Western Authors & Readers discussion

I'm reading some non-fiction now, a book called Leadville: Colorado's Magic City

It's mainly the mining history, during the late 1800's. The time period and locale are right--Doc Holliday even spent time here--to be a book about the American West. I'm enjoying it. It's research for my next novel.

I'm reading F. L. Olmsted's A Journey Through Texas -- recording a trip he made there in 1857. Magnificently detailed and fascinating stuff -- also research for my next book.

I'm about halfway through The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legends of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Hey everyone. I am currently working on the family Jenssen series by William W Johnstone/ J.A. Johnstone. Going to be starting the 3rd book tonight or tomorrow.

Mark wrote: "I'm reading some non-fiction now, a book called Leadville: Colorado's Magic City

It's mainly the mining history, during the late 1800's. The time period and locale are right--Doc Holliday even spe..."

If I'm not mistaken Doc Holliday died in Leadville. Colorado wasn't/isn't the best climate for someone with tuberculosis.

Tracy wrote: "Mark wrote: "I'm reading some non-fiction now, a book called Leadville: Colorado's Magic City

It's mainly the mining history, during the late 1800's. The time period and locale are right--Doc Holl..."

Very close. According to Doc Holliday, he left Leadville in the spring of 1887 and went to Glenwood Springs, Colorado--where he ended up dying that November. The hot springs there, while being advertised as a miracle cure for tuberculosis, actually made thing worse--the sulphur vapors did further damage to his lungs.

Tracy wrote: "I'm about halfway through The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legends of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

Let me know if it's any good. I've only seen the Robert Redford/Paul Newman film, but haven't read anything specifically on them. I'd like to.

If you haven't read anything on the Wild Bunch I would recommend it. It's an easy flowing book but, it doesn't really bring anything new to the table for me.

I'm starting Bedside Book of Bad Girls: Outlaw Women of the American West by Michael Rutter tonight.

Well, that was a quick read. Next on the list is The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West

Tracy wrote: "Well, that was a quick read. Next on the list is The Poker Bride: The First Chinese in the Wild West"

How was BAD GIRLS: OUTLAW WOMEN? Looks like a very short book.

It was okay. It has 18 short biographies. It has the usual suspects such as Etta Place and the Benders but a few of the women were new to me. It was only 147 pages so, no one story is really in depth. I gave it 3 stars.

Mark, by the way Glenwood Springs, Colorado made an appearance in this book too.

I'm reading what I would call a 'pre-Western', Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869 and I admit it, I'm struggling.

I can't recall anything by Stephen Ambrose that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. In the Foreward, Ambrose admits the book wasn't even his idea. It was kind of shoved on him by the publisher. However, he soon warmed to the task.

I was hoping for something like D-Day/Citizen Soldier but this account is packed with stats, congressmen of the 1850s, appropriations bills, and minutiae about how the railroad was funded, bonds issued, land grants, shares subscribed and AAArrrrrgh!

There are parts that are entertaining, especially when they actually start building the road on p. 145. Interesting factoids about the Chinese laborers and other fun stuff. I don't need to know how many cubic yards, acres of trees, tons of black powder, and so on were used. Glad there was no test.

Ken wrote: "I'm reading what I would call a 'pre-Western', Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869 and I admit it, I'm struggling.

I can't recall anything by S..."

Sounds like a book you have to wade through...! I suppose documentation is important for the sake of historical preservation. If that's the author's aim. But not when you're picking up a book, hoping for just a good story, some imaginative escapism. I haven't read any Ambrose yet. Probably won't start with this one, haha!

Everything else I've read by Ambrose is chock a block full of anecdotal and personal stories. Band of Brothers is a great example. Be warned, if you read it, you will be reading more Ambrose.

Custer and Crazy Horse are topics he wrote on. This RR one is too hard to wade through. big hunks of it read like a bill of lading. Back to the library this afternoon for a nice murder mystery.

Picked up Strike of the Mountain Man! Look out Sally, I'm gonna steal your man someday lol or at least borrow Cal ;)

The Kindle edition of my book of Western short stories is downloadable for free on Amazon today and tomorrow, so you can check it out at no risk if you're so inclined.

