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Best Westerns
Those books (fiction and nonfiction) that embody the spirit of the Old West, the heroism, tragedy, and drama of this mythic era of American history.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 301 |
|
Zorro
by
Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 24,392 ratings
score: 223,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 302 |
|
The Leaphorn & Chee Novels
by
4.42 avg rating — 663 ratings
score: 220,
and
3 people voted
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| 303 |
|
Follow the River
by
4.23 avg rating — 23,014 ratings
score: 219,
and
4 people voted
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| 304 |
|
Ranger's Trail (Texas Rangers, #4)
by
4.06 avg rating — 406 ratings
score: 218,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 304 |
|
The Course Of Empire
by
4.17 avg rating — 186 ratings
score: 218,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 304 |
|
War Dances
by
3.91 avg rating — 7,001 ratings
score: 218,
and
3 people voted
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| 307 |
|
The Raiders: Sons of Texas
by
4.18 avg rating — 265 ratings
score: 216,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 308 |
|
Crack in the Sky
by
4.42 avg rating — 304 ratings
score: 214,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 309 |
|
Gone the Dreams and Dancing
by
4.19 avg rating — 48 ratings
score: 212,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 310 |
|
The Joe Leaphorn Mysteries: The Blessing Way / Dance Hall of the Dead / Listening Woman (Leaphorn & Chee, #1-3)
by
4.27 avg rating — 762 ratings
score: 211,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 310 |
|
Cimarron Rose (Billy Bob Holland, #1)
by
3.94 avg rating — 4,796 ratings
score: 211,
and
4 people voted
|
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| 310 |
|
In the Moon of Red Ponies (Billy Bob Holland, #4)
by
4.12 avg rating — 3,618 ratings
score: 211,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 313 |
|
Butch Cassidy: A Biography (Bison Book)
by
3.84 avg rating — 51 ratings
score: 210,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 314 |
|
Season of Yellow Leaf
by
4.13 avg rating — 100 ratings
score: 209,
and
3 people voted
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| 315 |
|
Mojave Crossing (The Sacketts, #9)
by
4.07 avg rating — 5,567 ratings
score: 208,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 316 |
|
The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U.S.A, in the Rocky Mountains and the Far West
by
3.93 avg rating — 135 ratings
score: 206,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 317 |
|
The Proud Breed
by
4.35 avg rating — 1,096 ratings
score: 202,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 318 |
|
Lazarus
by
Lori Titus (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 54 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 318 |
|
Shalako
by
4.07 avg rating — 3,327 ratings
score: 200,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 318 |
|
Falling for the Cowgirl (Colorado Cowboys, #4)
by
Jody Hedlund (Goodreads Author)
4.31 avg rating — 1,548 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 321 |
|
Wounded
by
4.07 avg rating — 1,252 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 321 |
|
Lawless
by
3.47 avg rating — 19 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 321 |
|
Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 459 ratings
score: 199,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 321 |
|
Where They Bury You
by
Steven W. Kohlhagen (Goodreads Author)
3.33 avg rating — 94 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 321 |
|
James McKay, U.S. Army Scout
by
W.R. Benton (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 51 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 321 |
|
Logan's Word: A Logan Family Western - Book 1 (Logan Family Western Series)
by
Donald L. Robertson (Goodreads Author)
4.51 avg rating — 1,933 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 327 |
|
The Ghostway (Leaphorn & Chee, #6)
by
4.12 avg rating — 12,669 ratings
score: 198,
and
5 people voted
|
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| 327 |
|
Wide Open
by
Larry Bjornson (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 282 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 327 |
|
Outlaw
by
Matthew Pizzolato (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 327 |
|
A Romance West (A Mail Order Romance, #7)
by
3.82 avg rating — 56 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 327 |
|
Indian Country
by
4.13 avg rating — 384 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 332 |
|
Trails Of The Dime Novel
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 332 |
|
Etta
by
3.57 avg rating — 838 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 332 |
|
Talk Dirty to Me, Cowboy (Deputy Laney Briggs #1.6)
by
Jodi Linton (Goodreads Author)
3.66 avg rating — 288 ratings
score: 197,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 335 |
|
True Love West (A Mail Order Romance, #5)
by
