Top 5 Western Novels of All Time // Book Review

[@jasonbell9975]

Lonesome Dove got me through some tough times...

[@RexHooper1]

Same here

[@josefonseca6144]

Blood meridian is a twisted take on the New Testament, instead of a savior you have a judge, a sermon on the mound becomes a massacre on a volcano, etc. that neo biblical language is very poetic and is one of the greatest American novels and deconstructions of the American western of all times.

[@samuelprice2461]

Blood Meridian is somewhere between a Western and a nightmarish fever dream. All while managing to be absolutely gorgeous at the same time. I’ve never before read a novel where the author makes violence both beautiful and unspeakably, disgustingly vile and repulsive at the same time. I think a good comparison would be the movie “Come and See” -1985.

[@RexHooper1]

I have never agreed with a comment so much before. I think you are absolutely right and articulate here what I wish I had found the words to say myself. I really like "Come and See" but I think it may be one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. It isn't a horror movie and yet it has that power.

[@kemouse]

I read it and it is good.

[@joshualesicka2603]

You hit the nail on the head. I read that book a few years ago. No more than a few days can go by without me thinking about it.

[@samiurai0]

The Lonesome Dove is my favorite western novel. But that might change since I haven't read the others you've mentioned. I'll check them out. Also, amazing presentation and content quality. I hope to see more of these videos. Cheers.

[@robtheisen5844]

Bowdrie and Bowdrie’s Law by Louis L’Amour. The most badass Texas Ranger of the old west… raised by a Comanche tribe, survived 10 gunshot wounds… involved in thirty-three gunfights, and still the fastest gun in the west. At least Read “Down The Long Hills”, by L’Amour. One of the best coming of age stories I’ve ever read! You might want to rethink your list.

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the recommendations. I'll add these titles to my reading list and yeah I might have to remake this video once I've read more.

[@MichaelRBrown-lh6kn]

We had many Western "dime novels" in the late 1800, so the Virginian can't be the first Western novel.

[@Ifarttoo]

The Violent land, Wayne D Overhosler. Dare I say it’s better than lonesome dove. It has everything you want, romance, fight, faimly, etc. I really recommend it! Love the video cowboy!

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the recommendation it is now added to my list of books I am going to read!

[@spiritualundergroundpodcast]

I’ve listened to Blood Meridian a dozen times, it gets deeper every time, so much depth that takes research on the novel to help dig it all out, and I’m still digging.

[@Red-gr1yu]

Jusal Sackett by Louis L'Amour is my favorite novel I love all of the Sackett novels my introduction being the daybreakers I also Read western comics like pretty deadly which is a supernatural western and rotten, which is a zombie outbreak in the old west. Both are miniseries and easy to get.

[@RexHooper1]

Thanks so much for these recommendations. I will be sure to check out everything you've mentioned.

[@irishknight6893]

@@RexHooper1to add to these western comic suggestions I would Say the Sixth Gun by Colleen Bun and since you love Spaghetti westerns I would say Blueberry by Moebius :)

[@spiritualundergroundpodcast]

Jubal was what hooked me on westerns, grandpa had a L’Amoir collection that I burned through, and still have

[@historias2884]

I've always dreamed of attempting to write a great western with some Mexican flare. I grew up with so many western like stories told by my father and told by his father. Much of Mexico was still the wild west well into the mid 20th century, and in some way it still is. BTW, 2 novels that aren't exactly westerns but have a western feel are 'the underdogs' by Mario Azuela and 'for whom the bell tolls' by Ernest Hemingway.

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you so much for the recommendations, I have added these two books to my list of things to read. I really think you should write these stories from your father and and grand father down. Western stories and tales of history are such a wonderful thing to read. Let me know when you've written them: I wanna hear these stories myself.

[@peterpuleo2904]

If you write it, I will read it. Let me know.

