The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Walking Drum
Book Review: Implausible
Summary: 3 Stars
Given the prior reviews I was eager to read Walking Drum. It sounded like the sort of historical fiction I enjoy. I had never read L'Amour before. I think I now see why. The book was mildly enjoyable but not much beyond that. I found myself skimming sections after the first third of the book - you can easiy see what is happening and the writing style made it easy to fast-forward through the action. The greatest flaw in this book is the main character. He is not particularly sympathetic because he is too unbelievabley competent to ever really be in danger or too fail. He starts out as a possessor of secret Druidic lore and a sailor and progresses from there to master swordsmanship, Latin, Greek, Arabic, Persian and other languages, learn astronomy, alchemy and medicine, dicover the lost Chinese formula for gunpowder...well, you see the problem. There is no book that he reads that he doesn't memorize totally (part of that secret Druidic lore) and everything he turns his hand to, he masters. Naturally, every woman eventually falls for this superman in medieval clothing.
The book passed the time and I don't regret reading it but it is so unrealistic as to be almost cartoonish. If this is an example of the writer's style, I will not be picking up any of his other books. However, if you have time on your hands or need a book for the beach, this might be it.
Book Review: It hurts me to be this hard on Mr. L'Amour
Summary: 2 Stars
I have read at least 40 L'Amour books and this is by far his worst. ALthough an interesting setting and a nice change for Mr. L'Amour, the character was most annoying. He spent the majority of the book talking about how great he was and how smart he was and how smart people keep their mouth shut. Every single person the character met he ends up saying something that makes the person want to kill him. By the end of the book, there's about 4,000 people who want to kill him. I couldn't stand reading this book. It hurts me to be this hard on Mr. L'Amour, but this book was horrible.Book Review: Its Louis, you know what you are going to get and then some here.
Summary: 4 Stars
I grew up on Louis L'Amour. He is THE storyteller in my memory. This book is like that in many ways. It has the ultimate man stud main character and the strong tempered worthy female counterparts. His storytelling is enthralling and drags a person in. His characters a bit predicting and infallible. This is my favorite book he has written and I am very saddened, first that he died, and second that he died before he could finish what he started here. Louis' main character is always that of a medieval hero, and here is no different, but in this book he really presents some of his philosophy that does not appear in the cereal westerns. This is an adventure and is awesome to read. It is only after my further maturity in literature that I look at his writing as somewhat less. Either way it is always fun and this is his best. I give it a 4.5 but still love the book and round down due to black and white characterization. I would recommend any of his novels to young men in particular to see what a man should be like. Not the deepest writer but an old school excellent storryteller at his finest.Book Review: James Bond in the 12th Century
Summary: 2 Stars
I just finished "The Walking Drum" - I have been reading all the L'Amour books I can find, and this one disappointed me.
I enjoyed the change of scenery from the typical L'Amour' American West setting to one in far off Asia, but found the book to be too cliched and and the plot simply unbelievable. The hero is just too handsome and heroic, and the events too full of convenient coincidences, busty babes and wondrous escapes.
I felt that L'Amour wrote this book as a pot boiler to earn cash rather than as serious work of historical fiction. If you really want an engrossing read, try Bernard Cornwell's "The Archer's Tale" trilogy, which takes place a couple of centuries later.
Book Review: LAmour Goes Over The Top !!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read ALL of Louis LAmour's books, and a few twice. The Walking Drum is the best book I have read by 'any' author I will no doubt read it again, God willing. And I love to give it as gifts. I am honored to give this book my only "5-star plus" review ever.
Thank you for asking.
Most Sincerely and with blessings,
William (Bill) McBride
1.757.774.1603