Summertime is here! And what’s more appropriate for a summer on the Colorado plains than to read a Western? These gritty, atmospheric titles set in America’s west offer a distinct sense of location and intricately crafted characters. These books, modern and historical fiction, are great for fans of Yellowstone and are looking for similar storylines about family, tragedy, and a love for the land.
Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx
Proulx’s quick snapshots into Wyoming life is stark and moving. Many stories from this collection feature complex characters, striking landscapes, and bad luck. The final and most famous from the collection, Brokeback Mountain, is just one of the many challenging and dispiriting stories you will find in this modern take on Wyoming life.
Black River: a Novel by S.M. Hulse
Wes Carver returns to Black River, Montana when he finds out the man, Bobby Williams, is up for parole after being in prison for 20 years. Williams held Carver hostage during a prison riot and took away Carver’s ability to play music. Black River contains an intense introspection about humanity’s ability to change and features a strong sense of place in small town America.
The Ploughmen: a Novel by Kim Zupan
Centered around the conversations of a sheriff’s deputy, Valentine Millimaki, and John Gload, a 77-year-old brutal, killer awaiting trial, The Ploughman is a compelling contemporary western. This evocative novel, set in the Montana plains, explores friendship and drawing back the differences between the those on both sides of the jail cell.
An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg
Jean Gilkyson is living in Iowa in a trailer house and experiencing yet another violent relationship with a boyfriend. She must decide how to get her daughter, Griff, and herself out of this frightening cycle, which leads her to Ishawooa, Wyoming where Jean’s father-in-law lives. Einar Gilkyson, a cowboy, blames Jean for his son’s death and has since experienced many tragedies. Einar’s granddaughter, Griff, plays an important role in the process of reconciliation and building back family from hardships in this compelling western.
Let Him Go by Larry Watson
Set in 1951 Dalton, North Dakota, this familial novel follows Margaret and George Blackledge, as they try to track down and bring back their grandson who left with their daughter-in-law who recently remarried. The Blackledge’s lost their only son when he was bucked from horse years ago, in an accident that left their grandson without a father. Their quest through the Badlands to Montana puts the couple in dangerous opposition to the Weboy family, who refuse to give up the child easily.