Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the seventh Read Harder task.

Something by Cormac McCarthy. Blood Meridian or All the Pretty Horses.

This is definitely not my genre of choice, but I'm going for All the Pretty Horses.

Is the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King considered a western?

People have literally been begging for years for a Western to make it onto a challenge list (at least in my other challenge group, where we vote on prompts to make the list), and I've been dreading the year when it would. It's not my genre of choice at all. I get that we're meant to branch out and try new things, but I have not been able to find a single option that appeals to me at all.

Just thinking about it, and wondering would something like Little House on the Prairie be considered a Western?

My grandpa read westerns by Louis Lamour all the time so I will probably see if I can find one of those and read it to remember my grandpa.

I am thinking about either Lonesome Dove, All the Pretty Horses, or The Way West.

I thought Little House didn't qualify as a western but the librarian in another of my challenge groups said it works. I'm reading a fantasy western, Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede.
This is a good long list, Women Of The West https://m.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/....

Cara wrote: "Is the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King considered a western?"

I haven't read it, but I've seen it described in many, many places as a western.

I dreaded finding a book for this as westerns have never appealed to me in books of movies. I have decided to read All the Pretty Horses based off of suggestions from others.

It’s a Newberry honor book, so YA, but Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson is a great Western-themed book set in Montana.

I will go with a historical Western romance novel lol I don't really feel drawn to the genre of westerns.

Springwater

I want to try Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West as a nonfiction western, but I'm afraid that may be too difficult emotionally, so I have My Ántonia as a back up.

Not my preferred genre but My Ántonia and Lonesome Dove have been on my TBR for awhile now.

Lonesome Dove is fabulous. I dreaded reading it, but I'm working my way through the Pulitzers and it ended up becoming one of my favorite books ever.

True Grit is good. So is The Son.

Melissa wrote: "Lonesome Dove is fabulous. I dreaded reading it, but I'm working my way through the Pulitzers and it ended up becoming one of my favorite books ever.

True Grit is good. So is [book:T..."

If you add The Road, you will have just listed my whole list of possible books for this prompt! I own The Son and True Grit so it will probably be one of those.

Rachel wrote: "People have literally been begging for years for a Western to make it onto a challenge list (at least in my other challenge group, where we vote on prompts to make the list), and I've been dreading..."

I would count Little House on the Prairie.

What about the Western genre do you not like? And what kinds of books do you generally prefer?

I’m reading True Grit as I borrowed it a ways back and it’s sitting in my shelf. Blood Meridian is also on my list. Cormac McCarthy’s writing is some of the best.

I'll probably read Killdeer Winds, which is the next book in the Juniper Wars series. I really enjoyed the first one and its prequel.

How do we feel about non-fiction westerns? Because I really wan to read Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I highly recommend True Grit! It definitely reads like an excellent historical fiction novel with a western setting than just a straight-up Western. Plus it's not even 250 pages.

My advice for Lonesome Dove is to hang in until at least the Hat Creek Outfit hits the trail for Montana - about 1/4 of the way into the book.

Rebecca wrote: "I highly recommend True Grit! It definitely reads like an excellent historical fiction novel with a western setting than just a straight-up Western. Plus it's not even 250 pages."

It would also work for the #23 - The novel is narrated by Mattie Ross, churchgoing elderly spinster distinguished by intelligence, independence, and strength of mind. She recounts the story of her adventures many years earlier, at 14, when she undertook a quest to avenge her father's death at the hands of a drifter named Tom Chaney.

Would something Space Western count? I've tried countless times to get through pure Westerns and just can't. Maybe something like The Gunslinger, Daisy Kutter: The Last Train

I want nothing to do with Westerns. Ugh. Ick.
I may readLonesome Animals due to the fact that it's not only a western, but a detective story. We'll see how it goes.

I'm planning to read the The Sisters Brothers which I have heard described as a western. I got it with one of those ebook bargain sales years ago.

A couple books that have been recommended to me for this category: River of Teeth, an alternate history western, and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, which I believe is novel in verse if you're into that sort of thing. Contemplating whether the story collection Cowboys and East Indians might be stretched to work here for people looking for something different.

