Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2018 Read Harder Challenge
>
Task #7: A western
The Round House is a fantastic book, but is in no way a western.
I think I'm going to try Elmore Leonard's Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories. I've been trying to read more short stories lately, and this is a collection of Western short stories. I mean, the task doesn't say it has to be a novel, so is it alright do you think?
I'm surprisingly excited about this challenge. I'll be taking a vacation to New Mexico this year and plan to read Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather while there. I've been meaning to read a Willa Cather book for ages. I think most of her books would work for this challenge.
Kacy wrote: "I'm surprisingly excited about this challenge. I'll be taking a vacation to New Mexico this year and plan to read Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather while ..."I am so happy to see this. I came across a free copy of Death... a few months ago and was wondering if I could use it for this challenge.
Diana wrote: "I have My Antonia by Willa Cather on my bookshelf, but I’m also quite interested in The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, which I can access at my library."I love Patrick deWitt and I loved this book. He is a bit quirky, though. Some people don't like him at all.
Cosette wrote: "This is a harder challenge for me, though not as tricky as the romances. Would "The Journey" by Anne Cameron count though?"It sounds like it would!
I'm thinking about reading Giant by Edna Ferber as my Western choice. I love the film adaptation with James Dean.
Jennifer wrote: "Charity wrote: "I'm considering trying Perma Red for this prompt...It's by a Native American author, it's a WoC protagonist, and it takes place in Montana. But, it's set in the 1940..."
I didn't realize that about the award! In that case, I think I'm going to plan on this one for now despite the time period. Thanks!
Octavia wrote: "I think I'm going to try Elmore Leonard's Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories. I've been trying to read more short stories lately, and this is a collection of Western short stories. I..."I see nothing wrong with it! I think it's a good choice.
I am thinking of “O Pioneers!” by Willa Cather
I'm going to read Traitor to the Throne lol. It's classified and described by everyone as a "western with middle eastern influences set in the desert." This is the sequel to Rebel of the Sands, which the whole time I was reading it I was like "why are they talking like they're cowboys?" lol.
This is the category I'm going into absolutely blind. I've never read a Western or so much as seen a Western movie (unless Back to the Future Part 3 counts). Like a lot of other people, I chose Lonesome Dove; my reasoning was that if I hated it, at least I could feel smug and superior about reading a Pulitzer Prize winner. :) The downside to this is that Lonesome Dove is like 850 pages long, so given that I have absolutely no idea if I'm even going to like it, I've decided to start with it. I'm seven chapters in and so far, I'm enjoying it so let's hope that continues!
Charity wrote: "I'm considering trying Perma Red for this prompt...It's by a Native American author, it's a WoC protagonist, and it takes place in Montana. But, it's set in the 1940s. (It also tick..."
I would count it. I read Perma Red a long time ago and really liked it.
Candace wrote: "For this task I'm reading No Country for Old Men. For the record, Westerns are not my thing at all. But I'm looking forward to expanding my palette."Ditto.
There seem to be a lot of the old standards on here (and, yes, Lonesome Dove is amazing.) I thought I'd add some modern, small press works for consideration. I finished In the Distance by Hernan Diaz at the end of 2017 and it is amazing. Published last year by Coffee House Press.
Two Dollar Radio has some "acid Western" titles which I will probably pick from for this challenge: the recently re-released The Drop Edge of Yonder by Rudolph Wurlitzer (they have 2 others of his, as well); and Haints Stay by Colin Winnette.
Do space cowboys count for this challenge?
This is a genre that I am very unfamiliar with. Do we feel like The Blinds qualifies? The description calls it a modern western. My local library and some reviews that I have read also also classify it as a western (or "part western").The synopsis just seems very different from other westerns I was looking at for this challenge.
Kate wrote: "This is the category I'm going into absolutely blind. I've never read a Western or so much as seen a Western movie (unless Back to the Future Part 3 counts). Like a lot of other people, I chose [bo..."I read Lonesome Dove last year - and it was one of the best books I read all year.
I haven't read it yet but my boyfriend recommended Fools Crow as a Western with a Native American perspective. He doesn't generally read the genre either but says it's one of his favorites.
I think I’m the only person who really dislikes Cormac McCarthy’s work.True Grit was the no-brainer choice for me originally, but I had forgotten about The Ox-Bow Incident until someone mentioned it.
I loved Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente! How cool is a western re-telling of Snow White?! She's "half Crow and half SOB" and she will shoot twice before you can shoot once! This was a really unique take on the fairy tale and I loved every minute!
“A stepmother is like a bullet you can't dig out. She fires true and she fires hot and she fires so quick that her metal hits your body before you even know there's a fight on.”
I've read other short stories by Catherynne M. Valente. She has a wonderful way with words. I will definitely be adding more of her work to my TBR.
Honestly, I was really dreading this category, so I picked this as my first task to tackle so I could get it out of the way. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved it enough to read it a second time immediately upon finishing.
This book is under 170 pages in print & runs about 3 hours on audio. You can read it in one sitting (for the double dippers out there - Task # 15).
Eva wrote: "The Round House I am going to go with The Round House. I think Louise Erdrich's books would work for this category. Yes?"The The Round House was included on the NYPL list of suggestions for this task in particular!
Thank you, Shelley. My adult children said it shouldn't count as a Western. I didn't think I was wrong about my choice and I always wanted to read this book. You also reminded me of the NYPL list. Thanks again!!
