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The Sisters Brothers

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The Sisters Brothers follows the journey of two hired killers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, in the Wild West during the California Gold Rush era. The narrative is presented in a first-person perspective by Eli, who reflects on their violent lifestyle as they travel from Oregon City to California on a mission to assassinate a prospector named Hermann Kermit Warm. The book combines elements of dark comedy, gritty Western settings, and unexpected plot twists, all wrapped in a narrative style that is both charming and authentic.

The story delves into themes of brotherhood, redemption, and self-discovery as Eli grapples with his desire for a different life while remaining loyal to his bloodthirsty brother, Charlie. The novel captures the essence of the Old West with vivid characterizations, engaging dialogues, and a blend of humor and melancholy that keeps the reader entertained and emotionally invested in the characters' journey.

Characters:

The characters include the introspective Eli, the ruthless Charlie, and a variety of quirky supporting figures, all contributing to the story's humor and depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is formal yet humorous, featuring vivid descriptions and an engaging narrative voice that balances comedy with existential themes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on the journey of two hired killers tasked with an assignment during the California Gold Rush, mixing dark humor with reflections on morality and brotherhood.

Setting:

Set during the California Gold Rush, the story unfolds across the American West, emphasizing the lawlessness and brutality of frontier life.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk and engaging, with short chapters that maintain reader interest, although it slows somewhat towards the conclusion.
I was sitting outside the Commodore's mansion, waiting for my brother Charlie to come out with news of the job. It was threatening to snow and I was cold and for want of something to do I studied Char...

Notes:

The Sisters Brothers is a darkly comic Western set during the California Gold Rush.
The book was published in 2011 and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Eli Sisters, the narrator, is portrayed as a more sensitive brother who questions his life as a hired killer.
The book contrasts the relationship between the brothers, showcasing their different personalities.
It includes a unique blend of humor, violence, and introspection.
The author, Patrick deWitt, offers a fresh take on the Western genre, focusing on the complexities of brotherhood.
The language in the novel is noted for being strong and formal, evoking the time period effectively.
The story takes the readers on a journey across Oregon and California, highlighting the absurdities of frontier life.
Throughout the novel, themes of morality, loyalty, and the toll of violence are explored.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, animal cruelty, and themes of death.

From The Publisher:

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JAKE GYLLENHAAL, JOHN C. REILLY AND JOAQUIN PHOENIX

A BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST

AND A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly

Amazon

Hudson Booksellers

Washington Post

Hermann Kermit Warm is going to die. The enigmatic and powerful man known only as the Commodore has ordered it, and his henchmen, Eli and Charlie Sisters, will make sure of it. Though Eli doesn't share his brother's appetite for whiskey and killing, he's never known anything else. But their prey isn't an easy mark, and on the road from Oregon City to Warm's gold-mining claim outside Sacramento, Eli begins to question what he does for a living-and whom he does it for.

With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters-losers, cheaters, and ne'er-do-wells from all stripes of life-and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love.

Ratings (39)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (17)
Liked It (9)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (69):

Read It (39)
Want To Read (22)
Not Interested (8)

3 comment(s)

Did Not Like
2 weeks

I have hardly ever liked a western that I've read, if I did it's most likely YA and romance. But I found this book so intriguing, with the cover and the premise however I did not enjoy the audiobook at all, in the end I was hardly paying attention to it and I should probably have DNF it but I had hoped I would turn around and love it.

 
Loved It
3 months

I would have awarded this book with a 5 star but felt that the story was a bit draggy at the end. But it was a story that stays in your hearts. No, its not romantic, not with best places in the world, not with amazing food or a very lovely family in it.

There are 2 Killers, hired ones, who are brothers. Its their journey towards their next killing. Along the way they go through different places where they kill different people, sometimes out of rage, sometimes just because they have to, mercilessly. Even though they kill, they are kind in unusual places, one is too kind with ladies, another one is with ethics. One wants to settle down, another wants to go on and make money.

I was getting confused with this "sisters" surname which usually came along with the word Brothers. It took time to get used to that detail, but the story was narrated in short chapters and was moving fast. The narration was witty, quick and with a comic sarcasm. I never knew a Booker Book being this witty but yet too profoundly touching.

 
Incredible
6 months

Offbeat, dark comedy, a Tarantino-style western

 
 
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