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To Tame a Land
Rye Tyler was twelve when his father was killed in an Indian raid. Taken in by a mysterious stranger with a taste for books and an instinct for survival, Rye is schooled in the hard lessons of life in the West. But after killing a man, he is forced to leave his new home. He rides lonely mountain passes and works on dusty cattle drives until he finds a job breaking horses. Then he meets Liza Hetrick, and in her eyes he sees his future. After establishing himself as marshal of Alta, he returns, only to discover that Liza has been kidnapped. Tracking her to Robbers’ Roost, Rye is forced to face the man who taught him all he knows about books, guns, and friendship. Two old friends—one woman: Who will walk away?
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1955
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About the author
Louis L'Amour
995 books3,469 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 247 reviews
March 4, 2018
Re-read, 3/3/18:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK.
Have I mentioned this is one of my all-time favorite novels?!?
Because it's one of my all-time favorite novels.
I don't even know how to express how much I love it and I'm pretty sure everything I say here will be incredibly lame (don't read my original review, btw, it's even more lame); but I HAVE TO TRY.
Small list of beautiful things:
- Rye Tyler. Rye Tyler is my man. Period.
- Seriously: it's hard to overstate how much I adore this guy, and always have (since I met him at the tender age of 14), and always will.
- He's quiet and thoughtful and observant as heck and he Knows Things. I think the best word to describe him is competent. No matter what the situation, he'll figure out a way to get it under control. He has a very patient brain, and he'll think through a problem until he solves it.
- He practices a strong moral code, especially when it comes to using his guns. I mean . . . he's not perfect. He slips up here and there, as do we all. But he is very, VERY serious about never shooting unless he has to; and that I deeply admire; especially given the circumstances he has to face.
- He has a #sassy way about him, but it's super low-key. It kind of pokes its head up here and there and makes me chuckle.
- Like this gem here: "You killed Rice Wheeler, the Panhandle gunman." "He should have stayed in the Panhandle." (this is coming from a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD and I cannot even right now)
- He's incredibly steady. Not given to change. He knows what's important to him, and he sticks by it. He has ONE love interest throughout this entire story, and it covers a span of nine years. ONE.
- Speaking of which: RYE AND LIZA FOREVERRRRRRRRR. #ultimateotpgoals
- Again: I cannot overstate what this relationship means to me. I met them when I was 14; and ever since, whenever I think about what true love really looks like . . . I think about these two.
- Disclaimer: Not everyone may find them as romantic as I do??? Their interactions (like everything in this book) are sketched in black-and-white, you might say, with very little detail. The author suggests, rather than showing outright. Louis L'Amour is the king of subtlety. But I love that; because it leaves me room to fill in with my imagination. In a way, because their relationship is so non-specific, it's become kind of a SYMBOL, in my brain, for romance. It's partly about Rye and Liza themselves; but it's even more about what I believe about love as a whole and what I want out of life.
- That probably made little sense. #rambling
- As hinted above--L'Amour has a pretty unique style. He believes in using as few words as possible and drawing everything in the barest of outlines; and yet somehow, what he writes is more evocative than almost anything I've ever read. It's like a haiku . . . it says so much with so little.
- I WANT TO WRITE LIKE THIS SOMEDAY. Seriously. He inspires me.
- Also: The foreshadowing, man.
- That really, really stood out to me, this time around. Not only is the climax absolutely flawless; but the subtle way L'Amour foreshadows the events of the climax literally from the first chapters just kills me. And no, I will not spoil it for you. Read the book.
I'm not kidding. Read this book and weep over its awesomeness. Honest, I teared up a few times.
Original review (2016?):
This was the first L'Amour novel I'd ever read--although I'd read a fair bit of Zane Grey and Frank H. Spearman--and I was absolutely stunned by the quality of the storytelling here. It's brilliant. This book belongs, not just in the "Great Western Novel" category, but in the "Great Novel" category. Period. It draws you in on the very first page and doesn't let go until the last word. And yet, it manages to do so WITHOUT using excessively graphic or sultry descriptions just for the sake of holding your attention. The writing is quiet, restrained, and careful--and yet thrilling at the same time. The characters are beautifully drawn; realistic, flawed, but still appealing. Long story short: it's a great book; and if you like Westerns AT ALL, you need to give this one a try.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK.
Have I mentioned this is one of my all-time favorite novels?!?
Because it's one of my all-time favorite novels.
I don't even know how to express how much I love it and I'm pretty sure everything I say here will be incredibly lame (don't read my original review, btw, it's even more lame); but I HAVE TO TRY.
Small list of beautiful things:
- Rye Tyler. Rye Tyler is my man. Period.
- Seriously: it's hard to overstate how much I adore this guy, and always have (since I met him at the tender age of 14), and always will.
- He's quiet and thoughtful and observant as heck and he Knows Things. I think the best word to describe him is competent. No matter what the situation, he'll figure out a way to get it under control. He has a very patient brain, and he'll think through a problem until he solves it.
