husband likes them. As for Los Angeles, well, I am not a fan. I am not a fan of the desert either. As for the desert, L”Amour made it the most interesting part of the book. It mostly centers around Aqua Caliente. I wish that I had visited the area, which is now an Indian reservation. It isn’t that I didn’t like the story when the main character was in Los Angeles, I just preferred the desert, how it looked, how to find water, and how the main character, Johannes, survived in it.
L’Amour claimed to not be a writer. He was just a storyteller. I can understand that and felt so myself. I felt it with another book I read, “Gold River Canyon’s Dead,” which is another book I highly recommend.
That is the best I can say abut this book. To think that my husband has all his books, and while I read one of them years ago, I was not impressed. I did not give L’Amour a real chance, and my husband kept telling me to read this book, but it is only now that I listened.
L’Amour should have won the Pulitzer for this book. It was better than “The Lonesome Dove” but not by much. It is better than A.B. Guthrie’s trilogy. If you love any of these books, you should read it. I suggested these other books to my husband, but they are on my Kindle, and he doesn’t like the Kindle. He suggested I also read “Comstock Lode” by L’Amoure. It is on my list. Anyway, I wished that this book had never ended. I wish it had never ended. Maybe someday I will forget the story in time and be able to read it again.
Louis L’Amour loved California, particularly Los Angeles. He moved there in the 20s and died there on June 10, 1988, three weeks before I met my husband and his stack of L’Amour books I loved the history in the book and learned tht L’Amour did a lot of research. I can understand now why my husband likes them. As for Los Angeles, well, I am not a fan. I am not a fan of the desert either. As for the desert, L”Amour made it the most interesting part of the book. It mostly centers around Aqua Caliente. I wish that I had visited the area, which is now an Indian reservation. It isn’t that I didn’t like the story when the main character was in Los Angeles, I just preferred the desert, how it looked, how to find water, and how the main character, Johannes, survived in it.
L’Amour claimed to not be a writer. He was just a storyteller. I can understand that and felt so myself. I felt it with another book I read, “Gold River Canyon’s Dead,” which is another book I highly recommend.
March 2, 2010
I read The Lonesome Gods because it was recommended in A Thomas Jefferson Education as one of five books to start one’s classic library. The reviews claimed it was Louis L’Amour’s biggest and most important historical novel. That may be true, but it didn’t measure up to the level of classic literature.
The coming-to-manhood of Johannes Verne is reflected in the story’s setting: the mid 1840s, as Los Angeles grows from a sleepy Mexican town to a major West Coast trading center. Young Verne crosses the dangerous western desert with his dying father and others in a wagon headed to California, where he will be put in the care of his grandfather. The grandfather, is also seeking the boy and his father with the intent to kill them both. He succeeds in killing the father, then leaves young Johannes in the desert to die. With the help of Indians, trappers, and renegades, Johannes survives and learns that the desert is a beautiful place for those who have the patience and strength to learn its secrets.
He is self-educated, pouring over the small library of classic books his father left him. I believe this is why the book was so highly recommended by the Thomas Jefferson Education folks. He continues his education in Los Angeles under the protection of the savvy Miss Nesselrode, who had come across the desert in that first wagon with him. Fights at school and evading his grandfather mean that he must always be proving his courage and his resourcefulness. His mantra is “I am Jules Verne. I am not afraid.” And he always does the necessary thing.
I was expecting a rugged, boy-becomes-man story from Louis L’Amour, and in that I was not disappointed. Courage, quick thinking, determination, overcoming fear, developing strength of body and mind, honor, saving the day and the girl – developing true grit – this was all there, well developed, and worth exploring. I was expecting to discover these things on my own, and in that I was disappointed. L’Amour wanted to make sure I understood his agenda, and so he repeated it. Often. Almost ad nauseum. Strike one for “classic” status. Symbolism is not absent, especially in names; the most obvious example is Johannes, son of Zachary, (what other John, son of Zacharias, lived in the desert on locusts and honey?) and Verne (tough, gritty, adventuresome, honorable, like the French author). But the symbolism is surface level, not woven skillfully into the fabric of the work; strike two. I expected to be changed by the book, to learn about myself as I learned about the characters, to identify with someone, to want to become something more. These expectations were met more on the level of young adult literature, not strong adult literature, and certainly not classic literature. A “classic” can be classified thus because it breaks new ground, even if it isn’t especially well-written – like Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone. I didn’t see how this book tried something new and daring. It was a good historical fiction that started well, slowed in the middle, and had a gripping many-faceted climax. It was definitely a clean book – my husband and three teens read it at the same time. It’s a good, solid western with static stock characters (you always know who the bad guys are – nobody changes sides) and a classic, shoot-em-up showdown between the good guys and the bad guys. But not a classic – and not for everyone.
