Best Western Books in 2022 – Reviewed

Editor’s Choice: No Country for Old Men By Cormac McCarthy

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Although we do have to admit that some readers might have issues with Cormac McCarthy’s style of prose, we feel that this novel is one of the best western books ever written. This is a book that’s set on the Texas/Mexico border and tells the story of a hunter named Llewellyn Moss, who comes across a pickup trunk that’s surrounded by dead men. In the truck, he finds a load of heroin, as well as two million dollars in cash—cash that he decided to take for himself. Unfortunately, by taking the money, he sets off a chain reaction of events that can’t even be contained by law enforcement. This is a story with themes as old as civilization itself and a plot that could’ve easily been pulled from the bloody headlines of today’s news.

For anyone unfamiliar with the author, let us offer up a brief explanation. He was born in 1933 and is not only an American novelist but also a short-story writer, a playwright, and a screenwriter. He has penned 8 novels throughout his lifetime—novels that cover not only the western genre but also the southern gothic and post-apocalyptic genres. His first success came when he wrote All The Pretty Horses in 1992, a book for which he was awarded a National Book Award. In 2005, he wrote this novel—which was made into a 2007 film that won four Academy Awards, and he followed that up by writing The Road in 2006—a book that won him a Pulitzer Prize.

Judging by his track record, it’s easy to see why No Country For Old Men is considered a masterpiece by many fans. Although his sparse use of punctuation and lack of character attribution makes the text somewhat hard for people unfamiliar with his style to read, once a person adapts to it, the sparse style adds additional depth to the novel and makes the story feel even more harrowing.

Also Recommended: Crow Killer, New Edition: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson

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Anyone interested in the western movie genre might have watched the movie Jeremiah Johnson—a movie that was released in 1972 and starred Robert Redford. It tells the story of a mountain man who was targeted by the Crow Tribe and had to fight a decade long one-man war against them to extract retribution from them for the killing of his wife. And that movie is based upon the story that can be found in this book: Crow Killer.

Although we feel that Robert Redford did admirably in his role as Jeremiah Johnson, the book tells the story of the real Jeremiah Johnson—at least, the real story as accounted by the man himself. Mr. Johnson was a man that stood 6’2” tall and weighed approximately 250-pounds. And as some critics have pointed out, the book makes him out to be the Punisher of his day.

The story begins in 1847 when Johnson arrives back at his trapper’s cabin and finds that his Native American wife and their unborn child had been murdered. This sets him off on a path of vengeance against the Crow tribe. It’s a story set in a fierce and almost apocalyptic frontier and is a compilation of the stories that the man not only told others about himself but also the stories that other people have told about them.

How accurate are the events in this story? We can’t say for sure, but considering the mythic nature of this western, it’s probably to say that there was at least some confabulation concerning the events as they unfolded. Regardless, it’s still a great story that many readers are going to want to read from cover to cover in one reading. It’s a compelling story that at the very least gives the reader a glimpse into the life of a frontier mountain man, and at the most, tells one of the best western revenge stories ever told. In our opinion, it’s worth a read.

Also Consider: Down the Long Hills By Louis L’Amour

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For anyone looking for a western classic, then this one by Louis L’Amour might be just what the doctor ordered. This book was originally published in 1984 and is widely considered to be one of the best westerns by one of the most respected storytellers in the entire western genre. This story begins with a wagon train cutting west through the frontier towards Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Onboard one of the wagons is 7-year old Hardy Collins who is heading to meet up with his father. During the night, his horse wanders off and he heads out to retrieve the horse because it’s his responsibility. As he wanders out, he’s followed by 3-year old Betty Sue Powell.

After Hardy finds his horse, he and Betty Sue return to the stationed wagon train and find everyone has been massacred by Native American Indians in a raid. Although he’s traumatized by the event, he knows enough from the lessons of his father that he has to head towards Fort Bridger if he has any hope of saving himself and this little girl. Armed with only his knife and riding his horse, he heads out on a perilous journey that will test every one of the lessons that his father taught him over his short lifespan. On this journey, he’s not only going to have to deal with Indian raids but will also have to deal with weather, wolves, and even bears. And along the way, he’s going to have to forage for food and water to keep them alive.

Although some people may consider the story of a 7-year old and a 3-year surviving on the frontier on a perilous journey fraught with so many obstacles unbelievable, the pure skill of the author manages to pull this off seamlessly. As you read along with the story, you believe that these children are real and that Hardy’s father was able to give him some important lessons on survival that will help them on their way. It’s for that reason, we highly recommend this western.