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1MrsLee
I glanced through the thread topics, but I didn't see one on Westerns. Anyone here like 'em? I do selectively.
I cut my reading teeth on my mom's mysteries and my dad's westerns. He had Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey mostly. I loved them, but I don't remember any story specifically.
Right now I'm reading a compilation of western short stories called Stories of the Old West. It has several authors, some I have already read, a couple I haven't. I'm enjoying it more than I'm not.
Thought it would be interesting to list the authors here and we could talk about them. I don't have time this morning to go into details, but I have two days off coming up, so I will return.
*Tips her hat and rides off in the sunrise to work.*
Weird this: When I clicked on the "New Topic" link, it took me to a page where "Book Talk" was the group. I didn't notice and accidentally posted this over there. Now I see there is a pull down menu to choose from, which I think is stupid. When you are in a group and click new topic, you generally assume you are posting to that group. *grumble, grumbly*
I cut my reading teeth on my mom's mysteries and my dad's westerns. He had Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey mostly. I loved them, but I don't remember any story specifically.
Right now I'm reading a compilation of western short stories called Stories of the Old West. It has several authors, some I have already read, a couple I haven't. I'm enjoying it more than I'm not.
Thought it would be interesting to list the authors here and we could talk about them. I don't have time this morning to go into details, but I have two days off coming up, so I will return.
*Tips her hat and rides off in the sunrise to work.*
Weird this: When I clicked on the "New Topic" link, it took me to a page where "Book Talk" was the group. I didn't notice and accidentally posted this over there. Now I see there is a pull down menu to choose from, which I think is stupid. When you are in a group and click new topic, you generally assume you are posting to that group. *grumble, grumbly*
2nhlsecord
I look forward to your list, MrsLee. I've read most of Zane Grey, and all of L'Amour's books several times. In fact, C and I are both going through the L'Amour books again (must be the 4th time). I'm not sure why we do that, maybe it's a mind-clearing experience.
3MrsLee
The first author in this book is Bret Harte. I have read his collected works before with mixed reactions. Some of his stories can be very endearing, such as The Luck of Roaring Camp, but for the most part I find them windblown and excessively wordy. One of the stories in this book, "Muck-a-Muck," I found outright distasteful, but it is a parody of James Fenimore Cooper's work, and I'm afraid much of the humor escaped me. I rather enjoyed James Fenimore Cooper.
Harte was a sort of "local" writer, in that he lived in San Francisco when he was writing most of his stories. I have stayed in hotels in the gold country where he stayed and rambled about some of the towns he was in. That is the main thing I like about his stories, the locality of them.
Next author featured is Mark Twain, who was not from the west, but lived here for a short time. His stories of the west also speak to me because of the locality. I have to say though, that the bitterness which edges many of his tales is a turn off to me. You simply can't better his wry humor and way with words though. In fact, much of his western writings seem more in derision than affection. There is the famous tale of The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, I remember liking that more the first time I read it than I did this time. Talk about your animal cruelty! This had a story called "What Stumped the Bluejays" which I loved. Very much like listening to my dad spin a yarn.
An author I had heard of, but never read to my knowledge, was Ambrose Bierce. For those of you who like the Gothic horror stories, or ghost stories, these might be up your alley. At times, he seems almost too aware of his gift with words (yes, he does have one), to the point it distracts from the story. One of the stories cracked me up though. I never had read one where so many people were startled to death! The others had nice touches of suspense, and a twist or two. I ended up liking him.
I believe that all three of these authors ended up bitter in their old age. Bereft of loved ones and disillusioned with people and life. Sad. Come to think of it, I think the next author did too, or maybe he was just a little of what I call politically crazy.
That is Owen Wister who wrote The Virginian, a model for most westerns to come. I enjoyed The Virginian, and I really enjoyed his journals from his trips west, which he took for his health. He was not a western born author either. I've only read one of his short stories in this book so far, "Specimen Jones" which is my favorite of all the stories. It seems the least pretentious, a simple story which isn't trying to showcase the author's cleverness.
Other authors in this collection are:
Frederic Remington, I knew he was an artist, but I didn't know he wrote stories.
Stephen Crane, I've only ever read The Red Badge of Courage.
Jack London, only one story from him, but that's OK. I've read his collected works too and they depress me.
Frank Norris, never heard of him.
Stewart Edward White, never heard of him.
O. Henry, I've read his collected works, and I will enjoy reading these few again I think.
Mary Austin, I've never heard of her, but I am really looking forward to trying a female author's westerns.
Harte was a sort of "local" writer, in that he lived in San Francisco when he was writing most of his stories. I have stayed in hotels in the gold country where he stayed and rambled about some of the towns he was in. That is the main thing I like about his stories, the locality of them.