The coming-to-manhood of Johannes Verne is reflected in the story’s setting: the mid 1840s, as Los Angeles grows from a sleepy Mexican town to a major West Coast trading center. Young Verne crosses the dangerous western desert with his dying father and others in a wagon headed to California, where he will be put in the care of his grandfather. The grandfather, is also seeking the boy and his father with the intent to kill them both. He succeeds in killing the father, then leaves young Johannes in the desert to die. With the help of Indians, trappers, and renegades, Johannes survives and learns that the desert is a beautiful place for those who have the patience and strength to learn its secrets.
He is self-educated, pouring over the small library of classic books his father left him. I believe this is why the book was so highly recommended by the Thomas Jefferson Education folks. He continues his education in Los Angeles under the protection of the savvy Miss Nesselrode, who had come across the desert in that first wagon with him. Fights at school and evading his grandfather mean that he must always be proving his courage and his resourcefulness. His mantra is “I am Jules Verne. I am not afraid.” And he always does the necessary thing.
I was expecting a rugged, boy-becomes-man story from Louis L’Amour, and in that I was not disappointed. Courage, quick thinking, determination, overcoming fear, developing strength of body and mind, honor, saving the day and the girl – developing true grit – this was all there, well developed, and worth exploring. I was expecting to discover these things on my own, and in that I was disappointed. L’Amour wanted to make sure I understood his agenda, and so he repeated it. Often. Almost ad nauseum. Strike one for “classic” status. Symbolism is not absent, especially in names; the most obvious example is Johannes, son of Zachary, (what other John, son of Zacharias, lived in the desert on locusts and honey?) and Verne (tough, gritty, adventuresome, honorable, like the French author). But the symbolism is surface level, not woven skillfully into the fabric of the work; strike two. I expected to be changed by the book, to learn about myself as I learned about the characters, to identify with someone, to want to become something more. These expectations were met more on the level of young adult literature, not strong adult literature, and certainly not classic literature. A “classic” can be classified thus because it breaks new ground, even if it isn’t especially well-written – like Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone. I didn’t see how this book tried something new and daring. It was a good historical fiction that started well, slowed in the middle, and had a gripping many-faceted climax. It was definitely a clean book – my husband and three teens read it at the same time. It’s a good, solid western with static stock characters (you always know who the bad guys are – nobody changes sides) and a classic, shoot-em-up showdown between the good guys and the bad guys. But not a classic – and not for everyone.
July 23, 2021
Standard Western fare made 4 star by L'Amour's dialogue. The hero gets a vast fortune, the beautiful woman and the best horse too !!
June 11, 2022
Well! This completely surprised me. My first western will not be my last. This was a great story, and following Johannes Verne through his myriad of wildernesses kept me engaged until the last page. This is definitely something I will be having my boys read as they get older.
Favorite quotes::
“Much of what I say may be nonsense, but a few things I have learned, and the most important is that he who ceases to learn is already a half-dead man. And do not be like an oyster who rests on the sea bottom waiting for the good things to come by. Search for them, find them.”
“I do not know what else I shall leave my son, but if I have left him a love of language, of literature, a taste of Homer, for the poets, the people who have told our story—and by ‘our’ I mean the story of mankind—then he will have legacy enough.”
“Actually,” he said one morning, “all education is self-education. A teacher is only a guide, to point out the way, and no school, no matter how excellent, can give you an education.”
Long since, I had learned that one needs moments of quiet, moments of stillness, for both the inner and outer man, a moment of contemplation or even simple emptiness when the stress could ease away and a calmness enter the tissues. Such moments of quiet gave one strength, gave one coolness of mind with which to approach the world and its problems. Sometimes but a few minutes were needed.
“That he was like the others? He is not. He is vastly more complicated and much more simple. He has read more than anyone I know, but what is more important, he thinks.
“He thinks about what he has read, about what he has seen, and about what he has learned.”
Favorite quotes::
“Much of what I say may be nonsense, but a few things I have learned, and the most important is that he who ceases to learn is already a half-dead man. And do not be like an oyster who rests on the sea bottom waiting for the good things to come by. Search for them, find them.”
“I do not know what else I shall leave my son, but if I have left him a love of language, of literature, a taste of Homer, for the poets, the people who have told our story—and by ‘our’ I mean the story of mankind—then he will have legacy enough.”
“Actually,” he said one morning, “all education is self-education. A teacher is only a guide, to point out the way, and no school, no matter how excellent, can give you an education.”
Long since, I had learned that one needs moments of quiet, moments of stillness, for both the inner and outer man, a moment of contemplation or even simple emptiness when the stress could ease away and a calmness enter the tissues. Such moments of quiet gave one strength, gave one coolness of mind with which to approach the world and its problems. Sometimes but a few minutes were needed.
“That he was like the others? He is not. He is vastly more complicated and much more simple. He has read more than anyone I know, but what is more important, he thinks.
“He thinks about what he has read, about what he has seen, and about what he has learned.”
