Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Classic frontier western novels are stories set on the late 19th-century American frontier, focusing on westward expansion, the struggle between wilderness and civilization, and the lives of characters like cowboys, settlers, and outlaws.

Novels need to be at least 30 years old or older (1995)
We are looking for at least four maximum of 8 reads for the quarterly timeframe.

My thoughts:
The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper (1827)
The Pirates of the Mississippi by Friedrich Gerstäcker (1848)
Daughter of the Hills: A Woman's Part in the Coal Miners' Struggle by Myra Page (1977)
Desperadoes by Ron Hansen (1979)
Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher (1965)
Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison (1979)

I was thinking of maybe a biography.
The Feud: The Hatfields and McCoys, The True Story by Dean King
The Life of Buffalo Bill by William F. Cody
Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer by John Mack Faragher

FWC Suggestions:


1. The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper - III
2. My First Thirty Years- 0
3. Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West - I
4. Hondo - I
5. Daughter of the Hills: A Woman's Part in the Coal Miners' Struggle - II
6. Legends of the Fall - II
7. True Grit - I
8. Appaloosa - I
9. Journal of the Gun Years by Richard Matheson - 0
10. The Cowboys by William Dale Jennings - 0
11. The Virginian by Owen Wister - 0
12. Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey - 0

I'm interested in The Prairie. And added.

I support The Prairietoo.

I support Prairie

suggest: Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy

Good morning! I started it about two weeks ago, but what about Hondo (1953) by Louis L'Amour (1908-88)?

Lesle wrote: "Classic frontier western novels are stories set on the late 19th-century American frontier, focusing on westward expansion, the struggle between wilderness and civilization, and the lives of charac..."

Daughter of the Hills definitely sounds interesting to me.

James wrote: "Good morning! I started it about two weeks ago, but what about Hondo (1953) by Louis L'Amour (1908-88)?"

James Hondo by Louis L'Amour is a good one! I havent even seen the movie which Im sure is a John Wayne one! lol

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "I support Prairie

suggest: Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy"

I didnt think this one is old enough but it definitely is!

Luís wrote: "I'm interested in The Prairie. And added."

This one is on my list. I hope we get to read it.

I added one more to the regular list. Legends of the Fall and three biographies that I thought might be interesting.

Please see message one.

Lesle wrote: "Anisha Inkspill wrote: "I support Prairie

suggest: Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy"

I didnt think this one is old enough but it ..."

I know I was surprised too, but it might be a touch violent.

My other thoughts were

True Grit
Appaloosa

but I know the movies mor ethan the novels.

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "My other thoughts were

True Grit
Appaloosa ..."

Unfortunately I would love to read Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker but it falls short of Classic by 10 years.
First published June 7, 2005.

Yes I really liked the movie Appaloosa with Viggo Mortensen.
I also really like both versions of True Grit.

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "suggest: Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy"
I know I was surprised too, but it might be a touch violent...."

From what I understand it is more than a touch violent, but is on my TBR pile!

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Anisha Inkspill wrote: "I support Prairie

suggest: Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy"

I didnt think this one is old ..."

I thought Appaloosa was earlier Lesle, I've seen a movie with that title from about 1960s, maybe 70s but the plot seemed different to the one with Viggo Mortensen.

Looked into it and found Appaloosa by a different author, Robert MacLeod, published 1963.

support Legends of the Fall, fantastic movie, Iforgot it was based on a novel

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "Looked into it and found Appaloosa by a different author, Robert MacLeod, published 1963...."

Robert MacLeod is an interesting author he is from Scotland.
He began writing crime novels in the 1950s. Knox often wrote under pseudonyms, frequently for the American market. These included Michael Kirk, Robert MacLeod and Noah Webster. He published over 50 crime novels and westerns, including several series, notably the "Thane and Moss" books.

That is crazy! I did not realize. Both authors first names are Robert also!!

I added it thank you for clarifying!

Updated!

Looking for supporting votes.
Please see the list of biographies I thought might be interesting in message one.

Thank you Anisha for your help too!!

Looking for supporting votes.
Please see the list of biographies I thought might be interesting in message one.

Still need some supporting votes for FWC reads. We only have one book with support so far.

Legends of the Fall, published in 1979, is set just before WW1, known as "The Great War". Does it fit the category?

I support True Grit

I support Daughter of the Hills

James wrote: "Legends of the Fall, published in 1979, is set just before WW1, known as "The Great War". Does it fit the category?"

It does FWC Classics are 30 years or older. It was a debate at the time because of Lonesome Dove was published in 1985 and hit number one spot on every list.
Larry McMurtry's novel Lonesome Dove is widely considered a classic, earning it the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction in 1986 and cementing its status as a masterpiece of the Western genre.

That is the guide line we have used for FWC's for ten years now.

Greg wrote: "I support True Grit"

Appreciate the support Greg.
Thank you

James wrote: "I support Daughter of the Hills"

Thank you James for the support vote!

We are updated!
Appreciate any other supporting votes as well.

I support The Prairie and Daughter of the Hills: A Woman's Part in the Coal Miners' Struggle.

Thank you Kathy for your supporting votes!


We are updated and still looking for supporting votes please.

Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison (1979)

Xristina wrote: "Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison (1979)"
Thank you for your supporting vote!

Updated

We need more supporting votes. Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026

I am putting my support behind:

Hondo
Legends of the Fall
Appaloosa
Blood Meridian

Updated 10/12/25...at 2:32pm EST

Still looking for supporting votes.
Please go through the list in msg 2 and support the books you like to read in 2026

I suggest
Journal of the Gun Years by Richard Matheson
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The Cowboys by William Dale Jennings

The Way West

The Virginian

Riders of the Purple Sage

Blueberry we read both of these just last year April-June Please check those threads out in the Archive section.

The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols
All the Pretty Horses by [auth..."

Cphe wrote: "The Way West...

We currently have this open as a year long read:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Updated as of 10/13/25... 12:15pm EST

Please support the FWC you would like to read in 2026!