What western are you reading?

[Andrew]

I just started it, I'll let you know if I run across him.
http://huckfinn76.com

[Laurel]

Andrew wrote: "I just started it, I'll let you know if I run across him.
http://huckfinn76.com"

Thanks, Andrew. I will look forward to hearing from you. I read Leonard's book Raylan and enjoyed it immensely. Here is my review, with no spoilers, if you are so inclined. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mark]

Tracy wrote: "I just started Shot All to Hell: Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West's Greatest Escape byMark Lee Gardner. I have been looking forward to this book ..."

I saw your post, and the title caught my eye so I ordered it, got it, and read it. Great book. The author lives in Cascade, Colorado--a small mountain town I used to drive through all the time. Plus I just moved to Minnesota, so reading about the James-Younger gang in MN from a CO author was perfect. I think I'll go to Northfield, MN next year for the re-enactment.

[Tracy]

The Re-enactment sounds like a good time. It's amazing any of the Youngers survived the posses let alone all three.

[Colette]

Hi Guys, Have any of you read Redemption by Andrew Joyce? While on a long haul flight by E-reader packed up so my husband offered me his. He loves westerns, actually mention the word cowboy and he is hooked, you wouldn't think so if you met him anyway, I digress, and apologize for that.
REDEMPTION is a "page turner" Huck Fin and Tom Sawyer are now adults and as the author says "A mans got to do what a mans got to do" and these two life long friends do just that. Look! I could go on and on but that would not get you any closer to experiencing a really good read. WE myself and my husband (and it is unusual for us to agree on reading material) recommend this Ebook, check it out.
Colette

[Tracy]

A couple of books I recently read were Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History and Dead Man's Walk

[Kaj]

I just finished A Wicked Little Town by Elena Sandidge . A different Western about Doc Holliday. I can recommend it for those liking Doc Holliday.

[Tracy]

I just finished John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas A must read for anyone who is a history buff of the American West.

[Regina]

Reading this one. I'll be honest, it ain't really my thing, and that's not entirely the author's fault. I don't read much romance, and I actively tend to dislike Harlequin. I'm reading it because it's set in a Pony Express station, as is my own series, and it's short, so I figured I'm in.

Yeah...not so much. Ain't gonna sit here and tear it down...but...just not really my thing.

[Lloyd]

Just finished "Comanche Moon" by Larry McMurtry, which I really enjoyed and admired. Here's my brief review of it:

http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/2014/1...

[Eric]

I am reading William Johnstone First Mountainman: Forty Guns West. Really fun and very amusing. Made up of Two books the second book adds more plot twist to an already great story.

[Neil]

I have read all of William Johnston's mountain man books. I feel like Preacher and Smoke Jensen are long time friends. If you like the mountain man books I also really enjoyed Richard S. Wheeler's series about Barnaby Skye a former impressed British sailor who becomes a fixture in the american west.

[Kent]

I'm reading John Jakes, The Frontier. Just got started haven't formulated any comments on it yet.

[Tracy]

I'm halfway through Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West.

[Kent]

Neil wrote: "I have read all of William Johnston's mountain man books. I feel like Preacher and Smoke Jensen are long time friends. If you like the mountain man books I also really enjoyed Richard S. Wheeler's ..."

Neil, I'll take a look at that series; I've enjoyed the latest Johnston novels, thanks for mentioning them.

[Neil]

Kent wrote: "I'm reading John Jakes, The Frontier. Just got started haven't formulated any comments on it yet."

Kent wrote: "I'm reading John Jakes, The Frontier. Just got started haven't formulated any comments on it yet."
I like John Jakes haven't read this one.

[Harlan]

Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose, for the third time. It's somewhat related to my current manuscript, A Place for Mei Lin, just about ready to submit, and I continue to hope that some of his genius will flow from the page to my fingertips as I turn pages.

[Harlan]

I wrote earlier that I am re-reading Stegner's Angle of Repose. I'm also re-reading Win Blevins, Give Your Heart to the Hawks, still the classic account of the trapping and mountain man era.