- He practices a strong moral code, especially when it comes to using his guns. I mean . . . he's not perfect. He slips up here and there, as do we all. But he is very, VERY serious about never shooting unless he has to; and that I deeply admire; especially given the circumstances he has to face.
- He has a #sassy way about him, but it's super low-key. It kind of pokes its head up here and there and makes me chuckle.
- Like this gem here: "You killed Rice Wheeler, the Panhandle gunman." "He should have stayed in the Panhandle." (this is coming from a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD and I cannot even right now)
- He's incredibly steady. Not given to change. He knows what's important to him, and he sticks by it. He has ONE love interest throughout this entire story, and it covers a span of nine years. ONE.
- Speaking of which: RYE AND LIZA FOREVERRRRRRRRR. #ultimateotpgoals
- Again: I cannot overstate what this relationship means to me. I met them when I was 14; and ever since, whenever I think about what true love really looks like . . . I think about these two.
- Disclaimer: Not everyone may find them as romantic as I do??? Their interactions (like everything in this book) are sketched in black-and-white, you might say, with very little detail. The author suggests, rather than showing outright. Louis L'Amour is the king of subtlety. But I love that; because it leaves me room to fill in with my imagination. In a way, because their relationship is so non-specific, it's become kind of a SYMBOL, in my brain, for romance. It's partly about Rye and Liza themselves; but it's even more about what I believe about love as a whole and what I want out of life.
- That probably made little sense. #rambling
- As hinted above--L'Amour has a pretty unique style. He believes in using as few words as possible and drawing everything in the barest of outlines; and yet somehow, what he writes is more evocative than almost anything I've ever read. It's like a haiku . . . it says so much with so little.
- I WANT TO WRITE LIKE THIS SOMEDAY. Seriously. He inspires me.
- Also: The foreshadowing, man.
- That really, really stood out to me, this time around. Not only is the climax absolutely flawless; but the subtle way L'Amour foreshadows the events of the climax literally from the first chapters just kills me. And no, I will not spoil it for you. Read the book.
I'm not kidding. Read this book and weep over its awesomeness. Honest, I teared up a few times.
Original review (2016?):
This was the first L'Amour novel I'd ever read--although I'd read a fair bit of Zane Grey and Frank H. Spearman--and I was absolutely stunned by the quality of the storytelling here. It's brilliant. This book belongs, not just in the "Great Western Novel" category, but in the "Great Novel" category. Period. It draws you in on the very first page and doesn't let go until the last word. And yet, it manages to do so WITHOUT using excessively graphic or sultry descriptions just for the sake of holding your attention. The writing is quiet, restrained, and careful--and yet thrilling at the same time. The characters are beautifully drawn; realistic, flawed, but still appealing. Long story short: it's a great book; and if you like Westerns AT ALL, you need to give this one a try.
September 22, 2018
"Never draw a gun unless you mean to shoot, never shoot unless you shoot to kill."
Louis L'Amour was a prolific story teller. I don't know if I would go so far as to say great but he was good. To Tame a Land is an example. It is not Pulitzer Prize worthy but it is entertaining. It would make a good made for TV movie.
Twelve year old Rye Tyler and his father were traveling west in a wagon train when the wheel of their wagon broke. The wagon train master left them behind and Rye's father was killed by Indians. But not before Rye proved that although he may only be twelve he was not a boy. He is taken in by Logan Pollard, a man who is as familiar with guns and survival as he is with books. Rye learns the lessons of life in the West but when he kills a man he is forced to leave Logan and his new home.
Rye rides in the mountains, mines for gold, works on cattle drives, gets a job breaking horses. He is forced to grow up quickly. Along the way he establishes a reputation as a gunfighter and becomes the marshal of Alta. There he will face his past, a girl he fell in love with, and a man he considered a friend and second father. Two men, one woman. Who will walk away. An entertaining story.
Louis L'Amour was a prolific story teller. I don't know if I would go so far as to say great but he was good. To Tame a Land is an example. It is not Pulitzer Prize worthy but it is entertaining. It would make a good made for TV movie.
Twelve year old Rye Tyler and his father were traveling west in a wagon train when the wheel of their wagon broke. The wagon train master left them behind and Rye's father was killed by Indians. But not before Rye proved that although he may only be twelve he was not a boy. He is taken in by Logan Pollard, a man who is as familiar with guns and survival as he is with books. Rye learns the lessons of life in the West but when he kills a man he is forced to leave Logan and his new home.
Rye rides in the mountains, mines for gold, works on cattle drives, gets a job breaking horses. He is forced to grow up quickly. Along the way he establishes a reputation as a gunfighter and becomes the marshal of Alta. There he will face his past, a girl he fell in love with, and a man he considered a friend and second father. Two men, one woman. Who will walk away. An entertaining story.
June 21, 2018
All I can say is wow! This was my first dive into the world of Louis L'Amour books, and I was quite impressed and definitely look forward to reading more! It's clear why L'Amour is the leading author of Western fiction.
