Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

2024 FWC Planned Classics:
This will be a quarterly read with the option to read as an 'and' / 'or' situation, or not at all if you want to start on one that is doubled up that you want to read both!

January - March
Smoke Bellew by Jack London
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge

April - June
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman

July - September
Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols

October - December
No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland
The Unforgiven by Alan LeMay



Here is a link to a list that does not mean all inclusive:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

This is Now Closed: Suggestions

1. Smoke Bellew by Jack London - I
2. Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose (Non-Fiction, 592 pages)
3. A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Meaning of Freedom by David Williams (Non-Fiction, 594 pages)
4. No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland (Non-Fiction, 356 pages) - II
5. The Unforgiven by Alan LeMay - II
6. The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday
7. Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge - I
8. The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols -III
9. Streets of Laredo (the 2nd book in the Lonesome Dove series) by Larry McMurtry - I
10. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy - III
11. English Creek by Ivan Doig
12. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman - II
13. Ride the Windby Lucia St. Clair Robson

I nominate Smoke Bellow by Jack London
or
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose

Could I nominate two please, Lesle?

Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Meaning of Freedom by David Williams

Interesting Blueberry! Not heard of either of those. I will take a moment and look into them. Thanks!

No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland


This one was mentioned last year in our suggestions.

John wrote: "Could I nominate two please, Lesle?..."

Great suggestions John!

I second No Life for a Lady.

Blueberry,
Smoke Bellow by Jack London is actually part of his Short Story Collection but it is on Project Gutenberg. Looks like another called Smoke Bellew by London also at 284 pages is a book collected stories also with this description: Christopher Bellew is a success in the eyes of the world, engaged with the San Francisco paper and penning stories daily... but for no pay. When Klondike fever strikes the region, he sees his chance to break from drudgery – starting him on a journey that takes him over mountain passes and down swirling rapids.

John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Mean..."

I only looked in one place for The Outlaw Josey Wales. Might be cheaper to watch the movie! lol Hopefully we can find it cheaper somewhere else than I was looking. Probably because of Clint Eastwood is tied to it :)

Annette wrote: "I second No Life for a Lady."

Thank you Annette.

Message 1 is updated.

Anyone else have thoughts?

Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Mean..."

I only looked in o..."

I also had a quick look before I nominated it Lesle - the cheapest copy I found of "The Outlaw Josey Wales" was just over £8. But I found a book called "Josey Wales - two westerns" by Forrest Carter, which seems to include the "core" Josey Wales story - but runs to over 400 pages so this might indeed be two stories? I can find copies of that for £3 or £4.

Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civil War: Struggles for the M..."


Oh Oh, Lesle - I've just found out that Forrest Carter was actually Asa Earl Carter - a Klan organiser, segragationist activist, white supremacist and anti-communist - NOT my type of guy, so please withdraw my nomination of this one; sorry about that.

John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civil War: Strug..."

not my cup of tea either.

John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civil War: Strug..."

Yes, I totally agree. Good thing I had not made the purchase yet!

Anyone interested in either of these? Both are rated in the 4 stars.

The Open Range Men: A Walker Western by Lauran Paine
Range war between freegrazing cattlemen - those who don't own land, but drive their stock through the country to graze. Boss Spearman knows that times are changing for the open range men and local ranchers who are staking claims to grazing areas and building up extensive cattle empires.
or
The Unforgiven
The Unforgiven tells the story of a woman taken from her Native American tribe and raised by a white family. She struggles with her allegiance towards her adoptive family and her feelings towards another white man.

Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Lesle wrote: "John wrote: "Fiction - The Outlaw Josey Wales by Forrest Carter
Non-fiction - [book:A People's History of the Civ..."

True - I should have done my homework first. It's a pity.....I loved that movie!.

I'm interested in The Unforgiven

Maybe you have all you are looking for? If not, I suggest
The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday. GR says it was first published in paperback by UNM Press in 1976 but reading through the editions, it was first published in 1969.
Or Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge It won a Pulitzer in 1930.
Or American Indian Stories by Zitkála-Šá

I also looked at the linked list in Message 1. The Milagro Beanfield War is a really good book.

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis and Native Nations: First North Americans as Seen by Edward S. Curtis were a fascinating combination. While not a classics by publication date, Curtis definitely took those pictures more than 50 years ago!

Blueberry see msg 8. Which one do you want displayed for voting support?

Message 1 is updated.
Double checking with Blueberry about one of the titles.

We have 6. Just need 4. If you want to suggest another that's ok too!

Would anyone like to show support for any of the suggested reads?

Lesle wrote: "Blueberry,
Smoke Bellow by Jack London is actually part of his Short Story Collection but it is on Project Gutenberg. Looks like another called [book:Smoke Bellew|276..."

