Westerns

Subject: Westerns Sat 19 May 2007, 9:15 pm

Clyde, what do you think of the 'Western' genre?

I have not read many, but generally enjoy the spareness of this style, and the rough-and-tumble olden days (usually) settings.

Thanks,

Holly

Guest

I've been on occaisiona great reader of Westerns 9and watcher of western movies, too). On the whole, I deem most of the genre literary popcorn, but like popcorn, filling without having a lot of calories, so to speak.

Much is fun, except the more recent stuff, where the writrers seem full of angst and make the characters the same. And seem to want to make the readers feel wretched as well.

Truth to tell - I like Louis L'Amour better than LArry MacMurtry, even if LArry ois more likely to get behavior right.

Subject: Re: Westerns Mon 21 May 2007, 12:01 am

There's little I can add to those thoughts, Clyde! But compared with much of modern, popular fiction (from my limited familiarity with the stuff), the 'popcorn' dished up by Western fiction was and remains bone-dry .... just like the terrain which usually serves as its setting. That's certainly to my taste. study

My favorite author of Westerns (really, of most fiction) since I was about ten years old is that late- fellow from Grand Prairie, Benjamin Capps. I have read a few of Louis L'Amour's books; also have his autobiography which I have yet to read, but need to.

Much of the rest are unexplored territory to me. Yeah! More discovery to look forward to sunny

Thanks, Clyde!

Holly

Guest

Read Louis' autobiography with care. There seems to be some grounds for suspicion that he "remembers' some things not quite as they really happened. Not unusual for autobiographies, of course - consider REMINISENCES by Bugout Doug MAcArthur...

Subject: Re: Westerns Mon 21 May 2007, 1:39 pm

Thanks for that advice concerning the L'Amour autobiography, Clyde.

You're right: we all are selective when considering our memories and when deciding which of those we will share. But I'm a little surprised to learn that reality might have been bent more than slightly (?) by Mr L'Amour in his memoir. His reflections on writing and its process look to be very revealing and informative. Kind of an aside: 'On Writing' is the only work by horror author, Stephen King, that I have read. 'Twas excellent, I thought.

I have read a nicely written 'Western' which was focused upon Fort Worth's notorious 'Acre.'

I also enjoy the novels of Tony Hillerman very much. Those, I'm guessing, would be classified as 'Western Mysteries.' Their suspense aspect may come up short sometimes, but Mr. Hillerman can make the simple act of Joe Leaphorn's pouring a cup of coffee an interesting read.

Thanks again, Clyde.

Holly

Guest

Wife and I (esepcially wife, but me too) are quite fond of Hillerman, Joe Chee (And his new wifre Bernie), and "the Legendary Lieutenant".

I'm not trying to knock Louis - he came up writing for a living in a ahrd trade (the real pulps; others - like Dashiell HAmmett - did as well) and one thing they (pulp wrtiters) had to doi was tell a story that was a good story, one that would grab reader attention and keep it. Which is not all that easy to do, especially in short fiction. What i do suggest is taht while his auto-biography will probably tell you a good deal about Louis, it may not always be 100% factual. And failures in that regard (for Louis, not MacArthur, IMO) are probably NOT intentional.

That said - I'll bet if I tried to write my own auto-biography (don't worry - i'm not), it would likely containa good amny errors of fact and incident. and the errors would tell you both about teh fallibility of human memory and perhaps something about how people manage to feel good about themselves.

Joined : 23 May 2007 Posts : 7

western books and movies shold be written and made for children..of course im the biggest "children" of em all..i love to read louis l'amour,luke short,and all ,but my favorite was and is J.frank dobie..i have a book written by mr.dobie called open range..this book was written mainly for boys and girls-to deliver to them something that is theirs by right of inheritance...the preface ,however,is not for them..explanations are tedious,and boys and girls have too much of life to tolerate tediousness...thats for their elders

Gene

Subject: Re: Westerns Mon 19 Nov 2007, 12:03 am

Dear Gene ... I agree with you totally. Often I wonder whether I have lost a childlike reverence and appreciation of the world, and that this is why I struggle against being drawn into fiction. There also is a need for trust and relinquishment on the part of the reader of an epic poem, short story or novel. Perhaps I have cast these qualities aside as well.

But you, sir, think very much like C S Lewis. Why should anyone be surprised by that? king

Holly

PS. I do love Westerns best sunny

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Wrangler Joined : 13 Nov 2007 Posts : 49

That's something I never did quite get about you Cedar. You are quite likely the most well-read person walking around today, certainly the most brilliant individual I know, and you don't read fiction. Well, not much of it anyway.
There's so much great stuff out there, and it's complete fantasy!
Ah well... Maybe someday we'll convert you yet!

I do feel like I fit in this group, being a big fan of Louis and Dobie.
I think my dad mentioned something about taking English from Dobie at UT many years ago. What a gift that must have been eh?

Subject: Re: Westerns Tue 20 Nov 2007, 9:45 pm

You are sweet, but this quality at times clouds your accurate perception of those in your orbit Wink

I am more than willing to be converted .... but for me, the drama of real life is richer and more interesting than any scenerio packaged in an author's mind.

But it is kind of like a switch has been turned off in my own mind, which leaves no light for fantasy.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Westerns Tue 20 Nov 2007, 11:19 pm

You do, and you did!

So, let's talk about this fellow from the Brush Country.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Wrangler Joined : 13 Nov 2007 Posts : 49

Wrangler Joined : 13 Nov 2007 Posts : 49

Subject: Re: Westerns Thu 22 Nov 2007, 1:10 am

Long have meant to tell you ... I did come by a used copy of 'Pillars,' but no ... I haven't read it, yet. Don't shoot me! But my mother likes Ken Follett, and she just happened to mention recently that SHE was reading that book, so you can talk all about it with her flower

And I promise I will try to read it, too, before long (as long as it is a generally happy story).

I do love the old epics; appreciate their lyric beauty, but read them mainly for their cultural content Crying or Very sad

But I am beginning a novel! It's titled, 'In This House of Brede,' by Rumer Godden (1969). All of its readers seem to give it glowing reviews, so I am very hopeful sunny

Besides, I am probably a nun in an alternate universe Cool

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Westerns Thu 22 Nov 2007, 11:29 am

By the way ...

Texas does have her own 'official,' epic poem. It's The Legend of the Old Stone Ranch, by John Worth Cloud.

The Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, which was passed by the state legislature in August of 1969, begins:

"WHEREAS, The history of Texas and the men who made it, coupled with the legend and drama of the frontier, have been captured by John Worth Cloud in his saga of the Texas borderlands, THE LEGEND OF STONE RANCH ..."

It is a very enthralling -- not to mention, educational -- poem Smile

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves