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Subject: "A Most Unusual LL Novel" Archived thread - Read only
 
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Conferences Louis L'Amour Discussion Forum Topic #5860
Reading Topic #5860, reply 5
stumper
Member since 11-1-10
143 posts
06-01-12, 08:02 PM (Pacific Time)
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5. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #2
 
   Thanks for the title The Tall Stranger LD . Ive been ordering all of LL's novels thro the book store here,according to alphabetical order,paper back or hard back if its offered and was thro the "T"s and went hey, wait a minute , dont remember reading that one... went over and thro the only book shelves holding them all , and "no got"...shh, somehow I missed that one. LOL, now am worried what others I may have missed! When ya order thro here ya get LL book marks and I have one I color in the dot when ordered, hey! its colored in...SHH. easy to figure out now if I did the same with others was thinkin bout the leather edition,way back when,but dont know if I'd live that long at one a month...LOL. paper back does the trick... I just got a box with Westward The Tide, Where The Long Grass Blows and With These Hands that will do it for all except the Collected Short Stories of LL, volume 4,5,6 and didnt I just read about having a hard time getting nuumber 7? AND , Thank You ALL for leading me to the order of Kilkenny,Chantry and Talon. As I was reding the novels Id say, HEY, Ive heard that name before ! Got em all together now with the reading order labled inside each cover and neatly bound in Red White and Blue ribbin with Stars... , looks pretty cool I must say... and while am at sayin "Thanks" , Thank You for sending me down a really wonderful world of other authers AND all the Early West History about Our Native Americans and the opening of the West , some so very eye opening and some sad I must say, and all the early mountain men and fur trade and traders... seems I maybe startin to ramble on now,am known for that some times , soo , again Thanks LD......Stumper

Dave Cort


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 A Most Unusual LL Novel [View All], dseanmat, 06:00 AM, 06-01-12, (0)  
dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-01-12, 06:04 AM (Pacific Time)
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1. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #0
 
   Note how masterfully LL generates suspense in the scene wherein Pronto and Eddie are heading out to the mountains to maintain vigil over a cattle herd for the winter, unaware of the danger and violence which await them there:

"Pronto, you come see this here."

What he was showing me were two brand new Winchester 73s, and boxes with about 500 rounds of ammunition. Alongside the rifles lay two .44-calibre Colts, both new. And with them was a note, scrawled on a paper greasy with gun oil: "I been missing stock."

That was all, with just his initials signed to it, but with all the guns, and coming from a sober man like Bill Justin, it seemed he must figure he was sending us into the middle of something.

Now THAT'S writing!


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10987654321
Member since 1-15-11
485 posts
06-01-12, 06:31 AM (Pacific Time)
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2. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #1
 
   I only read this one once, while I was working on a ranch. I remember enjoying it, but can't remember much about it.

I also have noticed there's some pretty good LL books that haven't been mentioned in anyone's top ten list. The Tall Stranger is another. Has anyone else read and liked the Tall Stranger as much as I did?

LD Pederson



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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-01-12, 06:48 AM (Pacific Time)
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3. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #2
 
   I haven't read that one yet.


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explore
Member since 1-2-11
275 posts
06-01-12, 01:52 PM (Pacific Time)
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4. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #2
 
   I thought it was oustanding LD, alot LL early books we're fast and action packed and awesome.

Explorer

A nation of sheep breeds a government of wolves


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stumper
Member since 11-1-10
143 posts
06-01-12, 08:02 PM (Pacific Time)
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5. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #2
 
   Thanks for the title The Tall Stranger LD . Ive been ordering all of LL's novels thro the book store here,according to alphabetical order,paper back or hard back if its offered and was thro the "T"s and went hey, wait a minute , dont remember reading that one... went over and thro the only book shelves holding them all , and "no got"...shh, somehow I missed that one. LOL, now am worried what others I may have missed! When ya order thro here ya get LL book marks and I have one I color in the dot when ordered, hey! its colored in...SHH. easy to figure out now if I did the same with others was thinkin bout the leather edition,way back when,but dont know if I'd live that long at one a month...LOL. paper back does the trick... I just got a box with Westward The Tide, Where The Long Grass Blows and With These Hands that will do it for all except the Collected Short Stories of LL, volume 4,5,6 and didnt I just read about having a hard time getting nuumber 7? AND , Thank You ALL for leading me to the order of Kilkenny,Chantry and Talon. As I was reding the novels Id say, HEY, Ive heard that name before ! Got em all together now with the reading order labled inside each cover and neatly bound in Red White and Blue ribbin with Stars... , looks pretty cool I must say... and while am at sayin "Thanks" , Thank You for sending me down a really wonderful world of other authers AND all the Early West History about Our Native Americans and the opening of the West , some so very eye opening and some sad I must say, and all the early mountain men and fur trade and traders... seems I maybe startin to ramble on now,am known for that some times , soo , again Thanks LD......Stumper

Dave Cort


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10987654321
Member since 1-15-11
485 posts
06-01-12, 08:53 PM (Pacific Time)
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6. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #5
 
   No problem. I just about forgot about that one myself until I looked through my book shelf the other day. It's been about a year and a half since I last read The Tall Stranger, can't wait to read it again!

LD Pederson



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ChrisEngland
Member since 4-17-08
1049 posts
06-02-12, 11:20 AM (Pacific Time)
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7. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #6
 
   This was one of the first LL novels I ever read. I was 17 years old. I enjoyed it very much. I liked Pronto and Eddie, and was saddened when Eddie was killed.