Fourteen Western Stories

I've jut finished Empire of the Summer Moon by Gwynne. Just outstanding; I'm probably the last to read it. Since I see some other links here, I'll add mine below. My novels are Civil War era Western historical fiction, and I'm always interested in comments. www.mckendreelong.com

Mike wrote: "I've jut finished Empire of the Summer Moon by Gwynne. Just outstanding; I'm probably the last to read it. Since I see some other links here, I'll add mine below. My novels are Civil War era Wester..."

Mike, you're the second to last to read it. I have it in my TBR pile.

Mandy wrote: "Picked up Strike of the Mountain Man! Look out Sally, I'm gonna steal your man someday lol or at least borrow Cal ;)"

William Johnstone...

Ken wrote: "Everything else I've read by Ambrose is chock a block full of anecdotal and personal stories. Band of Brothers is a great example. Be warned, if you read it, you will be reading more Ambrose.

Cu..."

Speaking of Custer and Crazy Horse, I'm halfway through McMurtry's new Custer short-bio, or "short life" as he calls it. Lots of pictures, which brings in a strong visual element. And his Crazy Horse short was a good one, too.

So I finished "Custer." A fairly short book, a lot of pictures, and readable.


MY CUSTER REVIEW:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Just finished A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson, ninth (I think) in the Longmire series that begins with A Cold Dish.

Bruce wrote: "Just finished A Serpent's Tooth by Craig Johnson, ninth (I think) in the Longmire series that begins with A Cold Dish."

How do you like it? I've seen the show, entire first season.

The TV show is pretty good, but much of the narrative has been adjusted to fit the format necessary for a 43 minute time block. Some characters are composites,for example, and there's an interesting on-going subplot about how Longmire's wife died in the TV show that is not in the books (so far)

The the books are character-driven with a nice combination of modern detective fiction and old west ethos with a fair amount of Native American mysticism thrown in, sort of Spenser meets John Wayne.

I recently finished Boleto by Alison Hagy. Loved it! Modern day cowboy, very well-written. I'm reading another one of her books right now - Snow, Ashes. Not sure if I like it as much.

Halfway thru the Border Trilogy. I liked All The Pretty Horses, and I'm slowly getting thru The Crossing. McCarthy sometimes frustrates me with drudging detail--and then alternately surprises me with extraordinary meaningful human insights. For instance, in The Crossing, I felt like the entire first half was not very interesting storytelling. The time McCarthy spent describing how a wolf trap was set was so dense, like reading a poorly written how-to manual. And then his protagonist is riding through the mountains of Mexico, passing through a remote village...and an old man stops him with a sage-like warning about the existential pitfalls of introversion & isolation. I read that passage several times, and couldn't turn another page in the story for a month. This reminded me what good art is all about. What it's supposed to do to us, how an artist (in this case, author) connects with his audience.

I shall continue reading.

I read 'All the pretty horses' and 'the crossing' back to back and quite frankly it exhausted me. Everyone tells me I need to read "Blood Meridian' but I haven't made it back to tackle that one as of yet.

I was planning on reading all 3 of McCarthy's (Pretty Horses, Crossing, Cities on the Plain)...but I'm going to need a break after #2. Whew!

Blood Meridian, I thought, was good...but wait till you're in the right mood for it I'd say.

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 for quite some time.

Hi. I am new to your group. I am not an author. I have loved westerns since I was a kid in the early 50's. I just finished reading The Way West I really enjoyed it.


Do you like members to post reviews of completed books? Some of my other groups have a particular thread for reviews, so I wondered what your arrangements are. Looking forward to learning more about this wonderful genre, and adding lots of titles to my TBR list.

Laurel wrote: "Some of my other groups have a particular thread for reviews, "

You could put the review on the particular books page and then cut and paste the link here on the boards. Your review will reach more people.

If you liked The Way West I might be so bold as to recommend my two volume work The Platte River Waltz.


The Platte River Waltz, Orphans in the Storm

The Platte River Waltz, The Growler Brigade

Ken wrote: "Laurel wrote: "Some of my other groups have a particular thread for reviews, "

You could put the review on the particular books page and then cut and paste the link here on the boards. Your revie..."

Thanks for the information, Ken. I am more than happy to consider your two books.

Laurel wrote: "Hi. I am new to your group. I am not an author. I have loved westerns since I was a kid in the early 50's. I just finished reading The Way West I really enjoyed it.
..."

