The Lonesome Gods is Louis L'Amour's biggest and most important historical novel to date, a sweeping adventure of the California frontier. Here is the fascinating story of Johannes Verne, a young man left to die by his vengeful grandfather, rescued by outlaws and raised in part by the Indians of the desert. Strengthened by the love of two women—Miss Nesselrode, whose mysterious past fires her ambitions for the future and Meghan, a willful young beauty—Verne grows to become a rugged adventurer, a man strong enough to embrace the awesome power of the Palm Springs desert, and bold enough to stake a claim in the bustling world of opportunity that was early-day Los Angeles.
©1983 Louis L'Amour (P)2011 Random House
"Riveting reading." (The New Yorker)
"This is L'Amour's finest book." (California Magazine)
"Best Western Ever"
I truly enjoyed this book. It was definitely his finest hour. I've read most of his books but this one was extra special and a longer book which I dearly love. Louie L'Amour was born in 1908 and died of pneumonia in 1988. According the publish date, he wrote it at about age 75. Absolutely excellent book and the narrator was good also. I will deginitely read this one again sometime. He and Zane Grey were definitely the epitome of our western culture of long ago. You won't be sorry you listened to this book.
"Good Oater"
I like a good western novel and I like a lifetime saga. While this book only spans 20 years or so, it is still a saga of a five year old boy going west, and trying to remain alive. He has an evil grandfather that wants him dead and leaves him to die in the Mojave desert. There are interesting characters and L'Amour knows how to write a book. This is the western genre though so if you do not like stories like Lonesome Dove, then this is not for you.
I enjoy counter-terrorism, westerns, historical fiction, detective mysteries, and old school comedy like "A Christmas Story".
"Sorry, but this was not Louis best"
I am a loyal Louis L'Amour fan. I have read over 120 of his novels and enjoyed over 20 of his audio books. However, I have to agree with some other reviewers who found this story boring. Another reviewer said LL was 75 when he wrote this. Perhaps that was a factor. Pass on this one. With so many excellent books under his belt I guess LL was overdue for one with a disjointed plot and a ending which screamed he was just tired of writing.
"A 2 hour story squeezed into 14"
I like L'Amour. I know the books are formulaic but they are fun reads about men with guts, a great work ethic and solid character. This book, however, rambles like a toddler in a nursery. The story has great bones, but the main character indulges in multiple identical soliloquies, spends %98 of the book growing up and amassing 4 significant enemies then manages to finish the entire story in 5 pages. It's like the author found out on page 400 that he wasn't being paid by the word any more.
"the lonesome Gods"
To Long To Boring. The best part of the book and the only reason I stayed with it was David Strathairn very good narrator. Played the different parts well. Oh Yes stupid ending. left ya wondering if you missed something but by the time you got to the end....who cared.
"First download with audible"
YES!!!!!! Louis L'amour what more can one say.
Mr. Feeney
Yes, but I do have a life, 14hrs long, need a little sleep. lol
First download with Audible, don't know what took me so long.
"Good, but not the best work of L'Amour"
I really like L'Amour for his plots, and frequently his descriptive phrases and dialogues are peerless. This book needed editing, and definitely follows his formula, but it wanders much more than what he usually wrote, and only one of the women is well written. I would still buy and listen to this again, but I can't see going back to it for a second review down the road. David Straitharn is also well, well matched to reading L'Amour and delivers again. However, if I had a limited budget, I would choose other L'Amour works like Skyliners, Treasure Mountain, or anything else in that series (the Sackett family chronicles). L'Amour got on his soapbox way too much in this novel rather than telling the story and having philosophical thoughts thrown in casually as he has done in other works.
When the Russian agent suddenly realizes that not only is the escaped Russian he's targeting for return to Russia free to stay in California but also that the US Government isn't going to force her to return and, by the way, the agent himself could stay and make a new life for himself in California.
When Miss Nesselrode confronts the grandfather who has been trying to have his grandson killed because the grandson is the product of a marriage his daughter made with a seaman--tainting the pure Spanish blood the overly proud grandfather prizes. Also enjoyed the tactics our hero and his crew use to overcome superior numbers each time his horses and his life are threatened.
No, and since I didn't care for the wet blanket our hero fell in love with, I didn't want to see any more of her.
Still like L'Amour, and still liked the book, just thought this one was not one of his better ones.
mcdebaca50
"My favorite Lamor book of the west!"
Not just another man becomes a man book. This is truly a great and well written book about a really young boy who overcomes great odds to beat all odds, Real suspense, great characters and a surprising twist in the end!
"Excellent Westrn from the modern master"
The story starts out a little slow, but once you have overcome the first 10 minutes it is a great listen. The subtle imagery he uses to describe not only the charaters but the scenery is incredible, you can actually see it in your minds eye.