While it took me a bit to get into the story, once I did, I couldn't put it down. This short-ish volume packs a lot in! Rye was a very interesting and engaging character and I enjoyed following his story and "seeing the world through his eyes", so to speak. The authentic Old-West setting, marauding bad guys and gun-slinging action that you expect from a Western was all there, in spades. I particularly liked the light touch of romance that further developed Rye's character without going overboard.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed To Tame a Land and look forward to reading more L'Amour novels in the future!
CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16+ for violence.
While it took me a bit to get into the story, once I did, I couldn't put it down. This short-ish volume packs a lot in! Rye was a very interesting and engaging character and I enjoyed following his story and "seeing the world through his eyes", so to speak. The authentic Old-West setting, marauding bad guys and gun-slinging action that you expect from a Western was all there, in spades. I particularly liked the light touch of romance that further developed Rye's character without going overboard.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed To Tame a Land and look forward to reading more L'Amour novels in the future!
CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16+ for violence.
October 15, 2024
Слабо и схематично нахвърляна история, която не дава почти нищо на читателите си. Не ми хареса и краят ѝ!
Разочарован съм, очаквах повече класа от признат класик в уестърна, какъвто безспорно трябва да е Луис Л'Амур.
P.S. Отделно, деветдесетарския превод е просто кошмарен! Горкият Плътарк (Плутарх?) и прочие...
Разочарован съм, очаквах повече класа от признат класик в уестърна, какъвто безспорно трябва да е Луис Л'Амур.
P.S. Отделно, деветдесетарския превод е просто кошмарен! Горкият Плътарк (Плутарх?) и прочие...
February 11, 2024
Westerns were once the most popular paperback fiction and L’Amour one of the best-selling authors of all time. He published 89 novels, selling over 200 million copies to the public. He grew up in the West, in west Texas, in New Mexico, in Nevada, and California. He was personally familiar with the west. First published in 1955, To Tame a Land is one of the best introductions you could have to Westerns. Rye Tyler is one of the greatest gunfighters ever invented. The story takes young Rye Tyler from boyhood where, at twelve, he avenges his father’s death, riding the prairie alone. Logan Pollard takes young Tyler under his wing and teaches him the ways of the world, lessons that would stick with Tyler for the rest of his life. Lessons such as guns are dangerous and you can kill someone you love just as easy as an enemy. He told Tyler that any gun you haven’t personally unloaded should be treated as loaded. Also, “Never draw a gun unless you mean to shoot, never shoot unless you shoot to kill.”
One of the themes throughout this novel is that, even though Tyler always tried to do the right thing, he nevertheless always courted trouble. As a known gunfighter, everyone wanted to challenge him. That’s why he had to leave California rather than stick around and cause trouble and why he later had to leave Colorado. As Sheriff Balcher explained, now that folks knew Tyler was handy with a gun, “[s]ome rambunctious youngster is liable to want to find out if he’s better. So I reckon you better ride.” And that is the story everywhere Tyler goes. Everywhere he meets a bully who has a drive in him to kill and only a fast draw can save Tyler. As a result, Tyler is a lone gunfighter without a home and without a destination. This haunts him as he could not go anywhere without his reputation preceding him.
There is some name-calling out in Kansas City as Tyler, the Colorado gunfighter, is told that Wyatt Earp is in town. But mainly the story is about Tyler growing to adulthood and growing in confidence because “there is something about a man who knows what he intends to do, who knows what he can do.”
Another theme throughout the novel is that men like Tyler were needed in the west as the country still had “growing pains, and that all the guns must not be on the bad side. There had to be guns for the right too.” ”Yet,” Tyler explains, “it was a hard thing to be sure one was always on the right, and sometimes there wasn’t a chance for figuring out the right and wrong of it when guns started smoking.”
L’Amour doesn’t just offer a few cowboys shooting at each other, but a look at a world of the frontier and some deep thought into what it could descend into if there weren’t a few guns out there trying to do right. If you thought a western was just for kids, you haven’t read enough of it, particularly Louis L’Amour who offers quite a bit to think about and herding cattle we are told leaves quite a bit of time for thinking.
One of the themes throughout this novel is that, even though Tyler always tried to do the right thing, he nevertheless always courted trouble. As a known gunfighter, everyone wanted to challenge him. That’s why he had to leave California rather than stick around and cause trouble and why he later had to leave Colorado. As Sheriff Balcher explained, now that folks knew Tyler was handy with a gun, “[s]ome rambunctious youngster is liable to want to find out if he’s better. So I reckon you better ride.” And that is the story everywhere Tyler goes. Everywhere he meets a bully who has a drive in him to kill and only a fast draw can save Tyler. As a result, Tyler is a lone gunfighter without a home and without a destination. This haunts him as he could not go anywhere without his reputation preceding him.
There is some name-calling out in Kansas City as Tyler, the Colorado gunfighter, is told that Wyatt Earp is in town. But mainly the story is about Tyler growing to adulthood and growing in confidence because “there is something about a man who knows what he intends to do, who knows what he can do.”
