The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

This thread is for discussion of The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, which was selected for the 2011 Booker Prize longlist.

Just loved this book, though I can't imagine it winning-- so unlike the previous winners. Here's the official book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bXs1_v2Mik

My original review: Wow--fun, fun read! The Sisters brothers are two guns-for-hire working in the Gold Rush Days of Oregon and California. Eli, the younger and more tenderhearted of the two, narrates the story of himself and his brother, Charlie. Charlie is the brains of the operation. Charlie makes most of the calls and is ruthless when it comes to tolerating others. But Charlie loves his liquor too much to keep the boys on schedule. The brothers have been hired to track down a mysterious gold prospector who holds a dangerous secret. The author introduces some fantastic characters here, all fully fleshed out. Eli is a wonder to behold--worrying about love and even dieting on the one hand, yet ready to take a life if his brother so charges on the other. The writing is spot-on and is full of affection and also extreme cruelty. Most Westerns I've read take themselves far too seriously, but DeWitt delivers a lot of humor along the way. I had such a laugh over Eli's discovery of the wonders of brushing his teeth. In addition to the story, the book has an amazing cover and illustrated section breaks. The only criticism I can imagine is that the dialogue is unlike other Westerns. Here the men are well-spoken and good conversationalists. But, I for one, was pleased to trail along with these gunslingers as they journeyed through the Wild West seeking redemption. 4.5 stars

Just finished this read - lots of fun, a fast-paced, sharply written, 'tongue in cheek' study of two characters in the Wild West.

Based on the idea of the Western movie, it is about two brothers and their relationship with each other as they adventure through the West, doling out some cruel blows and taking some in return. I don't know about the redemptive part to their story, but the writing style was breezy, easy, sharp and fluid.

GCPL - Did you really think that 'cowboys' were people could not talk like that to each other - their style of communication was more formal maybe, but it was in 1851? I do agree with your admiration of the graphics of the book design - nice to see some visual originality.

BUT IMHO - not a Booker winner. It is just so different to mainstream winners and has a lightness/comedic quality to it that we rarely see in the winning book. It might just get on the short list, though.

A writer to watch, for sure.

Out of interest I also read his first novel, Ablutions, which is about a bartender dealing with alcoholism and the attendant indignities and baseness of an evolving, severe addiction. Gary Shteyngart blurbs that "DeWitt's dirty realism makes me want to roll in the mud with him. Brilliant."

(This writer was a barman, clerk, dishwasher and labourer in his time). It was not a fun read for me because of the content, but the writer's genius is self-evident here too).

Oh and thanks for posting the Utube link, GCPL, which was as compelling as the book's graphic design. I suspect this is the kinda book that could collect a cult following.

I'm not going to peek at this thread- but I purchased this book today. I could not resist the cover any longer;) I've never read or watched a Western in my life - but I'm looking forward to this one.

Loved the link to the book trailer!! A western as a Booker prize winner? That would be a novelty.

Can't wait to pick this one up!

Karen, did the novel not mention that the brothers were educated? can't recall, but I did love their (mostly Eli's) intelligent banter. So preferable than, say, McCarthy's laconic cowboys in Blood Meridian. The 19th C. novels I read all have such high degrees of conversation and sharp dialogue, so it seemed appropriate to me. I'm really rooting for this book to make the shortlist. And I'm glad to hear Ablutions is great! Can't wait to hear how deb and tangledthread like it.

Ha ha, great trailer : ) I will put this on my tbr list. It would certainly be interesting to see both a western and a funny book win the Booker, but somehow I doubt it would happen.

I enjoyed that trailer too. Thanks, Jenny.

I just finished and reviewed The Sisters Brothers, a book about brotherly love carried to extremes. I don't read many westerns, but I may be reading more after enjoying this one so much - despite the killing. What did I expect? It's a book about a pair of hired guns. What I didn't expect was the lighthearted touch and humor. I loved Eli with his minty breath and search for low-cal meals in the small towns that catered to hungry prospectors. It may not be a Booker winner, but I'm glad I read it!

This was a totally fabulous read for me! I've not written up formal review -but I put my thoughts about it on my 75 in 2011 thread. I'll try to write up a formal review.