August 24, 2021
Nice to read a Louis again after a break. The Lonesome Gods tells the story of Johannes Verne growing from a child to manhood in Los Angelos. His father killed on the orders of his Grandfather and left to die in the desert.
This is a great story and tells the early history of LA. The indomitable Miss Nesselrode adopts the abandoned Johannes and we watch as he develops. The chase in the desert and his survival are epic. The round up of the wild horses, the mysterious giant and of course the baddies Fletcher, the Don’s and Rad.
An enjoyable read. My second time and brought back memories of deserts I have been too.
This is a great story and tells the early history of LA. The indomitable Miss Nesselrode adopts the abandoned Johannes and we watch as he develops. The chase in the desert and his survival are epic. The round up of the wild horses, the mysterious giant and of course the baddies Fletcher, the Don’s and Rad.
An enjoyable read. My second time and brought back memories of deserts I have been too.
October 23, 2014
This is a long book for L'Amour. He spends some time getting philosophical - a boy on his own living in the desert, communing with nature, learning & such. There's a good look at early Los Angeles - well, it sounded good to me. I can't vouch for actual historical accuracy, though. It was interesting, not just a shoot 'em up.
July 30, 2023
At 450 pages, The Lonesome Gods is easily the longest L'Amour novel I've read. And my favorite to date. L'Amour hasn't just taken one of his typical plots and dragged out the action. There is greater complexity, with several sidelines of interest. It is 1842 and Johannes Verne, a 6 year-old boy, is being taken in a stagecoach by his widower father Zachary from Santa Fe to the town of Los Angeles, population 3,000. His father Zachary is dying, and the only family Johannes will have are his maternal grandfather Don Isidro and his sister, Johannes' great aunt Elena. Uno problema: when Zachary ran off with Consuela, Don Isidro was furious that his family's bloodline would be contaminated. He led a posse of men after Zachary but was unable to catch him. However, Zachary feels that he has no other option but to deliver his son Johannes into Don Isidro and Elena's care, and hopes that things have since cooled off. An old friend of Zachary's meets them on the way, and convinces Zachary that his plan is foolhardy, and entices them to stay with him. There in the desert, in the area of current-day Joshua Tree National Park, Johannes befriends a boy of the Cahuilla tribe, and fortuitously becomes something of an honorary member. Some years later Don Isidro gets wind of Zachary's location and brings men to finish the job. Johannes is rendered an orphan and is led 40 miles further into the desert and left to die. He survives, using the skills and knowledge his father and the Cahuilla people taught him, and the bulk of the novel involves three plot lines:
1. Johannes' care in Los Angeles by a savvy woman who had also been on the stagecoach and who had promised Zachary to look after Johannes. Miss Nesselrode has always been secretive about her past.
2. Johannes' love interest, his beautiful schoolmate Meghan Laurel.
3. The ongoing situation with Don Isidro - will he discover Johannes ? If so, what will he do ?
The novel is alternately narrated in the first person by the young Johannes and by a third person omniscient narrator. L'Amour fans know that he loves to write of man's kinship with nature, and how that relationship soars when he or she is alone in the wilderness. At one point, the tar pits of La Brea, a favorite place of mine, are mentioned. For horse aficionados there is a special wild stallion that plays a part in the book.
I did have a couple of problems with The Lonesome Gods. When a man from Miss Nesselrode's mysterious past shows up, and we are leaning in to finally get the scoop on her, Johannes fails to ask the important questions of him ! And as usual, L'Amour's heroes, in this case Zachary Verne and his son Johannes, are flawed in that they have no flaws.
My favorite section of the novel involved the long buildup to its climax. I always enjoy L'Amour's knowledge of the tricks of the trade when men are trailing other men -pursuit situations. Here he sets up the suspense and maintains it perfectly.
1. Johannes' care in Los Angeles by a savvy woman who had also been on the stagecoach and who had promised Zachary to look after Johannes. Miss Nesselrode has always been secretive about her past.
2. Johannes' love interest, his beautiful schoolmate Meghan Laurel.
3. The ongoing situation with Don Isidro - will he discover Johannes ? If so, what will he do ?
The novel is alternately narrated in the first person by the young Johannes and by a third person omniscient narrator. L'Amour fans know that he loves to write of man's kinship with nature, and how that relationship soars when he or she is alone in the wilderness. At one point, the tar pits of La Brea, a favorite place of mine, are mentioned. For horse aficionados there is a special wild stallion that plays a part in the book.
I did have a couple of problems with The Lonesome Gods. When a man from Miss Nesselrode's mysterious past shows up, and we are leaning in to finally get the scoop on her, Johannes fails to ask the important questions of him ! And as usual, L'Amour's heroes, in this case Zachary Verne and his son Johannes, are flawed in that they have no flaws.
