J.J. Helms Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Good evenin' gents! Just finished reading Monte Walsh last night. Simply put, I thought it was wonderful and added to my efforts to read the top western fiction/nonfiction works as determined by the Western Writers of America (see link). I started this process a few months back and have really enjoyed reading these works. Out of curiosity, how many of the books have you read? Best Westerns Link So far, I've read: Shane Lonesome Dove (all but one of the tetralogy to go) Riders of the Purple Sage Hondo Monte Walsh True Grit The Searchers The Virginian, Men to Move my Mountains, and Triggernometry are on the shelf. I've read a bit of the first and latter, but not much just yet. So, I've still got a good ways to go and am enjoying the trip! As a side bar...I'll not bore you with the movies...I own many of 'em plus a whole lot more. In fact, three more just came in today thanks to an Amazon gift card my wife gave me for Valentine's Day! J.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I suspect that I am in common company with over 100 Louis L'Amour, 50 Zane Grey, all of Elmer Kelton, Owen Wister, and Robert Parker read to-date. Add to that many, many non-fiction books, including five books recently of court and newspaper accounts plus interviews of the Earps, Mastersons, Holliday and their many fiends and enemies. None of the movies line up with contmeporary accounts. Essential reading for the western fan includes these plus: Life and Times of Tom Horn Story of Billy Dixon Teddy Roosevelt's autobiography of his early years David McCulloch's books on Lewis and Clark and the Mexican Wars Autobiography of William C Greene (mine owner in New and Old Mex 1870-1908. I have knocked out 1-2 books per week since 1985 and have only made a dent in what is out there. I look to seeing what others add to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Don't buy their lists, although there's many a good one on there. The big one missing: Elmore Leonard. "Valdez is Coming" is my favorite single Western book, with "Hombre" not far behind. I don't think any writer of Westerns has had more of his novels and stories made into movies than Elmore Leonard. Right now, I can think of the following: The Tall T (with Randolph Scott), Joe Kidd, 3:10 to Yuma (both of 'em), Hombre, Valdez is Coming, Last Stand at Saber River. Why, even the recent series "Justified" is Elmore Leonard's work. Won't even mention his mysteries and the movies based on them..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.J. Helms Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Great additions and thoughts! It's certainly wise to take the WWoA list as merely one of possibly many lists. I do like it as a starting point although I have also read several other books their list fails to mention. One I'm particularly fond of is In the Heart of the Rockies: A Story of Adventure in Colorado by G.A. Henty (written around 1894). I found it to be a wonderful tale with lots of adventure! J.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Foolery U.S.M. #2348 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I have read all of Louis L'Amour (including his poetry) and about 70 Zane Gray. If you've never read Clarence Mulford, DO IT? He created HOPALONG CASSIDY. Great stories. He even tried shooting tricks to see if they could be done before writing them into his stories. Another writer I really enjoy reading is STAN LYNDE. You might remember him as the creator of the cartoon strips RICK O'SHAY and LATIGO. He have 8 novels out and he always leaves you wanting more TF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassalong Hopidy Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I rarely go anywhere without a book in hand, and absolutely love reading histories/stories of the old West. I would have to put Larry McMurtry, Loren EStleman and L'Amour at the top of my list. Recently read two Elmer Kelton works (Texas Sunrise)and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am now reading Clarence Mulford's Hopalong Cassidy stories. Cassalong Hopidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry Ned Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm a Western History guy. My favorite author/historian is Bernard DeVoto. If you can get ahold of these books they make for good readin: Year of Decision, 1846 Across the Wide Missouri The Course of Empire Ned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curley Cole, SASS #56849 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Well the one author missing is of course our own Tom "FortyRod" Taylor. Ifn ya haven't read his books, well, ya just ain't quite WELL READ! curley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josey Kidd Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Elmer Kelton, is by far my favorite western writer. "six bits a day", "good old boys", "smiling country", and "the time it never rained" are classics. maybe not a western, but, "Gods and Generals" (civil war) is also very good, by Peter Shaara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.J. Helms Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 Lots of great ideas worth checking out! I'll also throw in Charles Frazier's Thirteen Moons. For some strange reason though, I had a difficult time getting into his arguably more 'noticed' work, Cold Mountain. Guess I need to give it another go! J.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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