[Neil]

Harlan - Win Blevins, Give Your Heart to the Hawks is magnificent, one of my all time favorites.
Kent I am going to look at Jakes, The Frontier, not sure I have read it. I really enjoyed his Kent Family Chronicles a few years back

[Kent]

Dale, I haven't read, The Unforgiven, but I have read The Searchers. I liked it a lot, and I think it is one of the better western movies made, and one of the better John Wayne westerns.

[Amy]

I'm currently reading Many a River and it's a real page turner. This is my first Western and I am looking forward to reading more!

[Nicholas]

Apart from my regular re-reading Jack Schaefer's 'Shane', I am taking advantage of Picadilly Publishing's efforts to reacquire George G. Gilman's (Terry Harknett) Edge and Steele series and J.T. Edson's 'Floating Outfit' series as kindle ebooks.

[Neil]

Reading Tony Hillerman's memoir, Seldom Disappointed. And I have not been disappointed, good read by an author I long enjoyed reading.

[Kent]

Amy wrote: "I'm currently reading Many a River and it's a real page turner. This is my first Western and I am looking forward to reading more!"

Kelton is one of the best.

[Kent]

Neil wrote: "Reading Tony Hillerman's memoir, Seldom Disappointed. And I have not been disappointed, good read by an author I long enjoyed reading."

Hillerman is great. I happen to go through the Four Corners region before I ever heard of Tony and found it to me a magical place.

[Neil]

Neil wrote: "Reading Tony Hillerman's memoir, Seldom Disappointed. And I have not been disappointed, good read by an author I long enjoyed reading."

Neil wrote: "Reading Tony Hillerman's memoir, Seldom Disappointed. And I have not been disappointed, good read by an author I long enjoyed reading."
I like every thing I have read of Elmer Kelton, good, true to like westerns.

[Neil]

We are planning a trip to the four corners in April, can't wait.

[Jeremy]

Just finished Winchester 1886. Good book. Johnstone is one of my favorites

[Jeremy]

Just finished Winchester 1886. Good book. Johnstone is one of my favorites

[Neil]

Jeremy wrote: "Just finished Winchester 1886. Good book. Johnstone is one of my favorites" I liked that book also have read quite a bit of Johnstone.

[Jeffery]

Just started reading Apache Storm by Jason Manning. So far it is good.

[Kent]

I'm reading 'The Last Shootist' by Miles Swarthout. He is the son of, Glendon Swarthout, who wrote, 'The Shootist' and 'The Homesman'. I never read The Shootist, saw the movie and liked it. I have to admit I really like The Last Shootist. It is fast paced and set in an area of the west about which is seldom written. I will hopefully finish the last one hundred pages this busy weekend.

[Richard]

Just reread the chapbook "Far Enough A Western In Fragments" by Joe Wilkins.

[Neil]

Richard wrote: "Just reread the chapbook "Far Enough A Western In Fragments" by Joe Wilkins."
Never heard of this one but am going to give it a look. I like the title.

[Neil]

Kent wrote: "I'm reading 'The Last Shootist' by Miles Swarthout. He is the son of, Glendon Swarthout, who wrote, 'The Shootist' and 'The Homesman'. I never read The Shootist, saw the movie and liked it. I have ..."
I liked the movie also, also did not read the book, this sounds like it might be worth taking a look

[Nicholas]

Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell

[Richard]

Next up is "Dangerous Ground Stories of Western Noir" edited by Ed Gorman, Dave Zeltserman and Martin H. Greenberg. After that a couple of collections of pulp westerns.

[Martin]

I'm reading Freckled Venom - Copperhead Strikes by Juliette Douglas. It is the second in the series. I enjoyed the first and so far this one is even better.

[C.]

Just finished the clean, sweet, western romance~

[Richard]

I'm reading Sangre De Cristo by Wesley Redfield

[John]

I'm reading Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher. Some similarity in style to Guthrie's The Big Sky. Am enjoying it more than the Big Sky as the protagonist is more likable.

[Richard]

Just finished Hard Land to Rule by Anthony Whitt. I read it in one sitting--riveting.