My favorite section of the novel involved the long buildup to its climax. I always enjoy L'Amour's knowledge of the tricks of the trade when men are trailing other men -pursuit situations. Here he sets up the suspense and maintains it perfectly.
December 8, 2010
Take a jaunt through mid-19th-century Southern California with Louis L'Amour. He earned all five stars from this California girl for historical and geographical research and accuracy. The story follows orphan Johannes Verne from age seven through early manhood. He grows up with the territory, and always has to watch his backside because his wealthy Californio grandfather wants him dead. But he is Johannes Verne, and he is not afraid.
There are some minor plot flaws, and the ending felt a little weak, but this is good old-fashioned FUN reading. Heroes and villains and stagecoach rides and Indians and wild horse round-ups and manhunts and shoot-outs and daring rescues and, oh, my, even cowboy philosophy! One of the nicest features of L'Amour's books is that his characters spout a lot of wisdom when they get down to philosophizin'.
This book was comfort reading for me. It took me back to my teen years, when I used to stay up way too late on school nights devouring L'Amour's paperback westerns like popcorn. I especially loved them as a teen because all the female characters are smart, brave, and independent. I always tried to imagine myself as one of those dames---wearin' my six-shooter, ridin' my pony on a cattle drive. Oh, wait! That was Lonesome Dove, not Lonesome Gods. Well, I could be a Lonesome Goddess, anyway. I think I already am.
My mom recommended this book to me. She is a Louis L'Amour *phreak*, and she says it's his very best. I'll take her word for it.
There are some minor plot flaws, and the ending felt a little weak, but this is good old-fashioned FUN reading. Heroes and villains and stagecoach rides and Indians and wild horse round-ups and manhunts and shoot-outs and daring rescues and, oh, my, even cowboy philosophy! One of the nicest features of L'Amour's books is that his characters spout a lot of wisdom when they get down to philosophizin'.
This book was comfort reading for me. It took me back to my teen years, when I used to stay up way too late on school nights devouring L'Amour's paperback westerns like popcorn. I especially loved them as a teen because all the female characters are smart, brave, and independent. I always tried to imagine myself as one of those dames---wearin' my six-shooter, ridin' my pony on a cattle drive. Oh, wait! That was Lonesome Dove, not Lonesome Gods. Well, I could be a Lonesome Goddess, anyway. I think I already am.
My mom recommended this book to me. She is a Louis L'Amour *phreak*, and she says it's his very best. I'll take her word for it.
August 28, 2018
By my count, The Lonesome Gods was Louis L'Amour’s 83rd novel and the book’s contents align with that impressive production of words. Within these pages is a story produced by a professional storyteller. The characters all have their turn at doing interesting things, they all have an inspirational line or two, and the story is entertaining.
But that’s just about all that The Lonesome Gods is: an entertaining story. The characters are shallow and lack the distinctive attributes that make humans come to life through words. Even their names tend to be non-distinct. Finney, Fraser, Farley, and Fletcher were all on the same wagon while heading towards the west coast. Fraser was a teacher so at least he had that going for him. The rest of the “F” Troupe (sorry) were essentially interchangeable with one another, which didn’t matter very much at all to the plot of the story.
The plot moves from scene to scene and while most scenes work, there are a few that fall flat and a few that progress into fantasy. It may be that L’Amour’s main reason for writing this book was to name-drop all the people and places that eventually resulted in forming modern-day Southern California. Towards the end of the book, however, the travels of the main character become impossible with respect to the places mentioned and the distances between them.
And therein lies the disappointment. I was hoping for the pre-developed California environment to take its place among the characters. I was hoping that descriptions of heat, barren mountains, and seemingly lifeless brush would stir up my own feelings of fear that I felt during my childhood road-trips through these inhospitable places. I was hoping for characters with distinct personalities. In short, I was hoping for something more than just an entertaining story.
But that’s just about all that The Lonesome Gods is: an entertaining story. The characters are shallow and lack the distinctive attributes that make humans come to life through words. Even their names tend to be non-distinct. Finney, Fraser, Farley, and Fletcher were all on the same wagon while heading towards the west coast. Fraser was a teacher so at least he had that going for him. The rest of the “F” Troupe (sorry) were essentially interchangeable with one another, which didn’t matter very much at all to the plot of the story.
The plot moves from scene to scene and while most scenes work, there are a few that fall flat and a few that progress into fantasy. It may be that L’Amour’s main reason for writing this book was to name-drop all the people and places that eventually resulted in forming modern-day Southern California. Towards the end of the book, however, the travels of the main character become impossible with respect to the places mentioned and the distances between them.
And therein lies the disappointment. I was hoping for the pre-developed California environment to take its place among the characters. I was hoping that descriptions of heat, barren mountains, and seemingly lifeless brush would stir up my own feelings of fear that I felt during my childhood road-trips through these inhospitable places. I was hoping for characters with distinct personalities. In short, I was hoping for something more than just an entertaining story.