Next author featured is Mark Twain, who was not from the west, but lived here for a short time. His stories of the west also speak to me because of the locality. I have to say though, that the bitterness which edges many of his tales is a turn off to me. You simply can't better his wry humor and way with words though. In fact, much of his western writings seem more in derision than affection. There is the famous tale of The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, I remember liking that more the first time I read it than I did this time. Talk about your animal cruelty! This had a story called "What Stumped the Bluejays" which I loved. Very much like listening to my dad spin a yarn.
An author I had heard of, but never read to my knowledge, was Ambrose Bierce. For those of you who like the Gothic horror stories, or ghost stories, these might be up your alley. At times, he seems almost too aware of his gift with words (yes, he does have one), to the point it distracts from the story. One of the stories cracked me up though. I never had read one where so many people were startled to death! The others had nice touches of suspense, and a twist or two. I ended up liking him.
I believe that all three of these authors ended up bitter in their old age. Bereft of loved ones and disillusioned with people and life. Sad. Come to think of it, I think the next author did too, or maybe he was just a little of what I call politically crazy.
That is Owen Wister who wrote The Virginian, a model for most westerns to come. I enjoyed The Virginian, and I really enjoyed his journals from his trips west, which he took for his health. He was not a western born author either. I've only read one of his short stories in this book so far, "Specimen Jones" which is my favorite of all the stories. It seems the least pretentious, a simple story which isn't trying to showcase the author's cleverness.
Other authors in this collection are:
Frederic Remington, I knew he was an artist, but I didn't know he wrote stories.
Stephen Crane, I've only ever read The Red Badge of Courage.
Jack London, only one story from him, but that's OK. I've read his collected works too and they depress me.
Frank Norris, never heard of him.
Stewart Edward White, never heard of him.
O. Henry, I've read his collected works, and I will enjoy reading these few again I think.
Mary Austin, I've never heard of her, but I am really looking forward to trying a female author's westerns.
4rocketjk
I have a fairly extensive section for Westerns in the used bookstore I own, about half of which I'd say are real old timers. I do a fairly brisk trade in the newer paperbacks, but most of the older ones stay on the shelf, although while they are somewhat tattered, they are still lovely, at least in my eyes.
5fuzzi
>1 MrsLee: nice idea for a thread!
I enjoy reading westerns, especially those written by Louis L'Amour, which I reread as my fancy takes me. The short stories he wrote for the pulp magazines in the 40's and 50's qualify as TBSL books, but many of his works were from later years.
I have tried to read Zane Grey, but wasn't enamored of his style.
The Virginian by Owen Wister was quite good.
Shane by Jack Schaefer was excellent, as is a non-TBSL book, Doc by Mary Doria Russell. A sequel is coming out, soon!
I've read some short stories by Elmore Leonard, good stuff.
Other books/authors in a western vein that I'd recommend (TBSL or not):
True Grit by Charles Portis
Sarah Plain and Tall and the sequels
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
The Outlaw Josey Wales aka Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski
The Light in the Forest and A Country of Strangers by Conrad Richter
My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, and The Green Grass of Wyoming by Mary O'Hara (these are not children's books, although many children have enjoyed them)
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
Well...you did ask...
Addendum: I have tried to review every book I have read in the last three plus years I've been a member of LT, so feel free to check out my reviews for any of these books. I do not "spoil" the stories when I review, so read in confidence. My reviews are here: https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=fuzzi
I enjoy reading westerns, especially those written by Louis L'Amour, which I reread as my fancy takes me. The short stories he wrote for the pulp magazines in the 40's and 50's qualify as TBSL books, but many of his works were from later years.
I have tried to read Zane Grey, but wasn't enamored of his style.
The Virginian by Owen Wister was quite good.
Shane by Jack Schaefer was excellent, as is a non-TBSL book, Doc by Mary Doria Russell. A sequel is coming out, soon!
I've read some short stories by Elmore Leonard, good stuff.
Other books/authors in a western vein that I'd recommend (TBSL or not):
True Grit by Charles Portis
Sarah Plain and Tall and the sequels
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
The Outlaw Josey Wales aka Gone to Texas by Forrest Carter
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski
The Light in the Forest and A Country of Strangers by Conrad Richter
My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, and The Green Grass of Wyoming by Mary O'Hara (these are not children's books, although many children have enjoyed them)
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
Well...you did ask...
Addendum: I have tried to review every book I have read in the last three plus years I've been a member of LT, so feel free to check out my reviews for any of these books. I do not "spoil" the stories when I review, so read in confidence. My reviews are here: https://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=fuzzi
6MrsLee
>5 fuzzi: I have several versions of True Grit, paperback, ebook and possibly audio, I'm not sure. But I haven't managed to read it yet. Someone borrowed my paperback, and I'm trying to read my books-on-the-shelves before I delve into my Kindle books.