3.65 avg rating — 124 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 335 |
|
Paradise Sky
by
Joe R. Lansdale (Goodreads Author)
4.30 avg rating — 2,763 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 335 |
|
The Old Ranger: A Texas Ranger Short Story
by
Donald L. Robertson (Goodreads Author)
4.12 avg rating — 632 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 335 |
|
Blood Redemption
by
4.20 avg rating — 138 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 339 |
|
Under a Texas Star
by
Alison Bruce (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 315 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 339 |
|
Legend of the Dawn: The Complete Trilogy (Legend of the Dawn #1-3)
by
J.R. Wright (Goodreads Author)
4.43 avg rating — 92 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 339 |
|
Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West
by
Christopher Knowlton (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 1,311 ratings
score: 195,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 342 |
|
Saloons of the Old West
by
4.15 avg rating — 41 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 342 |
|
Pretty Shameless (Deputy Laney Briggs, #2)
by
Jodi Linton (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 142 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 344 |
|
Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal
by
3.81 avg rating — 276 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
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| 344 |
|
High Plains Fort
by
4.22 avg rating — 523 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 344 |
|
In the West
by
Nolan Cordovano (Goodreads Author)
4.35 avg rating — 74 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 347 |
|
The Brave Cowboy
by
3.93 avg rating — 2,236 ratings
score: 192,
and
2 people voted
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| 347 |
|
The Monkey Wrench Gang
by
4.08 avg rating — 28,678 ratings
score: 192,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 347 |
|
Yellow Horse: A Sage Country novel
by
4.33 avg rating — 188 ratings
score: 192,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 347 |
|
The Strong Shall Live
by
4.03 avg rating — 1,415 ratings
score: 192,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 351 |
|
Dorn of the Mountains: A Western Story (Five Star Western Series)
by
4.35 avg rating — 653 ratings
score: 191,
and
3 people voted
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| 351 |
|
St Agnes' Stand
by
4.18 avg rating — 932 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
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| 351 |
|
Riding Fence
by
4.13 avg rating — 468 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 351 |
|
Where the Lost Wander
by
Amy Harmon (Goodreads Author)
4.40 avg rating — 75,042 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 351 |
|
The Border Legion
by
3.77 avg rating — 881 ratings
score: 191,
and
2 people voted
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| 356 |
|
Ten In Texas
by
4.23 avg rating — 566 ratings
score: 189,
and
2 people voted
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| 356 |
|
The Dark Horse (Walt Longmire, #5)
by
4.30 avg rating — 21,056 ratings
score: 189,
and
4 people voted
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| 358 |
|
With Blood in Their Eyes
by
Thomas Cobb (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 103 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
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| 359 |
|
The Stalkers
by
4.32 avg rating — 225 ratings
score: 187,
and
2 people voted
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| 359 |
|
Kendrick
by
4.06 avg rating — 141 ratings
score: 187,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 359 |
|
Silver Creek
by
4.33 avg rating — 221 ratings
score: 187,
and
2 people voted
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| 362 |
|
The Return of Little Big Man
by
3.88 avg rating — 828 ratings
score: 186,
and
3 people voted
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| 363 |
|
The Stone Garden: The Epic Life of Billy the Kid (G K Hall Large Print Western Series)
by
Bill Brooks (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 26 ratings
score: 185,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 363 |
|
Sipping Whiskey in a Shallow Grave
by
Mark Mitten (Goodreads Author)
4.21 avg rating — 33 ratings
score: 185,
and
2 people voted
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| 363 |
|
Zeke and Ned
by
3.86 avg rating — 1,939 ratings
score: 185,
and
3 people voted
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| 363 |
|
West of the Pecos
by
3.97 avg rating — 655 ratings
score: 185,
and
2 people voted
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| 363 |
|
The Battle of Badwater
by
Robert Vaughan (Goodreads Author)
4.36 avg rating — 25 ratings
score: 185,
and
2 people voted
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| 363 |
|
Hayduke Lives!: A Novel
by
3.66 avg rating — 4,019 ratings
score: 185,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 369 |
|
The Adventures of Johnny Vermillion