Here - for now I copied and pasted my thoughts on The Sisters Brothers to here -

I'm currently reading a totally different book for me. It's called the The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. I've never read a western in my life - but somehow the graphics on the cover kept grabbing me -and I took a look at it . I was also looking for something completely different. Not a mystery, not a book about war, not a book about a dysfunctional family - but something outside my usual fare . Well - The Sisters Brothers is just that! I would call it perhaps - comic western noir? It's just sidesplitting fun for me as a reader. As I say - I've never read a western and never desired to do so. But this is very different. It is really well done. I've read some reviews here on LT that mentioned that the language was stilted - but that 's not the case at all. This is a genre bending western and so well done. The Sister's Brothers are a couple of cowboy brothers . Their relationship is sometimes moving - and the brother, Eli Sister is a sensitive soul who even decides to diet to trim down to be more attractive to the women. Eli Sister struggles with his feelings with the violence that they run into as cowboys, whereas his brother Charlie carries on merrily. Eli is also violent - but struggles with his feelings and is relatively introspective. The entire book is so intelligently written, so much fun - I'm just LOVING it! :) It's moving, it's comical, it's violent - and the writer does it so well!! I'm amazed! I'm so glad I took a chance on this book -which I was very uncertain about initially.

It's a total page turner for me. For we loyal Canadian readers - this writer is a Canadian , but is now living in Oregon. The book is long listed for the Man Booker Prize. I don't see it winning -but I'd love it if it did.

It's just fabulous and so refreshing.

Yeah for Canadian writers!! Glad you liked it, Vancouverdeb.

My review (3.5 stars):

How often can you claim that a western about two hired killers is charming and funny? And, it's longlisted for the Booker Prize.

Told from the viewpoint of the younger brother, Eli, overweight and yearning for a quieter life, the story follows the pair as they travel from Oregon to California to kill a man for their boss, for whom they've done many other "assignments". They meet quite an assortment of odd characters, and their adventures and mishaps explore the wildness of life in the old West. Most amusingly, Eli discovers tooth brushing, with which he becomes enamored. Fortunes come and go with alarming ease, as does life and death. And redemption stalks the brothers, to Eli's delight and his brother's dismay. Well worth the read.

I wrote up a bit of a review of Sisters Brothers here - http://www.librarything.com/work/10895978/reviews/76491836

It's kind of a distallation of my earlier comments. I sure loved that book!!!

Great review, Marge. My review - 5 wildly enthusatic stars! ;)

I have just started reading and am enjoying this book very much!

I enjoyed The Sisters Brothers. It was a hoot. It zipped right along. There's no depth, but it's clever and humorous and stylish in a way novels rarely are. Is it Booker-worthy? Not at all. Did I like it? Yes, it's enormously entertaining. Also, the graphic design was fantastic and the Youtube video was fun.

I thought there was depth-- I thought the "intermissions" were experimental and provided keen foreshadowing and I felt that there was real character growth. -- and the humor-- spot on. I just loved it, as you can tell!

I have to agree- loved the language.

Where was the character growth? At the beginning of the novel Eli was lonely and longed for a woman to settle down with. At the end of the novel he was lonely and wanted to settle down with a nice woman. Until a sudden event at the end of the novel, Charlie wanted to continue with the violent lifestyle he enjoyed and his change of heart was entirely sudden and due to what happened to him. They switched allegiances at the end, but that was more due to ambition and opportunity than character development.

The use of language was witty and a joy to read. It sounded a bit like a Coen brothers movie, didn't it?

I read this in essentially one sitting yesterday, and I quite liked it. I thought it was unique, quirky in a good way, well written, and very enjoyable. It's one of the few books on this year's shortlist that I would like to read again, and I'm going to place my (theoretical) wager on it winning the Booker Prize from this year's crop of judges (although I would still prefer to see The Sense of an Ending come out on top).

I'll review this in the next day or two.

Alison, I'm sure you're right. I was thinking of the prospectors and the gentle nature of Eli as he longed to cast away his killing ways. Totally agree with you about seeing this as a Coen movie, but look what I found on the internet today: "Actor John C. Reilly's production company has already optioned deWitt's novel with Reilly slated for the role of Eli." -- Reilly as Eli sounds perfect to me! (and excited about his upcoming role in We Need to Talk About Kevin!)

Darryl, I'm pleased as punch that you enjoyed the novel. I was kinda nervous that it wouldn't be your usual type of read. fun, eh?!

Wow Darryl! I amazed and pleased that you are putting your wager on Sisters Brothers . I just loved that book so much. However, I've yet to read Sense of an Ending.

I think that The Sisters Brothers will win, but The Sense of an Ending deserves to win, IMO.

Well, you know, of interest to those of us who read Canadian Prizes, The Sisters Brothers is on both the Giller Prize Longlist, as well as the Roger's Trust finalist list. It is certainly getting a lot of press.

Ok by now we know the story line but what the heck did the young girl who poisened the dog and later tried to poison Charlie have to do with anything? I don't get it?