The longer one with an 'e' at 284 pgs. It has lots of choices on Hoopla

Great I will update that. Thanks for looking into it.

If I remember correctly someone had mentioned at one time about the Leatherstocking series by James Fenimore Cooper:

The Deerslayer
The Last of the Mohicans
The Pioneers
The Pathfinder
The Prairie

I thought either The Pioneers (frontier land in New York with an elderly Natty Bumppo) or The Prairie the last in the series, depicts Natty in the final year of his life, still proving helpful to people in distress on the American frontier.

The Fortunate Pilgrim (1965) by Mario Puzo: One indomitable Italian widow pours her heart, soul and body into keeping her family safe, healthy, sheltered and fed during America's Great Depression.

I added my support for Smoke Bellew, No Life for a Lady and Unforgiven.

Annette would you like to chose one of yours?
My thought would be the Pulitzer one but Im up for any really.

Are we good with these listed:
Smoke Bellew
The Unforgiven
No Life for a Lady

Lesle wrote: "I added my support for Smoke Bellew, No Life for a Lady and Unforgiven.

Annette would you like to chose one of yours?
My thought would be the Pulitzer one but Im up for any really.

Are we good wi..."

I haven't read The Way to Rainy Mountain yet. It was left behind with the books my kids read in high school. (By the way, Momaday also won a Pulitzer but for a different work.)

On the other hand, I can recommend (ie. vote for) Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story. It will give a different perspective to the "west".

I second The Milagro Beanfield War.
I will also suggest from my tbr stack:

-Streets of Laredo (the 2nd book in the Lonesome Dove series) by Larry McMurtry
-All the Pretty Horses Cormac McCarthy
- English Creek by Ivan Doig
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
-Ride the Wind by Lycia St. Clair Robson

I will second The Blessing Way, the 1st in the Leaphorn/Chee series. I loved the TV series Dark Winds, based on this series, and, living in NM, I feel like I should read a few more Tony Hillerman books. I’ve only read one. Hillerman even has a library branch in town named after him.

I have updated message 1.
Please let me know if I have left anyones support out.

We have many suggestions just looking for support from our Members that might be interested in reading one over a quarter timeframe next year.

I meant in my comment to vote for Laughing Boy. I will also vote for Milagro Beanfield War if I can have 3 (total including previous one) votes.

Annette sorry, fixed it.

Bluebery let me know which ones you actually would like to support?

I nominate All the Pretty Horses

Lesle wrote: "Bluebery let me know which ones you actually would like to support?"

Which ever gets supported. Lol
Which looks like The Blessing Way and All the Pretty Horses

Luis and Blueberry
I updated all three!

Since we are having a hard time deciding on which books. I took that books that had support and put them in a Poll. Here is a link:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

We have one vote for the poll?

Blueberry wrote: "We have one vote for the poll?"

Yes, unfortunately. but I can consider whatever is posted here as well.

Anyone interested, if you want to make 4 choices here just list them in order of 1st being your top preference. I will consider them with the Poll.

The Poll is only open till Sunday so please make sure you choose your choice and let me know here if you back up any others.

Poll:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

No, just checking. I don't want to make more work for you.

Here are the results from the Poll:

1. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy 43 votes 29.5%
2. Smoke Bellew by Jack London 24 votes 16.4%
3. No Life for a Lady by Agnes Morley Cleaveland 20 votes 13.7%
4. Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry 18 votes 12.3%
The Unforgiven by Alan LeMay 12 votes 8.2%
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge 12 votes 8.2%
The Milagro Beanfield War by John Nichols 9 votes 6.2%
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman 8 votes 5.5%
146 total votes

The top 4 will be in. Thinking about other options as well for the other reads listed.
If you have any ideas please let me know here or in a PM.
I know Blueberry and I will come up with a great plan for 2024!
Thank you :)

Please see my post in Daily Happenings about my schedule.
I hope to get something put together over the weekend.

Thank you!!

2024 Classics to read are posted in message one.

I hope you like how it is done for this coming year!
Which ones do you hope to get to?

The FWC reading plan looks great! Some will be rereads for me but they’re good enough to warrant that.

I hope to read most of them but I know there is one or two not available here. We'll see. Most of these authors are all new to me.

I've never read Cormac McCarthy and curious about that one.

I'll wait for April to read McCarthy.

I forgot to mention, which I will edit. You do not have to read both it is an 'and' / 'or' situation, or not at all if you want to start on one that is double up that you want to read both!

I will try to remember to open a "What FWC I am reading now" thread in case they do not match up. You know how we are...if we have already read it we love to comment and if we have not? we still like to comment!

I am up for 6 of them! I might end up purchasing a couple more.

This looks like a great bunch of books!

Strange- my TBR shelf seems to get longer rather than shorter! Fortunately I doubt GR will let me run low on shelf space!