Hmm, I was looking at my tags, and I only have 5 books tagged as westerns, 16 as cowboy and 42 as pioneers. I think they are a jumble. I've been slowly working through my catalog and refining my tags and such. A life-time project I fear. I think those tagged as "cowboy" are likely the ones that have my heart.
Hmm, I was looking at my tags, and I only have 5 books tagged as westerns, 16 as cowboy and 42 as pioneers. I think they are a jumble. I've been slowly working through my catalog and refining my tags and such. A life-time project I fear. I think those tagged as "cowboy" are likely the ones that have my heart.
7nhlsecord
I can also add to these an author named Will James who not only wrote cowboy stories from his own experiences but included wonderful illustrations as well.
9MrsLee
>7 nhlsecord: I have Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James, and another as well. I've read Smoky, and enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the other one or two I have. IIRC, his illustrations are terrific.
102wonderY
I've only got a few books that could be classed as westerns. And they generally feature women facing the challenges and testing their strength. One author that I can recommend is Katharine Newlin Burt.
Hidden Creek
"Q."
and A Man's Own Country
Hidden Creek
"Q."
and A Man's Own Country
11MissWatson
I had a thing for westerns back in the eighties, and I still got a few by Luke Short and Lee Hoffman on the shelves.
Edited for touchstone.
Edited for touchstone.
12fuzzi
>7 nhlsecord: I love Smoky, the Cow Horse by Will James, but since it's a "horse" story, I didn't include it on my post.
It's definitely not a children's book, although I think I did read it as a child...why? Because it was a HORSE STORY, ha!
His illustrations are wonderful, what talent he had.
Here's one:
It's definitely not a children's book, although I think I did read it as a child...why? Because it was a HORSE STORY, ha!
His illustrations are wonderful, what talent he had.
Here's one:
13MrsLee
Finished Stories of the Old West today. I think this is one of the better short story collections I have read recently. Not all the stories were stellar, when are they ever? The short biography/introductions to each author describing their life, influences and effect on the genre were quite good.
I was not too fond of Bret Harte and Mark Twain, but I knew that, as always some of their stories are delightful, but they have a very cynical tone, and smack of someone who is an interloper judging the place, not someone who loves the west.
Ambrose Bierce was too wordy for my taste, but had a nice haunted gothic tone going on.
Owen Wister I had read and enjoyed before, and his was a friendly sort of writing, amusing to read. Frederic Remington was good too, only his dialect for the Native American was nigh unto unreadable. That bothered me about many of the stories in this collection. Stephen Crane I enjoyed. The one Jack London was amazingly not depressing and I liked it as well. O. Henry was familiar to me. I'm not sure why his writing went out of style, I like finishing a story with a smile.
Frank Norris was new to me. Again, the story would have been more enjoyable if it weren't for the strained effort to write dialect.
Stewart Edward White is the overall winner in this collection. I had never heard of him before, but I liked every one of his contributions. Straight-forward western writing with the details to prove that he had been there and enjoyed it himself, and the humor to make me laugh.
Surprisingly, the only author I couldn't stomach at all was Mary H. Austen. I tried to read her. I usually enjoy mystic thoughts on the desert and native populations and all, but her strained use of big words and negativity were too much for me. I had to reread her sentences several times to get any sense at all out of them, and even then I wasn't sure of it.
I was not too fond of Bret Harte and Mark Twain, but I knew that, as always some of their stories are delightful, but they have a very cynical tone, and smack of someone who is an interloper judging the place, not someone who loves the west.
Ambrose Bierce was too wordy for my taste, but had a nice haunted gothic tone going on.
Owen Wister I had read and enjoyed before, and his was a friendly sort of writing, amusing to read. Frederic Remington was good too, only his dialect for the Native American was nigh unto unreadable. That bothered me about many of the stories in this collection. Stephen Crane I enjoyed. The one Jack London was amazingly not depressing and I liked it as well. O. Henry was familiar to me. I'm not sure why his writing went out of style, I like finishing a story with a smile.
Frank Norris was new to me. Again, the story would have been more enjoyable if it weren't for the strained effort to write dialect.
Stewart Edward White is the overall winner in this collection. I had never heard of him before, but I liked every one of his contributions. Straight-forward western writing with the details to prove that he had been there and enjoyed it himself, and the humor to make me laugh.
Surprisingly, the only author I couldn't stomach at all was Mary H. Austen. I tried to read her. I usually enjoy mystic thoughts on the desert and native populations and all, but her strained use of big words and negativity were too much for me. I had to reread her sentences several times to get any sense at all out of them, and even then I wasn't sure of it.