[Neil]

Not sure why but I usually have both a fiction and non-fiction going at the same time. Now reading, The Bold Frontier, a book of short stories by John Jakes and Red Cloud and the Sioux Problem by James C. Olson. Enjoying both.

[Neil]

John wrote: "I'm reading Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher. Some similarity in style to Guthrie's The Big Sky. Am enjoying it more than the Big Sky as the protagonist is more likable."

I am a big fan of Mountain Man fiction, have not heard of this one, will give it a look.

[audrey]

Hi all! I'm new here, and my choices usually skew towards 70s pulp Westerns or Weird West. Right now I'm reading (and hugely enjoying) Weirding the War: Stories from the Civil War's Ragged Edges.

[Kent]

Audrey wrote: "Hi all! I'm new here, and my choices usually skew towards 70s pulp Westerns or Weird West. Right now I'm reading (and hugely enjoying) [book:Weirding the War: Stories from the Civil War's Ragged Ed..."

Currently reading two westerns, Wister - for the 2nd time. L'Amour and Faulkner - 'Three Short Novels. Welcome to the group.

[Anthony]

Richard wrote: "Just finished Hard Land to Rule by Anthony Whitt. I read it in one sitting--riveting."

Thanks Richard. I'm a little late to the discussion, but that's the kind of news I love to hear!

[Barry]

I'm not new/ new here. Long time member who totally forgot about the group. I've been reading Westerns and loving them all my life. Read all kinds: loved some: didn't like some and overall enjoyed them all. At present, my continuing favorite Western authors are Louis L"Amour (Particularly the Sacket books) and J.T.Edson. Of Edson, I just enjoy the heck out of his long running series. I honestly wish there was more/better editing of his work (Too many ! points) but overall he's great. Love to hear pro/con observations.

[Nicholas]

Barry wrote: "I'm not new/ new here. Long time member who totally forgot about the group. I've been reading Westerns and loving them all my life. Read all kinds: loved some: didn't like some and overall enjoyed ..."
Hi Barry,
Longish time member, too who doesn't post near enough. My all time favourite western author is Jack Schaefer by a long shot and I'm also a fan of Elmore Leonard's western stories. Just rewatched 'Hombre' with Paul Newman on Foxtel this week.
I have never managed to appreciate Louis L'Amour much, although I have enjoyed some of the movies made from his novels.
As for J.T. Edson, there is a story. I started reading his books back in the early sixties and when read in a newspaper article that he lived in Melton Mowbray, just a couple of hours by train from my home town, I headed up that way and finally knocked on his door and asked him to sign my original 'Brown & Watson' copy of 'Gun Wizard'
Not only did he do so willingly, he invited me in and I spent the day at his home discussing his history as a dog handler with the British Army in Africa and his views on western fiction.
He took great delight in sharing his somewhat 'right wing' views and explained how he had based Dusty Fog on war hero and movie actor, Audie Murphy (rewatched the very effective 'No Name On the Bullet' last night) and how one of the books he was working on (The Hooded Riders) would ruffle a few feathers.
I left after sharing a generous evening meal and, at his suggestion,
remained in touch with him by letter until I left the UK in the early 80s.
I have every one of his western novels in paperback and am currently purchasing selected Amazon Kindle editions as they are released.
Was he a great writer? No.
Are his novels fun to read? Mostly, yes.
Was he outstandly kind to a fifteen year old fan who turned up, unannounced on his doorstep? You betcha!
My favourite characters? Doc Leroy and Waco.

[Barry]

Waco and Doc are cool but Lon would have to be my favorite. The combination of his heritage just seems so right for the stories.
As to meeting Mr Edson as a 15 year old, that's fantastic. Meeting and talking with an author seems to add credence to their work and make it eminently more readable.
Many years ago I had a friendship with Phyllis Whitney who wrote romantic suspense. I HATE romance books, they are just not fitting with my own self image. Yet, Phyllis gave them to me, autographed them and later tested me on them. I damn well read them cover to cover and began to appreciate the great effort she put into them. I remember her once telling me her latest had the mystery down but she was having trouble putting in the Romance!