[@GoosyTheMexicanGoose]

Basically the Mexican Revolution is the Wild West of Mexico

[@Joaquim.Oliveira]

New reader here , just found out about your channel. I read True Grit last month and I can’t wait to read another Western

[@nunyabidness4220]

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry The Time It Never Rained - Elmer Kelton The Cowboy & The Cossack - Clair Huffaker Red Sabbath - Lewis B. Patten Then I'm caught in a toss-up between wanting to throw in another Kelton book (The Day The Cowboys Quit & Wagontongue are especially great), The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout, Shane by Jack Schaefer, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, Gone To Texas by Forrest Carter (basis for Outlaw Josey Wales), or Hondo by Louis L'Amour. Max Brand and Ray Hogan are also great, and even though it's trashy, the first Edge novel, The Loner, by George G. Gilman, is important because of what all it started. And I also want to put Posse From Hell by Clair Huffaker in there, just because it's so perfect.

[@boogerie]

Elmer Kelton is THE MAN. My favorite so far is THE GOOD OLD BOYS

[@raecrowe9514]

Louis Lamour - auch, phooey. Juvenile campfire tales written by a man who spent his life lamentimg not being able to be 19 years old forever and whose female characters were nothing more than fluff in a high breeze. And more Lonesome Dove? Puleeze. It should have stopped with the original. Saturation is never a good thing.

[@frances6940]

I really like, and reread every year or so, the stories written by Dorothy M Johnson: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, A Man Called Horse, The Hanging Tree etc. I guess they don’t classify as novels, rather long short stories or novellas. The movies made from her stories are also very entertaining. I’m surprised Jack Shaeffer didn’t make the cut; surely Shane is on most people’s shortlist. His short stories are also excellent. I also enjoy Louis Lamour though I think he would have benefited from an editor to keep him on track and tighten up some of his story telling.

[@jasonkane8200]

Try this: "The Hues of Requital". 1200 pages. (Heya Rex. Please delete this posting if that is inappropriate for you site)(Liked and subscribed)

[@fleabynight]

Best Novel is Blood Meridian for sure. Beware..... read other novels first or they get paled into the background!

[@stevenyoder1711]

The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour was a fine book.

[@AlexGordonMusic]

I described blood Meridian to a friend as the darkest most violent historical action thriller you’ve ever seen combined with a character study of some of the most evil men in American history Idk why I adore that book so much… maybe because it’s so quintessentially American, and serves as a cautionary tale for where we can end up as a country if we lose our moral integrity Easily top 3 faves of mine as well Great content man

[@RexHooper1]

I love these words you seem to sum up a lot of what is so great about this book.

[@bar-1studios]

... "If".

[@joshualesicka2603]

It’s crazy how much of a genius Cormac Mcarthy was. He writes Blood Meridian then turns around and writes All The Pretty Horses.

[@Boxer309]

'Riders of The Purple Sage' by Zane Grey is an amazing story as well👍

[@RexHooper1]

I have not read this one but will be doing so after your recommendation. Thank you!

[@CorbCorbin]

Was there a followup book, New Riders of the Purple Sage? There’s an album from the 70’s, called New Riders of the Purple Sage, I somewhat remember listening to, as well.

[@Boxer309]

Yes there was, it was called 'The Rainbow Trail' published in 1915👍

[@gabemoore3189]

​ @CorbCorbin Ur right. There's a band founded by Jerry Garcia called new riders of the Purple Sage that often opened for the dead and had their own following. It's like jam band outlaw country. I'm a fan myself

[@broganburrough8667]

@@gabemoore3189 thanks for sharing this band. Really cool!

[@dayleclarke4433]

I just finished Blood Meridian and really enjoyed it but I didn't find it that horrifyingly violent. I've got Lonesome Dove on the way and I've read Sisters Brothers and all of Elmore Leonard's westerns (he was great at whatever he wrote) but my favourite by far is The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout.

[@MajMat073]

You forgot to add Broke Back Mountain by Annie Proulx, nuff said.

[@michaelhardy2971]

Heart of the Country by Greg Matthews

[@angusorvid8840]

Blood Meridian is the best of the lot. I've read it eight times.

[@Luxington1]

If you haven't read The Oz-Bow Incident, you aught to soon. Its not just a great western, its one of the greatest nivels ever written. And that opinion comes from a realatively well-read mind.