Also interested in hearing whether anyone has suggestions in this category for a book by a American Indian author, which is a perspective I'd love to see.

jennifer, it is non-fiction so I am not sure it works, but for a Native American perspective Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is exceptional.

I'm considering True Grit, Angle of Repose, or something that won the Western Heritage Award (https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/awar...)

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.

Have had The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains on my TBR list for awhile.

Rebecca wrote: "I'm planning to read the The Sisters Brothers which I have heard described as a western. I got it with one of those ebook bargain sales years ago."

Definitely a good choice for this one!

Do we think Texas by James Michener would count? I'm hoping to do as many of the categories with books I already own as I can, and this would be a happy coincidence if it works!

I have fond memories of stealing my brother's copy of Shane so I may reread this.

Stina wrote: "Rachel wrote: "People have literally been begging for years for a Western to make it onto a challenge list (at least in my other challenge group, where we vote on prompts to make the list), and I'v..."

To be fair, I haven't read many because when I look at the synopses, they just don't appeal to me.

I think what I don't like is just the setting itself. I don't really find it particularly interesting. In terms of genres, I like psychological thrillers, mysteries, and contemporary most. I also like some historical fiction.

I'm thinking Vengeance Road for this one. It's a YA Western that I've heard good things about.

Would non-fiction westerns work? The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West

I'm wondering if there are any good westerns written by Native American authors? Or really something that challenges the genres assumptions? Does anyone have suggestions?

(FWIW, for my challenge a western will have to be fiction, so the non-fiction works suggested already won't work for me)

Brokeback Mountain or Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West or Lonesome Dove

Stephen wrote: "I'm wondering if there are any good westerns written by Native American authors?

I'm not aware of any, but I'd love to read one if someone can suggest one! I've never been interested in Westerns, but I'll probably read something by Cormac McCarthy.

maybe The Fast Red Road: A Plainsong or Fools Crow would work.

I'm planning on continuing the Robert B. Parker - Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch western series. I listened to the first book in the series, Appaloosa, earlier this month and they are read by Titus Welliver - the actor that plays Harry Bosch on the series - Bosch. He was marvelous to listen to. I downloaded my copy of Appaloosa from my library (Overdrive) for free, and the books are fairly short.

I second the idea of Brokeback Mountain for those who don't really like westerns. It's a short story that's only about 55 pages and can be read in one sitting. If you've seen the movie, the short story is only an abridged version of the movie. Both are good in their own rights.

There's also the The Ox-Bow Incident which is tale about mob violence and frontier life.

Robin wrote: "Stephen wrote: "I'm wondering if there are any good westerns written by Native American authors?

I'm not aware of any, but I'd love to read one if someone can suggest one! I've never been interest..."

One of the cool parts of moving to North Dakota after 30+ years in large east coast cities is that I live near Winona LaDuke and get to hear her speak fairly often. She is amazing. I have read a good deal of her non-fiction, but not fiction. One of her novels on my TBR might count as a western. Last Standing Woman

One other possibility is Fools Crow

Stephen wrote: "I'm wondering if there are any good westerns written by Native American authors? Or really something that challenges the genres assumptions? Does anyone have suggestions?


I'm looking for the same thing! I'm not picky about genres, either, if its also a fantasy or mystery or whatever that's cool with me too.

I've been waiting for this category to come up so that I can take the opportunity to read Lonesome Dove, but eventually I would also like to read Horseman, Pass By, the author's first novel and the basis for the movie Hud.

Rebecca wrote: "maybe The Fast Red Road: A Plainsong or Fools Crow would work."

Thanks for those, I might check out Fools Crow.

I'm looking at My Ántonia.

I read News of the World in 2017. It's an excellent choice for this task.

Rachel wrote: "Stephen wrote: "I'm wondering if there are any good westerns written by Native American authors? Or really something that challenges the genres assumptions? Does anyone have suggestions?


I'm look..."

If you are looking for Native American writers, check out Louise Erdritch or Sherman Alexie. None of Erdritch books I have read are westerns.

I still have no idea what book I'll read for this task, but I'd like to recommend Six-Gun Snow White. I'm also not into this genre, but I enjoyed reading this book. It's a retelling of Snow White as a half Native American and explores themes on family, gender, and racism.