I remember that Eddie referred to a suit of clothes as a 'front', and that Pronto kept talking about getting 'an armful of boxcars' - those phrases stuck in my mind. Maybe LL used those terms himself when young, and living the rough life?

Good memories of that book,

C


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-02-12, 02:12 PM (Pacific Time)
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8. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #7
 
   RRRRRRRRRRRR...!!! HULK HATE SPOILING THE ENDING! WANT TO SMAAAASH!!!


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-03-12, 08:03 AM (Pacific Time)
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9. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #0
 
   I just finished Hanging Woman Creek last night. My, what a read! It was everything I have come to expect from an LL novel: action-packed, richly evocative of its setting, and filled with interesting characters both major and minor. But add to this the injection of profound wisdom, and two highly unusual, outside-the-parameters protagonists, and you have yourself one heck of a terrific novel.

My favorite line: "A man never gets old until he starts to forget his dream."

The next time we are asked to post our favorite LL novels, this one will surely be on my list.


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ChrisEngland
Member since 4-17-08
1049 posts
06-03-12, 09:57 AM (Pacific Time)
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10. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #9
 
   dseanmat, I'm sorry about telling what happened at the end of the book - I was not thinking at all. Apologies!

C


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-03-12, 10:31 AM (Pacific Time)
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11. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #10
 
   Ha ha ha! No apology necessary, my friend! I appreciate your willingness to share your passion for this outstanding novel with me. You had no way of knowing I hadn't finished it yet. I'm glad you enjoyed the novel as much as I did.

Still, it gives me an idea which I may post: the inclusion of the phrase SPOILER ALERT before making any disclosures about the outcome of a book.


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ChrisEngland
Member since 4-17-08
1049 posts
06-04-12, 09:11 AM (Pacific Time)
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12. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #11
 
   dseanmat, I think this is a good idea. Many of those who post here have read all the LL novels time and time again, but there may be newcomers here who have not.

LL novels are special favourites of mine, and I have many happy memories of reading them over the years. Enjoy!

C


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-04-12, 11:14 AM (Pacific Time)
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13. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #12
 
   Thank you very kindly, my friend! And the same to you, and please keep us posted about your adventures in great reading.


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Ranch Hand
Member since 5-10-08
13 posts
06-10-12, 02:02 AM (Pacific Time)
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14. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #0
 
   LAST EDITED ON 06-10-12 AT 02:23 AM (Pacific Time)
 
I just read that recently. I enjoyed it and I could see how his hobo experiences affected the writing. Two drifters are bouncing around from job to job, experiencing the land in between the jobs, and loyal to only their own ideals. He definitely stepped away from normal cookie cutter themes like fighting over range where greedy rancher hires bad toughie to do in Mr Independant (good guy) who then enlists aid of locals to gun battle bad guy and the other goons, etc. Of course, those types are fun to read as well and generally well written but I enjoy the variety.


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-10-12, 05:07 PM (Pacific Time)
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15. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #14
 
   Well said, friend!


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SailBoat
Member since 1-3-11
116 posts
06-10-12, 07:03 PM (Pacific Time)
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16. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #14
 
   In "Education of a Wandering Man", LL mentioned getting an education from reading the "Little Blue Books" that he found as a hobo. The hobo was Not a bum: He worked when he could for food to stay alive during the depression years of the 1920's and 1930's. LL and other wanderers traveled by boxcar or hitched a ride on a truck--anything to move on hunting work. They often slept under bridges or in a canyon near the railroad. Around the camp fire, they would read and trade those "Little Blue Books. Those books were indeed little---about 4 inches by 5 inches--and fit easily into the hobo back jeans' pocket. The topics ranged from "How to write a letter' to Science, Mathematics, Rome history, Poetry, Greek classics, etc.

So I got on the internet--eBay, and found many for sale at about $1.00 each. Originally they were priced at 5 cents each in the depression. I bought more than 500 of them over the years--all different. (There were about 1980 individual little books published total). These were all published in the 20's and 30's.

My little collection is very interesting, indeed. And I can see a wealth of information can be gained without "Formal" education.

Recently, I donated my whole collection to the "Charles Hall Museum, in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. I live not far from there, and visit Mr Hall (age 86) often.

LL quit formal school at the 10th grade, but he was a most educated man--largely due to reading and trading those "Little Blue Books".

Look for my collection at the Museum--if you are ever in East Tennessee. Or go to eBay and buy a few. This is just another side of Louis L'Amour that you may not have known.


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-11-12, 11:55 AM (Pacific Time)
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17. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #16
 
   Thanks for your fascinating and heuristic insights! Great post.


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FuwaFuwaUsagi
Member since 11-26-07
69 posts
06-16-12, 10:18 PM (Pacific Time)
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18. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #0
 
   It is a very good story. This story, Chantry, and Reilly's Luck all contain a similar element that keeps them from being a favorite. As you finish the book I am sure, given the two others I mentioned you will then understand my objection. It is especially true in this story, given your description of the two main characters as losers.

Enjoy the story, it is a good one.


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dseanmat
Member since 1-14-11
463 posts
06-18-12, 12:26 PM (Pacific Time)
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19. "RE: A Most Unusual LL Novel"
In response to message #18
 
   Hmmm... I am most intrigued! Suppose we declare a "SPOILER ALERT!" and you full us in on your objection.


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