[@RexHooper1]

I really do need to read the novel. The movie is one of my favourite westerns (I even made a video about it).

[@Luxington1]

@@RexHooper1 The only thing I'll say is that the novel has a scene in the end that really brings the consequences to bear on the soul, and the movie selled it short imo.

[@readlikeaman]

Solid video sir! Excited to stumble across your channel. Huge western fan by haven’t read a ton of the novels, so this list gives me a solid place to start!! Interesting development for me recently: I read True Grit and even though I almost always like the book more than the movie, because I grew up on the movie and seen it probably 50+ times, the book actually just didn’t do it for me. I think if I’d read it first I would have liked it more, but because the order was reversed I just couldn’t let go of it - the Duke will always be the real Rooster in my heart lol 😂

[@markswan6559]

No Louis L'Amour? This list is incomplete!

[@raecrowe9514]

You left out Deep West by Ernest Haycox; The Searchers by Alan Le May; and The Pride of Hannah Wade by Janet Daly.

[@RexHooper1]

I know 'The Searchers' just on account of the movie but I will definitely have to check out all these recommendations. Thank you!

[@UlissesBarros-bp5py]

Nevada by Zane Grey is an amazing read

[@MisterContinuum]

Great music sir. I'd actually found your group on Spotify before I saw your videos here. I'd only read The Road by Cormac McCarthy which is a bleak apocalyptic classic. Gonna hit Blood Meridian soon. Does that guy ever write happy books?

[@voodoo0202ify]

Try reading, "A Texas Ranger" by Napoleon Augustus Jennings...it talks about life on the Southern Frontier and how a man and a small detachment of Texas Rangers helped to quell the violence on.the lawless Southern border.

[@RexHooper1]

Sounds great! Thank you for the recommendation.

[@kafka0622]

Any list of the top five western novels that does not include "The Ox-Bow Incident" is pretty suspect.

[@RexHooper1]

I absolutely love the movie but have not read the book. I think after this comment I really need to seek it out. Thanks for the tip!

[@MorganInForm]

You should check out A Land Remembered, not exactly a Western but more of an Eastern, or South Eastern. A true cowboy novel.

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the recommendation, it is now on my list!

[@boogerie]

Little surprised you didn't include anything by Louis L'Amour or Elmer Kelton. Anyway I highly recommend THE GOOD OLD BOYS by Kelton Also you should read some of the western stories by Robert E Howard, he creator of Conan the Barbarian

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the recommendations!

[@bertsbooks2505]

I've got the novelisation of Sabata on a shelf here, and I'm shocked it never made the shortlist! OK, well maybe not...

[@RexHooper1]

A man of discerning taste.

[@mgmartin51]

I liked Shane.

[@AllenFreemanMediaGuru]

Red Rabbit -Alex Grecian

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the tip!

[@zackblake1411]

You did a great job laying these out! Very compelling.

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you kindly!

[@randolphchase6224]

Oliver strange sudden series!

[@an555]

I read the life of Tom horn in middle school , it changed me.

[@JoshuaYoung2]

20 min video and no chaptering? I'm out.

[@dylanwadeclark7946]

I watched every minute all the way through and enjoyed every bit of it.

[@Robert.Levi.Miller]

Deadwood, The Shootist, The Searchers, The Hell Bent Kid, No Country For Old Men, The Revenant and Butchers Crossing are some more topnotch westerns.

[@RexHooper1]

Great choices!

[@kerrypickens8594]

True Grit by Charles Portis, The Track of the Cat by Walter Van Tilburg, and The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage

[@joshualesicka2603]

All The Pretty Horses

[@RexHooper1]

A great book!

[@randolphchase6224]

What about the sudden series by Oliver strange

[@RexHooper1]

I've not read these. Do you have a good recommendation of where to start?