Would love more suggestions of westerns with a fantasy or sci-fi element.
@ Brea - I loved Six-Gun Snow White so much that I just checked out The Six-Gun Tarot - another Weird Western ... also planning to read Wake of Vultures!
@ Teresa - Did you have to read # 1 first to understand this one? Just added it to my TBR!Looks like it will also fulfill task # 30. A book with characters who are twins!
Eva wrote: "Thank you, Shelley. My adult children said it shouldn't count as a Western. I didn't think I was wrong about my choice and I always wanted to read this book. You also reminded me of the NYPL list. ..."I mean, if the NYPL thinks it's a Western, I'll gladly defer to the experts!
I didn't think I owned a western until I saw the NYPL list and found that Close Range by Annie Proulx was on the list and realised I have a copy on my shelf. Yay! I will read that.
Melissa, I didn't read the first book in the series. It took me a couple of chapters to get into Across The Great Barrier, then it was great. I'm starting the 3rd one later today.
Teresa wrote: "I read Across the Great Barrier. It's a magical western and I liked it."Great suggestion! Funnily enough, when I was searching for westerns on my library overdrive they were all romance novels hahahahahaha
Kate wrote: "I chose Lonesome Dove; my reasoning was that if I hated it, at least I could feel smug and superior about reading a Pulitzer Prize winner. :)The downside to this is that Lonesome Dove is like 850 pages long, so given that I have absolutely no idea if I'm even going to like it, I've decided to start with it. I'm seven chapters in and so far, I'm enjoying it so let's hope that continues!"
Yay! All this talk of Lonesome Dove is making me want to re-read it. I wish we had read-along threads for the most popular book choices - I'd love to hear ongoing reactions.
I have read Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede. This is a western that takes place in an alternate US west. I didn't realize that this was the middle book in a series when I picked it up to read. I didn't have any problem getting into the book or understanding what was happening. I am going to go back and read book 1 and I can't wait to see how things turn out in book 3.
I read River of Teeth as my western. It is the most non-traditional western I have ever read. It is an alternative history that takes place in Louisiana on the Mississippsi (so not very far west) in the 1890s. Think western with cattle rustlers and gambling halls but replace the cattle and horses with hippos. Yes, hippos! And it is based on an actual proposed law to import hippos to Louisiana to combat the meat shortages in the USA.
Leigh wrote: "it is based on an actual proposed law to import hippos to Louisiana to combat the meat shortages in the USA."Ha ha, that sounds amazing.
Leigh wrote: "I read River of Teeth as my western. It is the most non-traditional western I have ever read. It is an alternative history that takes place in Louisiana on the Mississippsi (so not ..."That sounds dangerous lol
The Longmire series by Craig Johnson would work.
I don't read many westerns, so I had to ask one of my good friends for a recommendation. Knowing me, she had suggested True Grit. Has anyone read it? If so ho good is it, without spoilers? Or is anyone thinking about trying this one out as well? (I haven't seen the movie so I know nothing about this story!)
Miriam wrote: "How do we feel about non-fiction westerns? Because I really wan to read Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder."me too!
Hondo by Louis L'amour was great!
Beth wrote: "I don't read many westerns, so I had to ask one of my good friends for a recommendation. Knowing me, she had suggested True Grit. Has anyone read it? If so ho good is it, without spoi..."Just finished reading "True Grit." I think it is a great book, with a strong sense of history and place (Arkansas and Oklahoma in the post-Civil War era). I found the 14-year-old narrator to be one of the most memorable I have encountered. The plot is quite gripping as well. This book can be appreciated by readers of all ages and interests.
I read Hombre by Elmore Leonard. I'm a fan of his other books, but I had never read a western by him. It was very good! Lots to think about in a small package.
I am considering "Smoky The Cow Horse" for this prompt. It is a Newbery winner from 1927 so I think it would double dip for #11 "A children's classic published before 1980" Anyone read it? Do you think it counts as a western...I have never read a western in my life.
I received an advanced copy of The Angels of North County, and it was phenomenal. I had never read a western before, as my review shows, but it was so good! It reminded me of Steinbeck for some reason. I think because of the character study and the underlying themes.
John wrote: "Beth wrote: "I don't read many westerns, so I had to ask one of my good friends for a recommendation. Knowing me, she had suggested True Grit. Has anyone read it? If so ho good is it,..."Perfect! I already have the classic, but I needed the over 60 challenge!
Would "Death Comes for the Archbishop" be considered a Western?(I want to read this book to satisfy this challenge and the Modern Library Top 100 challenge)
Tanyka wrote: "Would "Death Comes for the Archbishop" be considered a Western?(I want to read this book to satisfy this challenge and the Modern Library Top 100 challenge)"
Not really at all, the closest I would think would be Angle of Repose. It is more modern than most westerns, but it has the same feel.
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
True Grit (other topics)All the Pretty Horses (other topics)
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West (other topics)
Lonesome Dove (other topics)
Brokeback Mountain (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Portis (other topics)Jeff Guinn (other topics)
Mary Doria Russell (other topics)
Mary Doria Russell (other topics)
Beverly Jenkins (other topics)
More...
It's by a Native American author, it's a WoC protagonist, and it takes place in Montana. But, it's set in the 1940s. (It also tick..."
I mean, there's been some discussion about what constitutes a western and it does seem that a lot of sources suggest that it should be set in the 1800s, but on the other hand this book won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America? so I feel like it would be hard to argue against it here. I say go for it!