Shalako, written by Louis L'Amour and published in 1962, is a classic western novel. The main protagonist, Shalako, is essentially what everyone epitomizes the hero of the Old West to be. Bold, smart, rugged, a dead eye shot, a loner, and an overall man's man. While out and about doing his manly cowboy horse ride, he comes across a group of European aristocrats who need help defending themselves from the local tribe of Native Americans. While Shalako is normally a man who looks out only for himself, he decides that these wealthy European hunters, who have no idea how the big the mess they got themselves into, are worth saving. Shalako however finds himself attracted to the lovely Irina Carnarvon. He also faces the Apache known as Tats-ah-das-ay-go, one of the most fearsome warriors in New Mexico. Shalako has to make the decision of saving his own hide, or saving the group and winning Irina's favor.Shalako was enjoyable. The book was written in a interesting and poetic way, but sometimes in such a way that I found myself laughing because it was just so melodramatic. For example, this line: “The desert was a school, a school where each day, each hour, a final examination was offered, where failure meant death and the buzzards landed to correct the papers." This is pretty much how the entire book is written. I didn't find myself very emotionally invested in the characters. With the exception of one character named Buffalo Harris, who was Shalako's BFF(Best Friend Forever) and my favorite character, every other character was pretty unlikeable. Their backstories and personalities were vivid and interesting, but I never really cared when a character died or felt fear for a character. The Native Americans were portrayed in a somewhat insensitive way. Their only motivation in the novel was apparently just to kill the main characters because apparently they are just that evil and bloodthirsty. Despite these faults, I enjoyed this book. Its simple, but the action, wording, and plot is just pure fun. Its like the Fast and Furious movies. Sure the plot isn't the best, and the acting isn't oscar worthy, but it has a car driving from one skyscraper onto another. It doesn't make sense, but do you care? Shalako's strengths are in how it over dramatizes all of the best parts of the Wild West. Romance, hostile Native Americans, crooks, shoot outs, the desert, and a lonesome, mysterious hero.If you love a book that doesn't require you to use your brain that much, but has a classic Old West story of violence, wilderness, romance, and poetic ridiculousness, than this is the book for you.
A classic Louis L'Amour book. It is nice to see a slightly more diversified caste in a western book. I liked the characters as they developed throughout this short book. I felt some actual disappointment as certain characters died.There were two things I did not like about this book. 4 Chapters - Four. There were a lot of times when there was a scene transition but no break in the text. One sentence you are following Shalako and the next you are 20 miles away. Just some gaps in the text to break it up would have been nice.The other problem was around the fight scenes. I had difficulty drawing the fight scenes in my mind which is important in this style of book.For a genre that tends to have good guys and bad guys it was nice to see some main characters who fall in between. Focus tended to linger in some areas that could have been sped up a little and passed over some areas that I would have liked a little more detail. I didn't find anything offensive in the book, though I could see how some would be upset about the stereotyping of Indians. A great quick read for the weekend cow poke.
What do You think about Shalako (1985)?
He rode wild country with wilder men. He was a loner who owned nothing but his horse and saddle-and his guns. He was a man willing to gamble his life to get the woman he wanted... He was Shalako.
—Spencer
The wording and scene setting is great. The characters are kindof awful. The plot would have a better chance if the antagonists had some motivation beyond their bloodthirsty Apache nature. Honestly, Shalako reminds me of a western/military Dr. Greg House. He's all "i am some kind of tactical naturalist savant who also speaks 4 languages but I am too deep and full of suffering genious to ever be polite to anyone. That turns you on right?". I made it through the book in one day, but that is mostly because I am 41 weeks pregnant and can't get out of bed without a forklift. I will say, the author does have a great way with words, a lot of phrases struck me as full of poetry, or graceful precision, or as beautifully evocative. So, overall I am lukewarm on this one.
—Laura