[@randolphchase6224]

The last of the dwanes by Zane gray

[@claytonmoore6198]

No Louis L’Amour? The Daybreakers would be best to start

[@mathewweeks9069]

Your awesome

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you kindly

[@rodneyadderton1077]

Brazos Keene is one of my favorite fictional cowboys, along side McCrae. Keene was created by Zane Grey and is featured in 'Twin Sombreros' and 'Knights of the Range'. 'Lonesome Dove' and 'Comanche Moon' are fantastic, that's for sure. I thought 'The Son' was adapted on AMC with Pierce Bronsan. I could be wrong. Great reads all. Good video. Edit: all the Lonesome Dove books are worth reading at least once. But you will probably want to read them twice.

[@markothwriter]

Larry McMurtry was a big fan of books in general. He read a lot, collected rare books, and passed on his love of readings to anyone who would talk to him. I read all of his books when I was a teenager. I need to go back and read them again. He based Lonesome Dove loosely on the Story family -- who are a real family that moved from Texas to Montana.

[@francinem4944]

Smonk by Tom Franklin ... "It was as still as the inside of a stone..." total movie potential, more so than The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,,, thanks for the reviews

[@joemurray6522]

Shane is a great story

[@RexHooper1]

I love it too. A really great story.

[@Jennifer-wr9si]

I still have no idea what it's about but my dad would watch it EVERY SINGLE TIME it came on TV.

[@doctorpretender4944]

I listened to the audiobook for The Sisters Brothers right after the audiobook for Lonesome Dove and The Sisters Brothers just couldn’t come close to how good Lonesome Dove is. Maybe doing it that way warped my view but I really just thought TSB was all right, a 3/5. I would definitely rank Lonesome Dove higher, personally. But that’s just me. Great video!

[@allendale18]

Sorry but my eye usually spots spelling errors. Lonesome is spelled wrong at 6:30

[@charold3]

Good list! I’d put Shane in there, maybe Warlock. The Son, huh? Will check it out.

[@KwangTheMongrel]

True Grit was awesome. Last book I read before I got out of jail.

[@energy_outlaw6679]

I don't really read westerns, I don't really read at all but this was very well done, I loved the tone you set for the video. I might just go and read some of these, especially the Blood Meridian.

[@DrMetalpin]

Wasn’t “The Son” adapted for a TV series?

[@peterpuleo2904]

I liked Blood Meridian but it made me wince from the violence and sadism. I only wish he had used more punctuation in his prose.

[@jonathanrichter4256]

You are aware that Larry McMurtry wrote several other novels involving Gus MCrea and Woodrow Call? Chronologically the story starts with Dead Man's Walk, where Gus and Woodrow first join the Texas Rangers, and was turned into a miniseries starring Jonny Lee Miller as Woodrow and David Arquette as Gus. It fair to middling. Then comes Comanche Moon which was a great miniseries starring Steve Zahn as Gus and Karl Urban as Woodrow. Val Kilmer was fantastic in a guest starring role. There was of course a Lonesome Dove 2 which was made into series with much of the same cast as the original. Later in Woodrow's life is a book called Streets of Laredo which was made into a movie with James Garner as Woodrow.

[@RexHooper1]

Wow, I had no idea. I actually just finished reading Dead Man's Walk. It's awesome. I will try to watch all of these adaptations if I can. Thanks for the tip!

[@shaneschluter9648]

Bill Pullman did the virginian damn well

[@skeller61]

I haven’t read Blood Meridian, but it sounds like it would’ve made a good Sam Peckinpah movie.

[@RexHooper1]

Totally agree!

[@Ce13stialBunny]

My concern with adapting Blood Meridian is (my favorite parts of the book) are so much of this languid, meditative suffering through the desert where nothing happens And that the adaptation would be just blood and not much a western

[@RexHooper1]

Great comment. I think film can be really good at creating atmosphere. It's more present in older movies but it's still possible to create a sense of languid, meditative suffering through sound and visuals in a different way from how it can be created in words.

[@bar-1studios]

I'm not too big into William W Johnstone once JA Johnstone took over the majority of weiting duties, but their *Have Brides, Will Travel* series (side story to *The Sidewinders* novels).

[@RexHooper1]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@kenward1310]

Great video. Glad to have happened upon your channel.