Another theme throughout the novel is that men like Tyler were needed in the west as the country still had “growing pains, and that all the guns must not be on the bad side. There had to be guns for the right too.” ”Yet,” Tyler explains, “it was a hard thing to be sure one was always on the right, and sometimes there wasn’t a chance for figuring out the right and wrong of it when guns started smoking.”
L’Amour doesn’t just offer a few cowboys shooting at each other, but a look at a world of the frontier and some deep thought into what it could descend into if there weren’t a few guns out there trying to do right. If you thought a western was just for kids, you haven’t read enough of it, particularly Louis L’Amour who offers quite a bit to think about and herding cattle we are told leaves quite a bit of time for thinking.
April 15, 2019
Rounded up to 4 stars because that ending really knocked me for a loop. :)
November 11, 2017
This is my favorite L'Amour book. I think it's nearly a perfect example of the western genre. To Tame a Land wasn’t my first L’Amour, but it was one of the early ones. A young boy and his Pa get left behind in Indian Country. The boy grows up to be a gunfighter. It really engaged my imagination and I’ve reread this particular book more times than any other in my collection.
June 22, 2019
STORY
Immediately intriguing! I'm a big sucker for that kind of introduction and it didn't slack off or slow down throughout the novel. I loved the pacing. Following Rye through his journey was epic. He didn't want to do everything he did but a man has to do what he must.
THEMES
Loved the themes about morality, family, and doing what is right even if it hurts.
CHARACTERS
I liked Rye and the good guys of the cast. The bad guys were superb! My favorite character was Mustang, though. Or Old Blue.
AND THAT PLOT TWIST AT THE END! AHHH!
CONTENT
Wild West novel so violence, swearing, drinking, death, etc etc. It wasn't gory or over-the-top. Surprisingly clean in some respects.
OVERALL
Loved it.
Immediately intriguing! I'm a big sucker for that kind of introduction and it didn't slack off or slow down throughout the novel. I loved the pacing. Following Rye through his journey was epic. He didn't want to do everything he did but a man has to do what he must.
THEMES
Loved the themes about morality, family, and doing what is right even if it hurts.
CHARACTERS
I liked Rye and the good guys of the cast. The bad guys were superb! My favorite character was Mustang, though. Or Old Blue.
AND THAT PLOT TWIST AT THE END! AHHH!
CONTENT
Wild West novel so violence, swearing, drinking, death, etc etc. It wasn't gory or over-the-top. Surprisingly clean in some respects.
OVERALL
Loved it.
March 28, 2015
Given that I own a zillion Louis L'Amour books (a collection begun in jr. high), I figured I should add my favorites here.
To Tame a Land is, hands down, my favorite. Admittedly, many of the plot lines in his books are similar (they're westerns-- what do you expect?), but I loved ALL the characters in this one.
And I still think this is begging to be adapted for film.
To Tame a Land is, hands down, my favorite. Admittedly, many of the plot lines in his books are similar (they're westerns-- what do you expect?), but I loved ALL the characters in this one.
And I still think this is begging to be adapted for film.
July 10, 2017
Well, Jessica, I did it! :D
This was my first ever Louis L'Amour book, and I now definitely want to check out more of his work. (Any suggestions, friends? :)) His style is simplistic and not overly wordy (usually I like wordier, more descriptive books, but I was in the mood for something easy to read. This was perfect.) but the story is definitely not simplistic but, rather, superb.
Ryan Tyler "Rye" was a fantastic hero. I thought it was really neat how he became a gunman almost against his will, definitely against his better judgement. But, once he gained the reputation he did, he realized he had no choice but to continue carrying his gun—unless he wanted to die.
His romance with Liza was sweet, but I confess I was rather disappointed....I wanted more scenes of them together, especially when they grew older, but there really wasn't much, besides the few small conversations they had as young adults. Darn. :(
I loved whenever the author would take a moment and describe the West.....in just a few short sentences he conveyed a picture of what it must have looked like, and it was beautiful.
Also, can we talk about that spoiler though at the end?? Did not see that coming.... *sniff*
All in all, this was a great read and I can't wait to try more of Mr. L'Amour's books. :)
This was my first ever Louis L'Amour book, and I now definitely want to check out more of his work. (Any suggestions, friends? :)) His style is simplistic and not overly wordy (usually I like wordier, more descriptive books, but I was in the mood for something easy to read. This was perfect.) but the story is definitely not simplistic but, rather, superb.
Ryan Tyler "Rye" was a fantastic hero. I thought it was really neat how he became a gunman almost against his will, definitely against his better judgement. But, once he gained the reputation he did, he realized he had no choice but to continue carrying his gun—unless he wanted to die.
His romance with Liza was sweet, but I confess I was rather disappointed....I wanted more scenes of them together, especially when they grew older, but there really wasn't much, besides the few small conversations they had as young adults. Darn. :(
I loved whenever the author would take a moment and describe the West.....in just a few short sentences he conveyed a picture of what it must have looked like, and it was beautiful.