March 27, 2024
Reread 3/2024
Reread 8/2023
Reread 11/2022
Reread 09/2021
Reread 7/2020
Reread 10/2016: still love these books!! These words are magic for any brokenness I have. ❤️
Ahhh! I love Louis L'Amour books. I'm glad I had to reread this one again for a book club. It is one of my favorites.
There are many reasons that I enjoy his books. In this book I was drawn into the main characters and I feel their feelings. I feel that they are developed. I understand them...
I also love that the main character is always very well read. In every L'Amour books there's a list of at least 10 great classics (ancienct classics) that the hero has read. The value of personal education is stressed as the only way for success and personal freedom. This is brought about both through a serious study of the classics but also through intense life experiences. You can't read a book of his and not feel the need to read great things and improve your mind and become better yourself.
His main character is always a man. A real man. A man with self control. A hero really. Or I should say a realistic, believable hero. A man with respect for the land, animals, people... He especially always respects women.
I also enjoy the large amount of history that is talked about in each book. History about things from long ago, legends...
Fabulous reading. Very inspiring. The only thing I don't like about his books is that they all end very abrubptly. You are far enough along that you know what will happen but even just one more page at the end would be great.
Reread 8/2023
Reread 11/2022
Reread 09/2021
Reread 7/2020
Reread 10/2016: still love these books!! These words are magic for any brokenness I have. ❤️
Ahhh! I love Louis L'Amour books. I'm glad I had to reread this one again for a book club. It is one of my favorites.
There are many reasons that I enjoy his books. In this book I was drawn into the main characters and I feel their feelings. I feel that they are developed. I understand them...
I also love that the main character is always very well read. In every L'Amour books there's a list of at least 10 great classics (ancienct classics) that the hero has read. The value of personal education is stressed as the only way for success and personal freedom. This is brought about both through a serious study of the classics but also through intense life experiences. You can't read a book of his and not feel the need to read great things and improve your mind and become better yourself.
His main character is always a man. A real man. A man with self control. A hero really. Or I should say a realistic, believable hero. A man with respect for the land, animals, people... He especially always respects women.
I also enjoy the large amount of history that is talked about in each book. History about things from long ago, legends...
Fabulous reading. Very inspiring. The only thing I don't like about his books is that they all end very abrubptly. You are far enough along that you know what will happen but even just one more page at the end would be great.
Read
August 11, 2022So back in April Pam raved about Louis L’Amour’s novel, Lonesome Gods. While we were recording the last Scholé Sisters podcast episode (yes, while), I bought a cheap paperback copy as airplane reading.
An airplane is the best place for story grip.
Between the flights to and from Chattanooga, I finished the novel.
It’s worth raving about.
An airplane is the best place for story grip.
Between the flights to and from Chattanooga, I finished the novel.
It’s worth raving about.
March 20, 2021
This is longer than most L'Amour Books because it covers approximately 20 years. Johannes is a child of an Anglo son of a sea captain and a Castilian daughter of a man that was given property in Los Angeles by the King of Spain. The Castilian father seeks to kill both the man and women and they escape to the desert. The boy is 6 when the story starts and he and his father are returning to Los Angeles because the mother has died and the father is dying. The grandfather kills the father and leaves the boy in the desert to die. It is a good story with many branches and gives a good view of Los Angeles in the early Nineteenth Century.
November 23, 2020
1996: Good!
2018: 3.5 stars
My review back in 1996 was overly brief, so I read the book again. All of L'Amour's works are at my fingertips since this is one of the few authors that my father reads ... and re-reads. He doesn't have a favorite title. Does L'Amour still have a following? Or has the West been so diminished and civilized that these novels have become 'fossils.'
This begins:
I sat very still, as befitted a small boy among strangers, staring wide-eyed into a world I did not know. I was six years old and my father was dying. Only last year I had lost my mother.
And the first quite-a-few chapters are told from the point of view of the child. That doesn't seem like a beginning that would appeal to my dad, except that this child has an adult perspective on the world. And he happens to be the main character.
Predictable elements of L'Amour's stories:
- There are good guys and bad guys.
- The good guys love the land ... and a good woman.
- Good guys are skilled and thoughtful, and they win in the end.
- Bad guys end up dead.
- The good guy earns the admiration of the woman.
Okay, so the stories are predictable, but they're also engaging. I like the emphasis on the land and the value of wild places. There is also a strong undercurrent of what it takes to be a good, and respected, person. L'Amour found a balance between character development, descriptions of setting, and fast-paced action that appeals to a lot of readers.
There's an emphasis on learning, and learning is not limited to formal education. Life is a learning experience, especially for those who are observant and are careful listeners. And, of course, books are important, and are woven firmly into the fabric of this story.
These are some examples of L'Amour's beliefs and philosophy about life.
p 163: "The one thing we know, Hannes, is that nothing remains the same. Things are forever changing, and one must understand the changes and change with them, or be lost by the way."
p 250: We do not own this land, we but use it, we hold it briefly in trust for those yet to come. We must not reap without seeding, we must not take from the earth without replacing.