[@trentmcivoy4376]

I'd like to give an honorable mention to Hard Money, by Luke Short.

[@RexHooper1]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@stacyarmstrong8275]

I haven't read the other four, but I loved Lonesome Dove, so I'm inclined to take your word for it. I'll definitely give the others a read, except maybe Blood Meridian. I read The Road, and it was so dark I just couldn't enjoy it at all. Wonder if the western would be the same for me. . .

[@RexHooper1]

I love Blood Meridian but it definitely is not for everyone. My wife has tried many times to read it but givers up for the reason you've said: it's too dark. But I would still recommend it to anyone interested in books and westerns to make their own mind up about it.

[@fredflintstone1485]

Travels of Jamie McPheeters and Shane were 2 of the best westerns Ive read !

[@RexHooper1]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@randolphchase6224]

The untamed by Zane gray

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

To Tame A Land Shane

[@alexblue6991]

My favourite is the edge books by George g Gilman

[@RexHooper1]

Not heard of this before, thank you for bringing it to me. I'll definitely be checking it out.

[@rhodesannarichmond3837]

Heart of the Country by Greg Matthews!

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[@Deadletter6]

How’d you get your channel name?

[@RexHooper1]

Long story 😅

[@rhodesannarichmond3837]

I recommend The Winter Family

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you kindly for the tip! I'll be sure to check it out.

[@flushfries5633]

This channel has the production value of one 100 times its size. I mean that. Subscribed!

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you kindly

[@RSSSports2023]

Csn you recommend a book with a story like Red Dead Redemltion 2.

[@RexHooper1]

Sisters Brothers really gave me RDR2 vibes. I even think of the main character as basically Arthur.

[@RSSSports2023]

@@RexHooper1 Thanks man! Others say lonesome dove. But what I'm trying to find is a story in where the main character tries hard to be a good fella but the society prevents him kinda stuff. Hopefully the Sisters brother has that.

[@travislabelle1575]

where’s true grit ????

[@RexHooper1]

I know! It's so hard to pin down 5, there are so many greats.

[@alibaba0428]

great video, thank you

[@RexHooper1]

Thank YOU for the positive comment!

[@irishknight6893]

Huge Western fan in cinema,comics and novels… Have to say I read Blood Meridian recently and sad to say was one of the worst Books I have ever read seriously lol but absolutely loved True Grit,all the Louis Lamour books and Elmore Leonard westerns, I aim to read Lonesome Dove sometime this month, here’s one question do you aim to read the other 3 books in the LD series?

[@irishknight6893]

@potatopower2144 oh yes read it a few mo the ago and it not only became my book of the year so far, damn likely to be my favorite book of all time…aim to read the other 3 books sometime in the future..

[@Ludwig1970]

@@irishknight6893Did you ever read any of the other three?

[@irishknight6893]

@@Ludwig1970 yes I read Lonesome Dove last year and it became my favorite book of all time! Aim to read Streets of Laredo sometime soon this year :)

[@filmexpressreviews]

Great video there partner

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you kindly!

[@mr.w9222]

Good try. The best western novel is Warlock by Oakley Hall. Better than LD. Better than True Grit. Better than Little Big Man. A good deal better than Blood Meridian. All the Pretty Horses is where it’s at for McCarthy, not BM.

[@teodordumitrescu]

Very weird way of talking, long pauses and the words splushed very fast and mostly wrong. Too bad for the good subject and that I had the video recommended for 3 days by youtube.

[@RexHooper1]

Thank you

[@chrishughes9202]

@@RexHooper1Don’t listen to this mouth breather and his worthless disposition. You are a creator; he will only be a taker.

[@codex3048]

The "stealing land" lie ... again. No land was "stolen." It was fought over. Your ancestors died by the thousands fighting for it. You greatly dishonor and insult their memory by stating that it was "stolen."

[@maxiehilaire686]

SHANE by jack shaefer. incredible book and western.

[@RexHooper1]

Great choice!

[@anridvalishvili5908]

Great great review 💯 thanks

[@RexHooper1]

Thank YOU for the positive comment!