Also, can we talk about that spoiler though at the end?? Did not see that coming.... *sniff*
All in all, this was a great read and I can't wait to try more of Mr. L'Amour's books. :)
September 20, 2015
"It is all very well for those who live in the East to talk of more peaceful means, or for those who live in the later, gentler years, but we were men with the bark on, and we were opening up raw, new country, mustang country, bronco country, uncurried, unbroken, and fierce. Because of the guns I wore, women walked along our streets now, children were going to a small school nearby, and people went to church on Sunday."
Every time I pick up a L'Amour book, there's always a question lurking in the back of my mind...which Star Wars name will I encounter? In To Tame A Land, it's Vader that makes a cameo appearance. Quite a memorable one, before an Empire Strikes Back like plot twist (if you don't read the back cover description). L'Amour rehashes a lot of his material over again in his stories, but character always trumps story. To Tame A Land has one of the best casts of characters outside of a Sackett novel. Mustang Roberts may be my favorite sidekick. This feels like one of L'Amour's better plotted novels and is my new definition of a page-turner. This read will give you something to contemplate, and it's loaded with L'Amour's immovable truths, and immensely entertaining.
Every time I pick up a L'Amour book, there's always a question lurking in the back of my mind...which Star Wars name will I encounter? In To Tame A Land, it's Vader that makes a cameo appearance. Quite a memorable one, before an Empire Strikes Back like plot twist (if you don't read the back cover description). L'Amour rehashes a lot of his material over again in his stories, but character always trumps story. To Tame A Land has one of the best casts of characters outside of a Sackett novel. Mustang Roberts may be my favorite sidekick. This feels like one of L'Amour's better plotted novels and is my new definition of a page-turner. This read will give you something to contemplate, and it's loaded with L'Amour's immovable truths, and immensely entertaining.
August 17, 2018
"Μια φορά στη Δύση", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.
Βαθμολογία: 9/10
Τελευταία φορά που διάβασα βιβλίο του Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ, ήταν τον Μάιο του 2016, όταν διάβασα το πολύ καλό «Το στοιχειωμένο οροπέδιο». Από τότε, για κάποιον πολύ περίεργο λόγο, δεν έτυχε να ξαναπέσει στα χέρια μου για ανάγνωση κάποιο βιβλίο του. Λοιπόν, δεν ξέρω αν έχει σχέση το γεγονός ότι είχα καιρό να διαβάσω βιβλίο του συγγραφέα, πάντως το συγκεκριμένο μου άρεσε πάρα μα πάρα πολύ και το συγκαταλέγω στα πέντε καλύτερα βιβλία του Λ’Αμούρ που έχω διαβάσει (μαζί με αυτό έχω φτάσει αισίως τα δεκαέξι). Ουσιαστικά έχουμε να κάνουμε με μια ιστορία ενηλικίωσης στην Άγρια Δύση, από τη στιγμή που ο Ράιαν Τάιλερ μένει ορφανός στα δώδεκά του χρόνια. Η ιστορία έχει μέσα όλα τα καλούδια που μας έχει συνηθίσει ο Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ: Ινδιάνους, πιστολάδες, καουμπόηδες, άλογα, ανοιχτές πεδιάδες και βουνά, πόλεις και ερήμους. Είναι μια ιστορία που αναδεικνύει τον σκληρό και επικίνδυνο μα συνάμα συναρπαστικό κόσμο της Άγριας Δύσης. Η αφήγηση είναι σε πρώτο πρόσωπο και είναι αρκούντως καθηλωτική και εθιστική, με τις περιγραφές των τοπίων, των διαφόρων καταστάσεων και των σκέψεων του νεαρού πρωταγωνιστή να είναι λιτές πλην όμως όμορφες και γραφικές. Μου έλειψε πολύ η γραφή και οι ιστορίες του Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ τόσα χρόνια, το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι δεν θα αργήσω ξανά τόσο πολύ να διαβάσω κάποιο βιβλίο του.
Βαθμολογία: 9/10
Τελευταία φορά που διάβασα βιβλίο του Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ, ήταν τον Μάιο του 2016, όταν διάβασα το πολύ καλό «Το στοιχειωμένο οροπέδιο». Από τότε, για κάποιον πολύ περίεργο λόγο, δεν έτυχε να ξαναπέσει στα χέρια μου για ανάγνωση κάποιο βιβλίο του. Λοιπόν, δεν ξέρω αν έχει σχέση το γεγονός ότι είχα καιρό να διαβάσω βιβλίο του συγγραφέα, πάντως το συγκεκριμένο μου άρεσε πάρα μα πάρα πολύ και το συγκαταλέγω στα πέντε καλύτερα βιβλία του Λ’Αμούρ που έχω διαβάσει (μαζί με αυτό έχω φτάσει αισίως τα δεκαέξι). Ουσιαστικά έχουμε να κάνουμε με μια ιστορία ενηλικίωσης στην Άγρια Δύση, από τη στιγμή που ο Ράιαν Τάιλερ μένει ορφανός στα δώδεκά του χρόνια. Η ιστορία έχει μέσα όλα τα καλούδια που μας έχει συνηθίσει ο Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ: Ινδιάνους, πιστολάδες, καουμπόηδες, άλογα, ανοιχτές πεδιάδες και βουνά, πόλεις και ερήμους. Είναι μια ιστορία που αναδεικνύει τον σκληρό και επικίνδυνο μα συνάμα συναρπαστικό κόσμο της Άγριας Δύσης. Η αφήγηση είναι σε πρώτο πρόσωπο και είναι αρκούντως καθηλωτική και εθιστική, με τις περιγραφές των τοπίων, των διαφόρων καταστάσεων και των σκέψεων του νεαρού πρωταγωνιστή να είναι λιτές πλην όμως όμορφες και γραφικές. Μου έλειψε πολύ η γραφή και οι ιστορίες του Λουίς Λ’Αμούρ τόσα χρόνια, το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι δεν θα αργήσω ξανά τόσο πολύ να διαβάσω κάποιο βιβλίο του.
