{"id":8859,"date":"2014-02-17T14:43:58","date_gmt":"2014-02-17T19:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/?p=8859"},"modified":"2014-02-21T11:30:54","modified_gmt":"2014-02-21T16:30:54","slug":"bring-your-saddle-bag-of-books-cowpoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2014\/02\/17\/bring-your-saddle-bag-of-books-cowpoke\/","title":{"rendered":"Bring your saddle bag of books, cowpoke"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Golden<\/a>

Golden Age Western Comics press photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Update: Now that the call-in has been done (2\/20\/14) you can find the reading list compiled from recommendations by hosts, guests, callers and correspondent here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2014\/02\/21\/american-west-reading-list\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We’re heading out to the plains, the Rio Grande, the Four Corners and the western badlands on the next book club call in. On Thursday, February 20 at 11 am, John Ernst and I talk about western writers we love, and take your calls about your favorite books set in the American West.<\/p>\n

Recently, I talked about the upcoming show with Dale Hobson and Bill Haenel–our digital team–and both mentioned the two icons of American Western fiction–Zane Grey<\/a> and the prodigiously prolific (about 100 books) Louis L’Amour<\/a>. My neighbor, a farmer in his mid-seventies, has read every Louis L’Amour novel. Across America, Zane Grey was a similar favorite in the first half of the last century–and “Riders of the Purple Sage” was the author’s biggest hit. When I was a kid, we watched “Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theater” on tv; later, we followed a western rock group called New Riders of the Purple Sage<\/a> (there were at least a couple of bands with that name before them).<\/p>\n

I have a feeling John Ernst will pick more literary favorites from the West. Some of my favorite authors whose work is dusted with desert sand and cactus-prickly, or evokes the smell of pine and smoke of the high country, include:<\/p>\n

Jim Harrison<\/a>, who was born in the midwest but has lived in and written about the (true) west for most of his adult life. Harrison has written in virtually every genre–poetry, essays, novels, novellas, short fiction. He is perhaps best known for the novella “Legends of the Fall,” which was made into a well-received film some years ago.<\/p>\n

Cormac McCarthy<\/a>, of course.<\/p>\n

Larry McMurtry<\/a>, whose “Lonesome Dove” won the Pulitzer–for me the ultimate cattle drive tale.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Cow<\/a>

Cow Boy, circa 1888. Library of Congress<\/p><\/div>\n

Annie Proulx<\/a>, who spent much of her life in the east and won the Pulitzer and National Book Award for “The Shipping News,” a book set about as far east as you can get in North America–Newfoundland, nonetheless has captured the western ethos through years spent in Wyoming. Perhaps best known in recent years for the short fiction, “Brokeback Mountain,” which was made into an award-winning movie (and for which McMurtry served as screenwriter).<\/p>\n

But I’d better stop.<\/p>\n

I’m going to discover at least one new western fiction writer between now and the program…and I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your favorites. You can send me authors’ names and recommended titles in advance of the show: ellen@ncpr.org. Thanks.<\/p>\n

Check out Leadbelly singing Jesse James–a song jointly attributed to Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie. Complete lyrics posted below the video.<\/p>\n