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Westerns for women

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Divia
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Westerns for women

Post by Divia » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 3:36 am

As we all know Louis L' Amour is the master of westerns. Well, I want something a bit more...feminine. I read and LOVED the Personal history of Rachel Dupree and was wondering if there was anything along those lines. Hell, I'd even read about a female outlaw(that would be fun).

I dont want westerns that are written for men by men. So please don't suggest them.
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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
Location: California Bay Area

Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 5:15 am

You would like These is My Words: the Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine
by Nancy turner. 256 five star reviews out of 297 total, so apparently others liked it as much as I did. To my surprise, I saw the writeup from School Library Journal was calling it YA. I seem to remember rather more sex in it--or maybe some of the content from Ride the Wind has come unattached from one book (in my malleable memory) and gone to another. That one is more Native American than Western but you would probably like it as well.

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LoveHistory
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Post by LoveHistory » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 5:41 pm

I'll let you know when I finish my western version of Pride & Prejudice. ;)

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 5:54 pm

Are you looking for "true" westerns, or books with western settings?
At home with a good book and the cat...
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Ariadne
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Post by Ariadne » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 7:28 pm

Nancy Turner's novels are outstanding. Another western writer whose works I'd recommend is Jane Candia Coleman.

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Divia
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Post by Divia » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 7:59 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]Are you looking for "true" westerns, or books with western settings?[/quote]
Fiction only please.
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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 8:46 pm

[quote=""Divia""]Fiction only please.[/quote]

I was thinking *true* westerns as opposed to HF novels set in the West. So if I out of line feel free to slap me ;) :p

I believe Lucia Claire Robinson has written some with western settings, but I've not tried them yet. Her website: http://www.luciastclairrobson.com/Books.htm

I liked the Proud Breed by Celeste de Blasis a lot, but set in old California.

There's also Paint the Wind by Cathy Cash Spellman. A bit romancey but still a lot of fun. Mostly set in Colorado.
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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Sun January 23rd, 2011, 9:44 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]
There's also Paint the Wind by Cathy Cash Spellman. A bit romancey but still a lot of fun. Mostly set in Colorado.[/quote]

Oh, seconded Paint the Wind. I really enjoyed that one.

Edited to say that I enjoy westerns, but am happy with blokey ones too.

If you can get them through inter-library loans, take a look at Jeanne Williams. A Lady Bought with Rifles, and A Woman Clothed in Sun, or Home Mountain.
Last edited by EC2 on Sun January 23rd, 2011, 9:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Posts: 3566
Joined: August 2008
Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
Location: California Bay Area

Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Mon January 24th, 2011, 12:03 am

Thanks for the brain-jump, Misfit. Lucia St. Clair Robinson is the lady who wrote Ride the Wind. Not to be confused with Paint the Wind. Wind seems to be a popular word in western titles.

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Elizabeth
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Post by Elizabeth » Mon January 24th, 2011, 1:29 am

There's Gwen Bristow (Calico Palace, Jubilee Trail, Celia Garth)... these have been brought out in new editions recently by Chicago Review Press. I treasure my tatty old paperback copies.

Penelope Williamson is very good on the romance side. Ann Parker's Silver Rush mysteries (Silver Lies, Iron Ties, Leaden Skies) are set in Leadville, Colorado in the 1870s, if you'd like a taste of mystery with your wild west.

And don't forget the wonderful The Ballad of Cat Ballou by Roy Chanslor. NOTHING like the movie, and definitely your female outlaw. :)
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