August 12, 2020
Wow ... this was a good book. Unique. And I'm completely at a loss as to how to critique it. It was very well-crafted, yet while I was reading it--and that fantastical ending--it was extremely hard to unpack all of the subtle moral dilemmas. But once I did, after finishing the book, tears did (briefly) come to my eyes.
Setting: The wild, untamed West. The story begins in "Indian Country," probably soon after the time of the Civil War, when Ryan Tyler is twelve years old. (The first date mentioned is 1872, in chapter 8) About ten years pass during the story, and the various geographies include Texas, Colorado, New Orleans, Alta (in Utah), and Kansas City. In short, Rye gets around. One sentence reads, "Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and down to Colorado." The wild West setting is established well (hardly surprising, considering L'Amour's reputation). There are mentions of Indians (e.g. Comanches and Osages), guns (Winchester, Joslyn, Shawk & McLanahan, and Smith & Wesson, to name a few), horses, rocks, and desert. What's funny is that in the midst of this rugged, wild setting, Rye is reading Plutarch. I loved it.
Characters: Each character's personality isn't the most obvious, due to the writing style. But they all have a certain depth, so that they are all three-dimensional. Rye, of course, is the best--his duty to justice and law, his hesitance to kill, combined with his resolute commitment to do what's right. The only question regarding him, a teenager/twenty-something year old, is from where he got this strong and unwavering sense of morality. I assume he was raised well by his pap, and also that Logan Pollard instilled some of it (although all of it, I'm not so sure ...), but although Rye clearly learns about how to use a gun, I don't see much about him learning about when to use one. Doesn't seem like a big problem, sure, but that question kind of comes to the surface during the climax.
The other thing I love about Rye was his intention toward Liza. The romance--honestly, the lack thereof--was done quite well. I still can't get over how young Rye is for the entire book, though ... and how smart, controlled, and well-spoken he is.
As for the other characters, most of them were mean gunslingers with cold eyes. Fair enough. The one other character that I think important to mention is Mustang. He is pretty great, and the perfect complement to Rye.
Plot: The plot kind of stretches through Rye's life--ten years of it, anyway. It's very interesting to see how he grows into a man. If I had learned more about how he developed into such an honorable man--in the face of trigger-happy men--I might have related to him much more, but in the end, I approved of Rye's actions. And I couldn't help but be delighted at the scenes of gunfights. It does bring up the question of godly actions, though. In an age where people are scared of guns, and where Christians just want to be "nice" to everyone (oftentimes at the expense of truth), this Wild West culture seems a bit too ... wrong. But I believe it's hard to argue against Ryan Tyler's pursuit of justice. It's certainly a good conversation topic, anyway.
I may be a newcomer to Wild West novels and Louis L'Amour, but I'll probably stay a while. Recommended for anyone who likes such things. ;) Definitely not recommended for people who can't handle shootings.
Setting: The wild, untamed West. The story begins in "Indian Country," probably soon after the time of the Civil War, when Ryan Tyler is twelve years old. (The first date mentioned is 1872, in chapter 8) About ten years pass during the story, and the various geographies include Texas, Colorado, New Orleans, Alta (in Utah), and Kansas City. In short, Rye gets around. One sentence reads, "Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and down to Colorado." The wild West setting is established well (hardly surprising, considering L'Amour's reputation). There are mentions of Indians (e.g. Comanches and Osages), guns (Winchester, Joslyn, Shawk & McLanahan, and Smith & Wesson, to name a few), horses, rocks, and desert. What's funny is that in the midst of this rugged, wild setting, Rye is reading Plutarch. I loved it.
Characters: Each character's personality isn't the most obvious, due to the writing style. But they all have a certain depth, so that they are all three-dimensional. Rye, of course, is the best--his duty to justice and law, his hesitance to kill, combined with his resolute commitment to do what's right. The only question regarding him, a teenager/twenty-something year old, is from where he got this strong and unwavering sense of morality. I assume he was raised well by his pap, and also that Logan Pollard instilled some of it (although all of it, I'm not so sure ...), but although Rye clearly learns about how to use a gun, I don't see much about him learning about when to use one. Doesn't seem like a big problem, sure, but that question kind of comes to the surface during the climax.