by
3.43 avg rating — 127 ratings
score: 184,
and
2 people voted
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| 369 |
|
Dog Soldier Moon
by
4.19 avg rating — 27 ratings
score: 184,
and
2 people voted
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| 371 |
|
The Sundance Kid: The Life of Harry Alonzo Longabaugh
by
3.52 avg rating — 40 ratings
score: 183,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 371 |
|
The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend
by
Glenn Frankel (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 1,623 ratings
score: 183,
and
3 people voted
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| 371 |
|
The Last Ride
by
4.24 avg rating — 25 ratings
score: 183,
and
2 people voted
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| 371 |
|
Rio
by
4.25 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 183,
and
2 people voted
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| 375 |
|
Long Ride Home
by
4.12 avg rating — 312 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 375 |
|
Callie's Heart (Lasso Springs, #1)
by
Kathleen Ball (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 993 ratings
score: 182,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 377 |
|
Fencing the Sky
by
3.90 avg rating — 418 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 377 |
|
Melinda Heads West
by
3.95 avg rating — 40 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 377 |
|
New Cowboy Poetry
by
Hal Cannon (Editor)
4.20 avg rating — 35 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 377 |
|
Rio at Bay
by
3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 377 |
|
The Bullet Swallower
by
Elizabeth Gonzalez James (Goodreads Author)
3.78 avg rating — 12,297 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 382 |
|
Stand Proud
by
4.21 avg rating — 210 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
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| 382 |
|
The Sheriffs Sister - Bad Blood
by
Chris G. Derrick (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
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| 382 |
|
Winnetou II: Si Pencari Jejak
by
4.18 avg rating — 3,648 ratings
score: 180,
and
2 people voted
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| 385 |
|
Shaman (Cole Family Trilogy, #2)
by
4.20 avg rating — 16,345 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
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| 385 |
|
Cowboy Poetry: A Gathering
by
4.17 avg rating — 83 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
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| 385 |
|
Ambush in Dust Creek (Lincoln Hawk, #1)
by
Scott Connor (Goodreads Author)
3.42 avg rating — 151 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
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| 385 |
|
Rio Rides Again
by
3.78 avg rating — 18 ratings
score: 179,
and
2 people voted
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| 389 |
|
Etta Place: Her Life and Times With Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
by
3.59 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 178,
and
3 people voted
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| 390 |
|
Taming Julia (Burrton Springs Brides, #1)
by
Jodie Wolfe (Goodreads Author)
4.37 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 177,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 391 |
|
Ride With Me, Mariah Montana
by
3.86 avg rating — 2,284 ratings
score: 176,
and
3 people voted
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| 392 |
|
The Antelope Wife
by
3.81 avg rating — 5,222 ratings
score: 175,
and
4 people voted
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| 392 |
|
Wyatt Earp
by
3.90 avg rating — 108 ratings
score: 175,
and
2 people voted
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| 394 |
|
Dalton (Dalton Series, #1)
by
Ed Law (Goodreads Author)
3.58 avg rating — 69 ratings
score: 174,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 394 |
|
The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
by
3.94 avg rating — 44,856 ratings
score: 174,
and
2 people voted
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| 396 |
|
The Santa Fe Trail: Its History, Legends, and Lore
by
3.79 avg rating — 104 ratings
score: 173,
and
3 people voted
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| 396 |
|
San Domingo: The Medicine Hat Stallion
by
4.09 avg rating — 1,769 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
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| 396 |
|
ReadWest: Stories of the American West
by
3.82 avg rating — 45 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
|
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| 396 |
|
Montana 1948
by
Larry Watson (Goodreads Author)
3.89 avg rating — 16,161 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
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| 396 |
|
Journey to Shiloh
by
3.70 avg rating — 47 ratings
score: 173,
and
2 people voted
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1,363 books ·
1,489 voters ·
list created December 19th, 2008
by Ann Keller (votes) .