He also addresses the needs of those who want to be alone, those who like the 'emptiness' of the wilds.
p 260: People would come, and my desert would not remain empty, yet that thought made me irritable ...
And a few lines about politics:
p 373: There is no greater role for a man to play than to assist in the government of a people, nor anyone lower than he who misuses that power.
Maybe Trump should read L'Amour ... if he reads at all.
2018: 3.5 stars
My review back in 1996 was overly brief, so I read the book again. All of L'Amour's works are at my fingertips since this is one of the few authors that my father reads ... and re-reads. He doesn't have a favorite title. Does L'Amour still have a following? Or has the West been so diminished and civilized that these novels have become 'fossils.'
This begins:
I sat very still, as befitted a small boy among strangers, staring wide-eyed into a world I did not know. I was six years old and my father was dying. Only last year I had lost my mother.
And the first quite-a-few chapters are told from the point of view of the child. That doesn't seem like a beginning that would appeal to my dad, except that this child has an adult perspective on the world. And he happens to be the main character.
Predictable elements of L'Amour's stories:
- There are good guys and bad guys.
- The good guys love the land ... and a good woman.
- Good guys are skilled and thoughtful, and they win in the end.
- Bad guys end up dead.
- The good guy earns the admiration of the woman.
Okay, so the stories are predictable, but they're also engaging. I like the emphasis on the land and the value of wild places. There is also a strong undercurrent of what it takes to be a good, and respected, person. L'Amour found a balance between character development, descriptions of setting, and fast-paced action that appeals to a lot of readers.
There's an emphasis on learning, and learning is not limited to formal education. Life is a learning experience, especially for those who are observant and are careful listeners. And, of course, books are important, and are woven firmly into the fabric of this story.
These are some examples of L'Amour's beliefs and philosophy about life.
p 163: "The one thing we know, Hannes, is that nothing remains the same. Things are forever changing, and one must understand the changes and change with them, or be lost by the way."
p 250: We do not own this land, we but use it, we hold it briefly in trust for those yet to come. We must not reap without seeding, we must not take from the earth without replacing.
He also addresses the needs of those who want to be alone, those who like the 'emptiness' of the wilds.
p 260: People would come, and my desert would not remain empty, yet that thought made me irritable ...
And a few lines about politics:
p 373: There is no greater role for a man to play than to assist in the government of a people, nor anyone lower than he who misuses that power.
Maybe Trump should read L'Amour ... if he reads at all.
December 30, 2023
This was, by far, my favorite Buddy Read ever.
Westerns are made for sharing. When done right, they feel like generational stories passed on again again, ones that are exciting to tell over and over for their moral, their insight, their lesson. When done right, each character is someone you know—a reflection of the strongest, smartest, most resilient people in your life.
Perhaps it’s cliche to compare stories of this genre to “campfire stories”, but with the perfect moments of upbeat action, slowed-down living, and interspersed philosophical insight, it’s the ONLY comparison there is. These are the stories you know are worth telling to those gathered around you.
There’s something to learn, something to think about, something to gain from every chapter.
2024 will see me pursuing more westerns. . .
Westerns are made for sharing. When done right, they feel like generational stories passed on again again, ones that are exciting to tell over and over for their moral, their insight, their lesson. When done right, each character is someone you know—a reflection of the strongest, smartest, most resilient people in your life.
Perhaps it’s cliche to compare stories of this genre to “campfire stories”, but with the perfect moments of upbeat action, slowed-down living, and interspersed philosophical insight, it’s the ONLY comparison there is. These are the stories you know are worth telling to those gathered around you.
There’s something to learn, something to think about, something to gain from every chapter.
2024 will see me pursuing more westerns. . .
August 28, 2013
This was my first Louis L'Amour and I loved it! Especially fun for me was that it was set in L.A. and Palm Springs. I will definitely be reading more of Mr. L'Amour's books in the future. Thanks to my friend, Casey Nicollelo, for strongly recommending that I check out Louis L'Amour!
July 27, 2010
Another big book from L'Amour, and it works well. I liked it much.
March 9, 2021
Much longer than most of L'Amour's novels, with more character development, this book is a beautiful epic set in 1840s California, the action taking place mostly in early Los Angeles, what is now known as Palm Springs, and the Mojave Desert. There are side trips into the San Joaquin Valley, the San Bernardino mountains, and the San Jacintos, too. The writing is captivating and richly evocative. The plot is interesting. I thought the ending was a little hectic and abrupt, with a few too many coincidences, but all the loose ends were actually tied up, so I suppose that's ok when the rest of the book was so good and suspenseful. Good blend of drama and action, with the unique scenery and ecology of the region exquisitely described--I certainly enjoyed it.