The other thing I love about Rye was his intention toward Liza. The romance--honestly, the lack thereof--was done quite well. I still can't get over how young Rye is for the entire book, though ... and how smart, controlled, and well-spoken he is.
As for the other characters, most of them were mean gunslingers with cold eyes. Fair enough. The one other character that I think important to mention is Mustang. He is pretty great, and the perfect complement to Rye.
Plot: The plot kind of stretches through Rye's life--ten years of it, anyway. It's very interesting to see how he grows into a man. If I had learned more about how he developed into such an honorable man--in the face of trigger-happy men--I might have related to him much more, but in the end, I approved of Rye's actions. And I couldn't help but be delighted at the scenes of gunfights. It does bring up the question of godly actions, though. In an age where people are scared of guns, and where Christians just want to be "nice" to everyone (oftentimes at the expense of truth), this Wild West culture seems a bit too ... wrong. But I believe it's hard to argue against Ryan Tyler's pursuit of justice. It's certainly a good conversation topic, anyway.
I may be a newcomer to Wild West novels and Louis L'Amour, but I'll probably stay a while. Recommended for anyone who likes such things. ;) Definitely not recommended for people who can't handle shootings.
October 1, 2020
The thing is, I really quite liked this book until the last chapter ruined everything. You've got a coming of age story where a guy called Rye starts out as a boy, and life is really hard because he loses both his parents young and in miserable ways, but he gets through that with the help of a nice guy named Logan who mentors him and kind of semi-adopts him until he's old enough to go out and be his own man.
And Rye does, he goes out and lives a full life on the frontier and does what he needs to survive, and he falls in love with a girl. And he eventually gets a pretty steady job as a lawman and wants to go back and find that girl and see if she'll marry him.
All well and good. I was 100% on board. Good stuff. Lovely character development. Nice story arc. Very episodic, but I like episodic. Kind of ramble-y, especially for a L'Amour, but I like ramble-y.
And then, that last chapter.
(Happily, I read another L'Amour book right away and liked it heaps, so don't worry, I'm not going to quit reading him just because of one unsatisfactory ending.)
And Rye does, he goes out and lives a full life on the frontier and does what he needs to survive, and he falls in love with a girl. And he eventually gets a pretty steady job as a lawman and wants to go back and find that girl and see if she'll marry him.
All well and good. I was 100% on board. Good stuff. Lovely character development. Nice story arc. Very episodic, but I like episodic. Kind of ramble-y, especially for a L'Amour, but I like ramble-y.
And then, that last chapter.
(Happily, I read another L'Amour book right away and liked it heaps, so don't worry, I'm not going to quit reading him just because of one unsatisfactory ending.)
April 19, 2018
Easily one of my favourite L'Amour books. I really enjoyed it. It may not be literary gold, but reading it, I feel I found myself a little gold nugget of pure reading delight.
This is as 'western' as they come. Mr L'Amour sure knew how to spin a solid yarn. I just love how he manages to paint the scenes with effective language and imagery. He creates dialogue that just feels right. A rare talent and he does it so well one hardly notices. It does not feel forced at all.
It was a bit on the short side, but still one heck of a tale.
My Daddy used to love reading L'Amour westerns, I think I inherited that trait.
This is as 'western' as they come. Mr L'Amour sure knew how to spin a solid yarn. I just love how he manages to paint the scenes with effective language and imagery. He creates dialogue that just feels right. A rare talent and he does it so well one hardly notices. It does not feel forced at all.
It was a bit on the short side, but still one heck of a tale.
My Daddy used to love reading L'Amour westerns, I think I inherited that trait.
December 18, 2024
Rye Tyler is orphaned after his father dies in an Indian attack which he revenges. He is taken up by Logan Pollard and taught how to fight and survive in the wilderness. A good story with gunfights galore and Rye finding Lisa who is taken by the mysterious Milo a gunslinger.
No surprise in the ending except Rye had not read Plutarach five times.
No surprise in the ending except Rye had not read Plutarach five times.
February 28, 2021
Good, solid L'Amour story. I picked up this ebook for $2, and thoroughly enjoyed the story again, after several years.
May 16, 2022
This story started out somewhat slow and seemed to have disjointed pieces at first, but by the end of the book, everything fell into place and it turned out to be a really great read! Great plot twist at the end too!
As always, L'Amour did an excellent job with giving a colorful, accurate depiction of the old west. After reading this story, one gets a better understanding of what it may have taken to tame our country.
I love how he ends the book...
As always, L'Amour did an excellent job with giving a colorful, accurate depiction of the old west. After reading this story, one gets a better understanding of what it may have taken to tame our country.
I love how he ends the book...
Someday... Enemies may come into our country and times will have changed, but then the boys will come down from the old high hills and belt on their guns again. They can do it if they have to.
