Books you love that others hate (or: A defence of covers with half naked men)

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Back on track, a type of book I enjoy that, well maybe others don't hate but they do ignore, is westerns. It's a shame how far westerns have fallen.

I don't care so much for their historical accuracy. I haven't read Louis L'Amour.

I enjoy the larger than life operatic elements you can find in them. In film, I prefer the Italian spaghetti westerns and in books, there was a group of British writers in the 60s and 70s called the Piccadilly Cowboys who churned out tons of western novels, though none of them had ever been west of Piccadilly (that was the joke in their name). There's something about that type of story that really speaks to me.

I don't know if you speak Spanish. If you do it, try to find books by Marcel Lafuente Estefanía.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

I don't know if you speak Spanish. If you do it, try to find books by Marcel Lafuente Estefanía.

No. But I just checked Amazon to see if any English translations showed . No luck

[Apache]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Back on track, a type of book I enjoy that, well maybe others don't hate but they do ignore, is westerns. It's a shame how far westerns have fallen.

I don't care so much for their historical accuracy. I haven't read Louis L'Amour.

I enjoy the larger than life operatic elements you can find in them. In film, I prefer the Italian spaghetti westerns and in books, there was a group of British writers in the 60s and 70s called the Piccadilly Cowboys who churned out tons of western novels, though none of them had ever been west of Piccadilly (that was the joke in their name). There's something about that type of story that really speaks to me.

Louis L'Amour was my favorite even as a kid. I read lots of westerns growing up and always hated the ones with the protagonist struggling through the story make all kinds of mistakes and miraculously pulling out the win at the end. The one thing I liked about LL was his protagonists, men and women, were smart and tough.
If you read one LL book, get The Walking Drum. It is a historical novel set in Europe and the Middle East in the 12th century.
Apache

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Apache

Louis L'Amour was my favorite even as a kid. I read lots of westerns growing up and always hated the ones with the protagonist struggling through the story make all kinds of mistakes and miraculously pulling out the win at the end. The one thing I liked about LL was his protagonists, men and women, were smart and tough.
If you read one LL book, get The Walking Drum. It is a historical novel set in Europe and the Middle East in the 12th century.
Apache

I'll eventually read some. He's such a touchstone I kind of have to. My uncle is a big fan. I just think of his books being similar to the old John Wayne westerns that I'm not a fan of.

The westerns I like are more gritty and grimy. Morality is more gray. Stuff like Bodie the Stalker by Mike Linaker, Crow by Laurence James or The Guns of Sapinero by Peter Brandvold.

[hobnail]

My grandfather was a voracious reader of westerns. Back when I started branching out there were few sold in the book stores and those never engaged me. My library sells donated books for $1 and one time it had this tome, the Morrow Anthology of Great Western Short Stories. I picked it up remembering that I wanted to find some good westerns. There were quite a few stories in it that I really enjoyed. But good short story writers aren't necessarily good novel writers and I haven't found any novels by the ones that I've liked. I've tried to find western writers that work for me on Project Gutenberg, Faded Page, etc. but it's rather hit and miss.

Anyhow, for a recommendation I still say the Injun and Whitey series is a fun read:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=330868

I also uploaded here two epubs by Knibbs and I'm guessing that I liked those.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by hobnail

I've tried to find western writers that work for me on Project Gutenberg, Faded Page, etc. but it's rather hit and miss.

You'd likely be better off with a newer western, rather than PD stuff.

A cheapie that I enjoyed is Incident at Butler's Station by Mike Linaker (writing as Richard Wyler. Many western authors write under pseudonyms). It's a take on the 'characters defending a place from a horde' trope. Think Rio Bravo, Night of the Living Dead or Assault on Precinct 13.

$2 if you'd like to try it.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You'd likely be better off with a newer western, rather than PD stuff.

A cheapie that I enjoyed is Incident at Butler's Station by Mike Linaker (writing as Richard Wyler. Many western authors write under pseudonyms). It's a take on the 'characters defending a place from a horde' trope. Think Rio Bravo, Night of the Living Dead or Assault on Precinct 13.

$2 if you'd like to try it.

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'll eventually read some. He's such a touchstone I kind of have to. My uncle is a big fan. I just think of his books being similar to the old John Wayne westerns that I'm not a fan of.

The westerns I like are more gritty and grimy. Morality is more gray. Stuff like Bodie the Stalker by Mike Linaker, Crow by Laurence James or The Guns of Sapinero by Peter Brandvold.

For me it is the descriptive way he writes. His descriptions of the country, peopleand his knowledge of the times make the books come alive. I can actual;ly see the country and wish I was there. The first time my wife read The Walking Drum she was amazed at his description of the land at sunrise. It made you want to be there to see it.
Apache

[Apache]

Another favorite book is Shoot Him On Sight by William Colt MacDonald. Unfortunately it is only available in paper. I still have mine and do reread it occasionally.
https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Sight-W.../dp/B000GFZZU4
Apache

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Apache

For me it is the descriptive way he writes. His descriptions of the country, peopleand his knowledge of the times make the books come alive. I can actual;ly see the country and wish I was there. The first time my wife read The Walking Drum she was amazed at his description of the land at sunrise. It made you want to be there to see it.
Apache

You are doing a good job of selling me on Louis L'Amour. I freely admit I judged him based not on his books, but my impression of his books without having read them.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Apache

Another favorite book is Shoot Him On Sight by William Colt MacDonald. Unfortunately it is only available in paper. I still have mine and do reread it occasionally.
https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Sight-W.../dp/B000GFZZU4
Apache

That book isn't available, but it looks like a number of his books are available and cheap at that. One standalone and two doubles: Titles By William Colt MacDonald

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That book isn't available, but it looks like a number of his books are available and cheap at that. One standalone and two doubles: Titles By William Colt MacDonald

I can stand to lose two bucks if I don't like the book so I bought The Battle at Three-Cross.

For the fans of the muscled shirtless male there's even The Red Raider for two bucks.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by hobnail

For the fans of the muscled shirtless male there's even The Red Raider for two bucks.

It's a win/win. A book everyone can complain about!

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by hobnail

I can stand to lose two bucks if I don't like the book so I bought The Battle at Three-Cross.

For the fans of the muscled shirtless male there's even The Red Raider for two bucks.

I've never read the author, but at those cheap prices, I bought all of the books available except the Wildside collection. Why I skipped that one is anybody's guess.

[Apache]

Damn, I just checked Abebooks and Shoot Him On Sight goes from $5.00 to $25.00 used.
Apache