In this list of best westerns you can see that I’m a old fashioned and literary (no gunslinging is listed below) in my tastes. But I post it just a list of suggestions to somebody new to westerns. You can see that the western takes in a lot of different kinds of novels. You'll never go wrong with L'amour and Kelton.
1. Indians: Oliver, Chad -- The Wolf is My Brother
2. Family Saga: Braun, Matthew The Kincaids
3. Cowboys: Capps, Benjamin: The Trail to Ogallala; Schaefer, Jack – Monte Walsh;
4. Adventure: L'Amour, Louis – Down the Long Hills
5. Passing of the Olde West: Kelton, Elmer - The Good Old Boys
6. Historical Novel: Kelton, Elmer - The Day the Cowboys Quit
7. Literary Western: Hall, Oakley – Warlock
8. Custer Novel: Henry, Will – No Survivors
9. Epic: McMurtry, Larry - Lonesome Dove
10. Stagecoach Drama: Leonard, Elmore – Hombre
11. Old Timey: Gray, Zane – Nevada, A Romance of the West
12. Pioneers: Guthrie, Jr., A.B. – The Big Sky
13. Short Stories: Johnson, Dorothy - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" among many others

Hey, I don't read alot of Westerns, but I do check this forum frequently because a while back I posted a request for help in identifying a western I read years and years ago that I just cannot remember the name or author of.  No luck so far...

However, I was looking at your top ten list, and I noticed you have no books by Clair Huffaker on your list.  And 2 of his books are among my all-time favorites (and not even just western favorites, but favorite books in general)--The Cowboy and the Cossack, and Guns of Rio Conchos.   I have read them both several times.  Just wondering if you've ever read them, as a western buff?

I recently re-read True Grit.  That's a great one.

I've always heard good things about The Cowboy and the Cossack but I've never found here or in used book stores so I've not read it. Maybe people hold onto it for re-reading.

Hey Emily, based on your post above, I just read True Grit.  You were right, it was excellent.

I've never read either Louis L'amour or Zane Grey, but I think I'll read one by both in the near future.  And I'll try to find the ones on your top ten list, Matt.  Thanks for the suggestions!