BookMan18 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 The Western Fiction genre in my eyes has not been as well known as it has in previous years. Or has it always been a small genre compared to the massive romance/crime genres. I want to know your opinion on the genre. Will there be a revival of the genre ? Have you got a particular favorite book ? Discuss here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I hope it's not dying out because I plan to read at least one western next year and if I enjoy it, you can bet I'll want to read more! (Part of my 2012 Genre Challenge) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 If you read from an Ereader the fact the genre is not so popular right now works in our favour; I saw whole collections of 20 -plus Western novels going for less than a pound. I think genres go in cycles like fashion but a good novel will always be a good novel so the best ones will survive in any genre. Like Lady Kell I plan to read one next year too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Hi Bookman I'm guessing you are talking about the cowboy-type westerns (?) ,so I'll have to chime in and say Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is the best western I have ever read. There are others which go with this series -Lonesome Dove I think is part 2 . It was hugely popular. I remember when they made the tv miniseries of it .I went up to the bookstore to buy a copy to re-read the book,and a whole group of others were also buying it,everyone talking about who their favorite character was . I think it may take a little more digging,but you can still find Western books . There are some who are fairly new ,but lots of the old ones are still some people's favorites . Another favorite of mine was Little Big Man ,which was a movie long ago . I loved the book .Very good story ! I also have some nonfiction about people who were kidnapped by the Indians ,and there are several types like those available on the kindles ,regarding the settling of the West, etc . Good luck,and if you haven't yet read Lonesdome Dove, RUN .... get a copy It is so well worth the read ! I'd definitely say that they were much more easy to locate back in the 50's and 60's . Lots of tv shows on then that were Westerns . Good luck in your search . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 There are a couple of Western books I want to read, but haven't got round to yet. One is Lonesome Dove, the other is The Virginian. I enjoy Western type films and series (loved Lonesome Dove!) and really have to get round to trying them as literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookMan18 Posted November 15, 2011 Author Share Posted November 15, 2011 Thanks everyone. Definately pick up Lonesome Dove when I get a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Dawkins Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I am a big fan of westerns, especially those written by British authors in the 70s and 80s(some of George Gilman's Edge series have gone for about £50 on ebay) westerns are easy to pick up second hand on ebay and the like. As for new westerns I think they are still quite popular in America where long running series like the Gunsmith and Longarm are still published. The success of movies like Brokeback Mountain and True Grit can only help the literary Western authors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 For a great western series, I'd recommend The Sacketts by Louis L'Amour...it's 18 or 19 books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paun Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Best cowboy book I read called Wild Times by Brian Garfield. Also I like Lonesome Dove and also I like some book from Louis Lamour. This not western cowboy but also very great story was Last of the Mohicans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I recently read The Sisters Brothers - a western with a Coen Brothers feel to it - I thought it was excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I recently read The Sisters Brothers - a western with a Coen Brothers feel to it - I thought it was excellent. Glad you mentioned this one, I'd completely forgotten about it! Read it a few months ago. Loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickyh Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 I will be looking out for someone to make a movie of The Sisters Brothers. I don't usually have any interest in Westerns but this one was excellent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 I just ordered the Sisters Brothers from Amazon today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Wow , Several of you mentioend Sisters Brothers. Sounds like one I'll have to look for sometime . (When I have an emptry slot on ONE of my shelves) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Ok, books I have on my shelf that are about the West or set in the West : Plainsong - Haruf The Whistling Season -Doig Gates of the Alamo -Harrigan 1000 White women - Fergus A Sudden Country - Fisher Wild Times- Garfield On the Rez- Frazier Coal Black Horse - Olmstead Master Butcher's Singing Club- Erdrich The Wild Girl -Fergus Out Stealing Horses -Petterson A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains -Bird A Narrative of My Captivity -Kelly Shadow of the Sun- Matheson Wyatt Earp - Lake ~~~ I also just remembered another couple of EXCELLENT books set in the West -- first was a movie long ago with Dustin Hoffman - Little Big Man Return of Little Big Man by Thomas Berger BOTH excellent books . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I was just reminded of another great western book. Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell, the [fictional] bio of Dr. John Henry Holliday, aka Doc Holliday and his friendship with Wyatt Earp. Here is an excerpt from the synopsis on Good Reads: Authentic, moving, and witty, Mary Doria Russell’s fifth novel redefines these two towering figures of the American West and brings to life an extraordinary cast of historical characters, including Holliday’s unforgettable companion, Kate. First and last, however, Doc is John Henry Holliday’s story, written with compassion, humor, and respect by one of our greatest contemporary storytellers I read it earlier this year, and loved it. I found the ending a bit rushed, and that annoyed me, but the book is really wonderfully informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooshie Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I just finished Lonesome Dove, and loved it - if you are interested, you can find my review here: http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/9442-ooshies-2012-genre-challenge/ I look forward to reading more in the Western genre over the years; it would definitely be this year if only I wasn't trying to clamp down hard on my book buying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Hi Folks I was wandering around amazon today and happend upon this list of Western Book Award Winners from the past several years. As you can see ,they seem to be more popular now than they once were .There seem to be a lot more winning awards now than there used to be,and many more books to choose from if you have an interest in reading more Westerns. Spur Awards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Cool! I'm busy reading The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt at the moment and enjoying it, so I'll be on the lokoout for more from this genre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Hi Kell How are you liking Sisters Brothers ? I thought it was such a neat story. Can't wait for that author to write more. I hope they are westerns,too . By the way, for those of you who are Lonesome Dove fans, or are pondering purchasing it , if you have a Kindle, they now have the Lonesome Dove series, all 4 books in one pakage . I'm thinking about getting them,although I have read 2 of the 4 . Too tempting to have them all in one place on my kindle . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I'm only a little way into The Sisters Brothers, but I'm enjoying it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Citizen Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier is well worth a read but perhaps set a little late to be considered a true western. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I'd never really thought about Westerns as a book genre, I'd only ever considered them as films, but yesterday on a trip to Waterstone's, I noticed they had a new (albeit small) section dedicated to Westerns so perhaps they're making a comeback after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I don't think it's dying out, but books go through phases - certain types of books are popular at certain times. For example, paranormal romance is big right now. I always think that Westerns have a smaller, but loyal fanbase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gad786 Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I havnt seen many western genre new books either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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