January 31, 2019
The book I read is "To Tame A Land". It was written by Louis Amour. The setting is in the wild west during the 1800s. Theirs four main characters in this book, Rye Tyler, mustang Robert, Logan Pollard, an Liza. The book is about a young boy that is left alone after a wagon train leader decides to leave him and his father behind when a wheel is broken on their wagon. They are then found by indians, who kill their father and loot their wagon. Rye has a horse and his mom's picture and proceeds to learn a nonbook education from a friend, thus helping survive in the west. He becomes a man who is fast and fair with a gun and helps make the land safe for the "good folks". He works various jobs until the end arrives with a surprise. I find myself reading many of L'Amour books just because of the description and the plots, I would recommend this book.
May 7, 2019
A coming of age tale, if coming of age involved shooting the shit out of people.
May 23, 2024
My first Louis L’Amour. It was a fun, adventurous western. Best of all, it reminded me of my grandfather who I saw reading the Bible most of the time and Louis L’Amour the rest of the time.
December 27, 2024
Cookie cutter plot with cookie cutter characters, but damn if I don't love these cookies.
Best line: "I only read Plutarch four times."
Best line: "I only read Plutarch four times."
September 4, 2017
To Tame a Land is now one of my favorite Louis L’Amour novels. Rye Tyler’s most obvious skill is his ability to draw fast and shoot straight. In other words he is really good at killing people and he lives in a time and a place where good men who are good with a gun are needed. The problem is Rye doesn’t want to kill anyone, and the more word spreads about his lightning fast draw the more trouble makers seek him out to see if he lives up to his reputation. He tries to avoid trouble most of the time, but he certainly won’t back down from it once it finds him, and when he learns that trouble has found a girl he is fond of he has no choice but to put his killing skills to work.
August 25, 2011
I am in the process of reading all of Louis L'Amour's novels. I really liked this one. It was more epic in scope, covering a number of years of the Old West and the territory from Texas to California. As with all of L'Amour's novels, this had a great hero, lots of action, and moments of pure education of the history of the Old West. Highly recommend it to those who like the genre and like the history of the Old West.
March 9, 2021
Ryan Tyler is orphaned at age fourteen. At fifteen, he is forced to kill a man in California and starts drifting. He meets a girl in Colorado and then drifts to Texas where he buys some cattle. Returning to Colorado, the girl's family is dead and she has disappeared. He becomes town marshall and searches for her.
May 29, 2017
Ryan Tyler is orphaned at a young age and finds himself gifted with a gun, a role he takes up reluctantly, but without fear or regret. Learning to survive from age 13 stranded on the plains from a wagon train, Tyler soon is a westerner and grows to manhood facing its challenges.
Although this is a fairly well-written story, it had a somewhat disjointed feel, as if it were pulled together from several other L'Amour short stories and was missing pages at times. Despite the name, it didn't really feel like a history or depiction of taming the west, just one young man's series of adventures culminating in finding a girl and settling down back east.
Although this is a fairly well-written story, it had a somewhat disjointed feel, as if it were pulled together from several other L'Amour short stories and was missing pages at times. Despite the name, it didn't really feel like a history or depiction of taming the west, just one young man's series of adventures culminating in finding a girl and settling down back east.
February 10, 2022
Случайно видяно заглавие, събуди ми любопитството. Пък и отдавна не бях чел уестърни, изглеждаше кратко... И ударих гредата.
Историята се оказа доста скучна и банална, при все, че започна що-годе обещаващо, героите бяха и си останаха плоски, а родният превод е толкова трагичен, че само заради него от две свалям на една звезда. Плътарк и Плейто, за Бога...
Историята се оказа доста скучна и банална, при все, че започна що-годе обещаващо, героите бяха и си останаха плоски, а родният превод е толкова трагичен, че само заради него от две свалям на една звезда. Плътарк и Плейто, за Бога...
April 23, 2025
I didn't expect a coming-of-age story here, but that's kind of what this was. Rye was a fun protagonist and I loved following him and seeing him come into adulthood. All very adventurous and romantic.
November 20, 2025
Solid action packed book. Folks better quit messing with Rye
August 30, 2025
2.5 Stars
*Spoilers*
Listen, I don't think this book was bad, it just wasn't for me. Besides the main character, no other person stayed in the story long enough to get attached to. It also very much read like a list of events. First I did this, then I went there, it was beautiful. It just didn't grip me the way I wanted to!
I also didn't love the mentor friend being the villain. It just didn't line up with his character from the beginning. There was also a bunch of build up about wanting to find Liza but then he saves her and the book just ends. We get no epilogue or insight into what happened after that.
*Spoilers*
Listen, I don't think this book was bad, it just wasn't for me. Besides the main character, no other person stayed in the story long enough to get attached to. It also very much read like a list of events. First I did this, then I went there, it was beautiful. It just didn't grip me the way I wanted to!
I also didn't love the mentor friend being the villain. It just didn't line up with his character from the beginning. There was also a bunch of build up about wanting to find Liza but then he saves her and the book just ends. We get no epilogue or insight into what happened after that.
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