October 18, 2022
This is an excellent coming of age story set in and around Los Angeles in the 1840's and 50's when it was still a small frontier town. An earlier reviewer stated that this is a good book for helping young men understand and build character. I agree and will be passing it along to my grandsons.
I purchased this book used at a Goodwill store. It originally had been a gift on Father's Day, June 19, 1983 from Tammy, Amy, Carrie and Nicholas and still had many of the maple leaves they pressed between the pages.
I purchased this book used at a Goodwill store. It originally had been a gift on Father's Day, June 19, 1983 from Tammy, Amy, Carrie and Nicholas and still had many of the maple leaves they pressed between the pages.
July 29, 2018
For a long time I thought HONDO was the best novel I ever read by L'Amour. I'm not ready to revise that opinion, but THE LONESOME GODS comes as close as any other to push HONDO. It's an excellent, epic story. Lots of action, real emotion, and a strong sense of the birth of Los Angeles.
June 25, 2021
Being as I'm quite the fan of westerns (movies/shows and books both), I should've gotten to Louis L'Amour before now. But he was a low priority, as I had it understood that he was just some dimestore pulp western writer who churned out mountains of the things. I had no doubt though that they'd probably be of some cheap but enjoyable entertainment, so I finally bought one.
I was expecting some highly tropey old-fashioned cowboys-and-indians pulp story, which would probably show its age and not be that politically correct anymore, but likely nonetheless be fun and a light, quick read - something I was in the mood for, in this warm summer weather.
It was nothing of the sort. This book surprised me, and I've realised I'd gotten L'Amour all wrong.
As this is my first L'Amour, and a later novel of his, and he has written so many, perhaps there are many pulpy or repetitive ones in his canon, and perhaps his skills were honed by this one. I don't know. But this is no cowboys-and-indians yeehaw tale. The book is unexpectedly long (its length in disguise, due to its thin mass market pages), an almost epic tale of one man's life. It is thoughtful, measured, calm. It shows a great love for the country, for the desert - and I love that kind of thing, the descriptions of land by an author who clearly loves it. It also is an intelligent, wise novel, full of philosophical and introspective considerations, with respect for history in all its nuances, and instead of the expected "redskins", I was faced with a novel and an author who possessed a deep respect and sensitivity for the American Indians.
The novel isn't perfect. There are too many named characters, thinly drawn, who become hard to keep track of as the novel keeps going and introducing more. There are in my opinion too many antagonists spread about, and the novel can't seem to decide which ones to give its focus. The ending is too abrupt, too quickly resolved. The romance is unevolved, but then I expected that - this attractive girl sat next to the MC in class when he was a boy, and then seemed to have had pretty much nothing to do with each other until the end, when of course they have always loved each other... Oh well, I didn't read it for the romance.
The passing of time is difficult to understand, too. At first we have a grasp on the boy's age. But then, while we know time is passing, the date is never again mentioned nor is the MC's age, nor any other sign of how many years are passing. We presume he has become a man, but how old a man? What has been happening all this time? It feels there are unwritten gaps in the story even though the story presents itself as having few to no gaps. Has he been seeing this girl he loves over the years? If so, why is it not mentioned, why does nothing come of it? If he hasn't, why not, if he loves her?
Anyway, it doesn't matter that much. The novel is deceptively simple in its prose - but I came to really like how it was written for the most part. I enjoyed reading about early Los Angeles, and especially of the beautiful yet unforgiving desert.
The only other criticism I had is that, while I'm all for short paragraphs over too long ones, I felt the dialogue was way too split up, unnecessarily so. And sometimes it wasn't immediately clear that it was the same person talking.
Anyway, nitpicks. At times I was enjoying the novel so much I thought it might be a 5 stars. I will definitely buy more Louis L'Amour novels - next time with much changed expectations.
I was expecting some highly tropey old-fashioned cowboys-and-indians pulp story, which would probably show its age and not be that politically correct anymore, but likely nonetheless be fun and a light, quick read - something I was in the mood for, in this warm summer weather.
It was nothing of the sort. This book surprised me, and I've realised I'd gotten L'Amour all wrong.
As this is my first L'Amour, and a later novel of his, and he has written so many, perhaps there are many pulpy or repetitive ones in his canon, and perhaps his skills were honed by this one. I don't know. But this is no cowboys-and-indians yeehaw tale. The book is unexpectedly long (its length in disguise, due to its thin mass market pages), an almost epic tale of one man's life. It is thoughtful, measured, calm. It shows a great love for the country, for the desert - and I love that kind of thing, the descriptions of land by an author who clearly loves it. It also is an intelligent, wise novel, full of philosophical and introspective considerations, with respect for history in all its nuances, and instead of the expected "redskins", I was faced with a novel and an author who possessed a deep respect and sensitivity for the American Indians.