Ann
6841 books
1594 friends
1594 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads
3384 books
853 friends
853 friends
Bettie
15668 books
19 friends
19 friends
Tammy
197 books
1368 friends
1368 friends
Ed
2163 books
5064 friends
5064 friends
Robin
307 books
1109 friends
1109 friends
Arlisa
162 books
220 friends
220 friends
Marc
635 books
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Comments Showing 1-39 of 39 (39 new)
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message 1:
by
Nina
(new)
Dec 22, 2008 07:32PM
Of course I had to vote for "Unsinkable Molly Brown," as that was the name of our sailboat. nina
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That's an ecclectic selection of westerns. Like a lot of people, my introduction to westerns has been through movies and this has shaped my taste. Of course, most of my novels and film scripts are in fact westerns, even if they're set in places like Birmingham, the Black Country and Yorkshire mining villages during the strike.
I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!
deleted user wrote: "I was very surprised not to see more Elmer Kelton!!!!!"
I agree, its amazing!
I agree, its amazing!
Both "Angle of Repose" and a few books by Elmer Kelton are now on the list! :)
Surprised to not see more Cormac McCarthy, especially the Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. Glad to see Blood Meridian is high on the list. McCarthy is the greatest Western writer, in my opinion.
"All the Pretty Horses" is on the list, too ... (currently #57).
I had to add Elmer Kelton's Hewey Calloway trilogy and Monte Walsh.
On the Road? The Grapes of Wrath? I can see where there's a case to be made to include Wallace Stegner and Tony Hillerman. But those two books ... and "spirit of the Old West?" Seriously??
This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)
Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"Everyone can add books -- there's a tab up top next to "all votes."
Cold Mountain is not Western!! It is Appalachia - mid atlantic. Please fix.
What about "The Collected Stories of Wallace Stegner"? Many of them are connected and one is a novella.
mountain man needs re-filming; jeremiah johnson didn't do it justice!(john)
Maybe I have misunderstood the purpose of this list, but just because a novel takes place in the west doesn't make it a western.
True, the list is well defined at the top under the title. The owner of the list or a librarian can delete books that don't fit.
Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list.
Brian wrote: "Don't get me wrong. I love On the Road, but maybe it doesn't belong in this particular list."I have to agree with you here.
Martin wrote: "This list needs more Zane Grey, too :)"I agree completely.
I am glad to see Westerns making a comeback. There are some really good new authors.
Valerie wrote: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a "Western?""I consider the term "Western" to mean fiction -- although the list maker didn't specify such. That certainly doesn't apply to Dee Brown's book.
How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?
Nina wrote: "How about "Plain Song," by Wright Morris?" You should add it if you think it fits the list Nina.
Thanks, I really enjoyed this list. I like the fact that the definition of western is kept broad, so that modern tales with spirit akin to the 'Wild West' are included. I'm still wondering about Steinbeck, though. Into the Wild, for sure; even todays Alaska is in the wild west!
I removed #134 Last of the Mohicans. It is an "Eastern", not a "Western". It took place in New York State and thereabouts.
Yes, but it was 'the West' then. And it ticks the right boxes. The Native and the frontiersmen, the clash, and sometimes harmony, of different civilisations, power exercised by remote eastern rulers, the potential and fragility of the wilderness, good versus evil and so on. Set in the times before the push for American independence, this book forms something of a template for subsequent Westerns. It might be too geographically literal to remove it, though I suppose some criterion of location must apply.
Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales is a set of five novels (available together in a two vol Library of America set) that follows the adventures of the hero, Natty Bumppo, from his youth in the Eastern forests to his final years in '"The Prairie" (published 1827) where he is dealing with Indians on the Central Plains (in his 80s!) and would be a good match for this list geograpically.
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