You may want to check out my works. I am still waiting for a review for Shadow of the Rope, http://www.smashwords.com/b/103473, but here is the only one so far for Trail of Vengeance, http://smashwords.com/b/115618: "A great western read, a bit of mystery, romance and suspense. I enjoyed turning the pages to find out what happens. The characters are well-formed and the banter is worth reading. Charlie and Hank have issues to work out but who will succeed? The setting is perfect as you can picture yourself right along in the daily chores and happenings. This is one author I have added to my watch list so I can read more." 5.0 out of 5 stars Vengeance and Romance July 29, 2012
By Barbara Hightower VINE™ VOICE

Both are also available on Amazon and as paperbacks.

Today I picked up Lone Star Justice: The First Century of the Texas Rangers by Robert M. Utley

I just finished "Riders Of the Purple Sage" -- here's my review:

http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/2013/1...

I wrote, in part -- "This is the first and only Zane Grey Western I’ve ever read. It was published in 1912. Its prose and some of its dialogue have a creaky Victorian quality, but man, is Grey a good storyteller. In the first chapter he introduces an appealing young woman in a creepy sort of jeopardy, some creepy antagonists and a mysterious stranger who seems to have the power to set things right. A rattling good yarn is off and running . . ."

Lloyd wrote: "I just finished "Riders Of the Purple Sage" -- here's my review:

http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/2013/1...

I wrote, in part -- "This is the first and only Zane Grey Wes..."

Zane Grey is/was certainly a cornerstone of western writing.

Yes, Amanda -- he and Owen Wister between them pretty much created the modern genre Western.

Lloyd wrote: "Yes, Amanda -- he and Owen Wister between them pretty much created the modern genre Western."

Owen Wister. Had to look him up. It looks like The Virginian might have been the first truly western novel. Wow, Owen Wister.

Owen Wister. Had to look him up. It looks like The Virginian might have been the first..."

It really was, Amanda -- scenes and themes in that book are still getting recycled in Westerns.

Lloyd wrote: "Owen Wister. Had to look him up. It looks like The Virginian might have been the first..."

It really was, Amanda -- scenes and themes in that book are still getting recycled in Westerns."

Where are you standing in your picture--is that Utah or New Mexico? That rock looks familiar. Was that a landmark for the western wagons? I referred to one in one of my books--Independence Rock in Wyoming?

Monument Valley -- John Ford country. It's on the Arizona-Utah border.

Lloyd wrote: "Monument Valley -- John Ford country. It's on the Arizona-Utah border."

I was going to say Monument Valley, but I had already mentioned Utah. Very distinctive. No rock formations like that anywhere else. John Ford country is right. I think Stagecoach was the first of many movie backgrounds set there, and you can always recognize it, especially if it's in color.

Shot most spectacularly perhaps in "The Searchers". It's a really magical place, especially if you're a Ford fan.

Lloyd wrote: "Shot most spectacularly perhaps in "The Searchers". It's a really magical place, especially if you're a Ford fan."

Agreed. Do you live in the area? We recently wanted to vacation in Moab, had all reservations set. Then the government shut down the national parks. We wound up in Branson.

I live in southern Nevada. Moab is a terrific little town, with some fun bars and restaurants. I went there on another John Ford pilgrimage, to see where he shot "Rio Grande" and "Wagon Master". The locations are still unspoiled and beautiful. The places where most of "Rio Grande" was shot, beside the Colorado River, are now part of a fancy dude ranch, with a Western movie museum, which you can visit.

I finished Lone Star Justice: The First Century of the Texas Rangersand now I move on to Tom Horn: Blood on the Moon: Dark History of the Murderous Cattle Detective by Chip Carlson

I'm reading "The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard" and just finished four short stories by Louis L'Amour entitled "Bowdrie". All four are about one of his characters, Chick Bowdrie, a Texas Ranger.

Andrew wrote: "I'm reading "The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard" and just finished four short stories by Louis L'Amour entitled "Bowdrie". All four are about one of his characters, Chick Bowdrie, a Tex..."
Andrew, is the Raylan Givens character in any of the Elmore Leonard stories? I have had the complete stories volume in my hand at the book store a couple of times, and then chosen something different from the section. They are definitely on my TBR list.