The novel isn't perfect. There are too many named characters, thinly drawn, who become hard to keep track of as the novel keeps going and introducing more. There are in my opinion too many antagonists spread about, and the novel can't seem to decide which ones to give its focus. The ending is too abrupt, too quickly resolved. The romance is unevolved, but then I expected that - this attractive girl sat next to the MC in class when he was a boy, and then seemed to have had pretty much nothing to do with each other until the end, when of course they have always loved each other... Oh well, I didn't read it for the romance.
The passing of time is difficult to understand, too. At first we have a grasp on the boy's age. But then, while we know time is passing, the date is never again mentioned nor is the MC's age, nor any other sign of how many years are passing. We presume he has become a man, but how old a man? What has been happening all this time? It feels there are unwritten gaps in the story even though the story presents itself as having few to no gaps. Has he been seeing this girl he loves over the years? If so, why is it not mentioned, why does nothing come of it? If he hasn't, why not, if he loves her?
Anyway, it doesn't matter that much. The novel is deceptively simple in its prose - but I came to really like how it was written for the most part. I enjoyed reading about early Los Angeles, and especially of the beautiful yet unforgiving desert.
The only other criticism I had is that, while I'm all for short paragraphs over too long ones, I felt the dialogue was way too split up, unnecessarily so. And sometimes it wasn't immediately clear that it was the same person talking.
Anyway, nitpicks. At times I was enjoying the novel so much I thought it might be a 5 stars. I will definitely buy more Louis L'Amour novels - next time with much changed expectations.
November 18, 2011
Picked this up in an airport on the way to a Florida weekend and polished it off by the end. It's my fantasy world, the 1850s American West. And no one describes it better than...Zane Grey....and Louis L'Amour. Adventure, risk, nature, the unknown, courage, good and evil, heroism, it's all there. Listen to this:
"Long since, I had learned that one needs moments of quiet, moments of stillness, for both the inner and outer man, a moment of contemplation or even simple emptiness when the stress could ease away and a calmness enter the tissues. Such moments of quiet gave one strength, gave one coolness of mind with which to approach the world and its problems. Sometimes but a few minutes were needed."
Or this: "It is all very well to say that man is only a casual whim in a mindless universe, that he, too, will pass. We understand that, but disregard it, as we must. Man to himself is the All, the sum and the total However much he may seem a fragment, chance object, a bit of flotsam on the waves of time, he is to himself the beginning and the end. And this is just. This is how it must be for him to survive."
"Long since, I had learned that one needs moments of quiet, moments of stillness, for both the inner and outer man, a moment of contemplation or even simple emptiness when the stress could ease away and a calmness enter the tissues. Such moments of quiet gave one strength, gave one coolness of mind with which to approach the world and its problems. Sometimes but a few minutes were needed."
Or this: "It is all very well to say that man is only a casual whim in a mindless universe, that he, too, will pass. We understand that, but disregard it, as we must. Man to himself is the All, the sum and the total However much he may seem a fragment, chance object, a bit of flotsam on the waves of time, he is to himself the beginning and the end. And this is just. This is how it must be for him to survive."
July 3, 2024
The length of this novel makes it seem like an epic western saga, but in fact it is essentially the growth and development of a boy whose dying father is trying to get him to Los Angeles, presumably in the first half of the 1800's, to beg the boy's grandfather to care for the boy (whose mother had died previously). It is the story of the boy growing up in the desert where he has found shelter and friendly Indians with whom he runs. He eventually makes to Los Angeles where it is clear his grandfather despises him and wants him dead.
He has made friends and allies and attempts to make a life for himself but seems to encounter more obstacles, which he must overcome. In many ways it reflects the mythical hero's quest as beautifully articulated in Joseph Campbell's seminal book The Hero With a Thousand Faces
He has made friends and allies and attempts to make a life for himself but seems to encounter more obstacles, which he must overcome. In many ways it reflects the mythical hero's quest as beautifully articulated in Joseph Campbell's seminal book The Hero With a Thousand Faces
March 5, 2010
This book is probably one of the best examples of what a novel, or any American literature, should be. The plot is continuously developed throughout the novel, the characters are not only well developed and easy to relate to, but there is also an excellent mix of good and bad, that exhibit all of the traits that you should want to embody or avoid. Aside from the well researched historical aspects of the novel, there are also many important lessons and advice throughout the dialogue.
April 19, 2016
This was my first Western and I loved it. I am going to read others by L'Amour. I am not ready to leave the desert, Johannes and Ms. Nessrode. This book is bulging with wisdom and I can't stop the craving. I felt so deeply with this book and was very surprised by that. A true classic. Can't wait to share with my children and future generations!
"I am Johannes Verne and I am not afraid."
"I am Johannes Verne and I am not afraid."
March 9, 2025
I'm not generally a fan of westerns but my goodness did I enjoy this book. It touched my live of nature and my love of education and now I can't wait to explore the California desert and give my kids lessons on citizenship.
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