"Nobody is ever convinced by argument, anyway. They just think up new reasons for maintaining old positions and become more defensive."

And ain't that the truth ;)

Top 3 L’Amour book, behind Bendigo Shafter and Last of the Breed, in my opinion. The I think what made the story great besides the fact that it had a solid protagonist was that the antagonist, Albert Heskith, was such a great bad guy. All the conniving acts never cease to end and you hate it him more and more as story proceeds. Well done L’Amour!

I enjoy this kind of historical fiction, especially from the pen of Louis L'Amour. I found myself often pausing to go online and learn more about people, places, and events mentioned in the book. The incident in the courtroom between Sam Brown and Bill Stewart, for example, is mostly correct as told by L'Amour. Similarly, the "showdown" between Eldorado Johnny and Farmer Peel. Other real historical figures come and go in the book, and it has been interesting to look them up and find out more about who they were and what they did. Even the mines mentioned that were excavated on the Comstock were fascinating to learn about. And the fictional adventure and plot lines that L'Amour added on top of the history made it even more enjoyable.

Every stereotype and trope about boom times in the old west and mining towns is here. This could have been better if the author had dialed it back a bit. The story rambles, going on too long, as coincident after coincidence falls into place.

This book and I have a weird history. My grandmother is a huge Louis L'Amour fan and gave me this to read when I was going into high school. My mom was a bit peeved at my grandmother for giving it to me, so I decided to read it, thinking there would be adult themes or violence or something. I didn't get past the first chapter before I got bored and forgot about it. Then, it sort of disappeared off my bookshelf. My senior year of high school, I was volunteering at our library's book sale unpacking boxes and came across this book again. Apparently, my mom had donated it. It even had my little homemade bookmark still in the middle of chapter 1. A dollar later and about a month of trying really hard to read it (it was soooo boring to a teen who was on a romance novel kick), I finished it and finally gave it back to my grandmother.

I really should get around to re-reading it.

When it comes to reading a good yarn, one of those stories that just strings the reader along and keep you turning the pages well into the night, you can’t get much better than a Louis L’Amour novel–the man definitely had a knack for writing stories, the type that can equally be told verbally, as well as in written form. And Comstock Lode is no different: it is a great story, chock-full of historical tidbits, intrigue and suspense, and it is a lot of fun to read.

Comstock Lode is about a man named Travallion who originally came over to America from England as a young boy; his parents were murdered by a gang of thugs and so he has to survive the wilderness of America on his own. Of course there is more to it as well, but giving any more detail would be to spoil it for those of whom who have yet to read it. Another thing you can tell when you read Comstock Lode, a novel written and published near the end of his career, is that L’Amour started to really branch out and write differently, seriously. This is not just a pot-boiler of a novel with a lot of action. There is also a lot of historical detail, and a lot of introspection on the characters’ part; for example, although the main character, Travallion, is good with his guns and originally set out to get everyone responsible for the murder of his parents, he ends up changing the way he thinks and really struggles with a lot of his thoughts and decisions–stuff along the lines of “killing is bad,” etc. A sure indication that this is also a different L’Amour novel is illustrated by its length: it is almost 600 pages long, much longer than most of L’Amour’s other novels. I think this too is indicative of a more thoughtful and introspective novel, one where there is a lot of depth and breadth thrown in with the fun and excitement.

Now that I have read Comstock Lode, I want to go out and find the other novels that L’Amour wrote late in his career, to see what they are like and to see if he further developed and changed as a writer late in his career.

This is my FAVORITE L'Amour novel. It's certainly not going to win any literary awards but it's SO FUN. Drama, danger, romance, mine accidents, gun fights, stagecoaches, plucky immigrants, feisty actresses, wise old miners - it has everything I want in a Western.