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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ma lecture, et ce même si j'avais vu le film avant et qu'il est très fidèle à l'histoire. J'aime ça les livres qui me font rire.
The Sisters Brothers is a book that is more about the journey than the destination. Throughout the see the titular brothers, as told by the younger and more empathetic brother Eli, run across various characters and situations, and how they react. This story is full of short vignettes for our two main characters to react to, and many of them are bizarre. Charlie and Eli are clearly bad men, but I especially found myself liking Eli. Reading his internal conflict and reasoning for what he was doing helps paint a full 3D picture of who he is. All of the characters are well written, and the dialogue is especially snappy and funny. This is a dark comedy, with death and destruction sharing the same page as a witty back and forth. If you're not into that style, then I wouldn't recommend this book.
If this sounds appealing I would recommend you check out The Sisters Brothers. There's a good chance you'll enjoy it.
If this sounds appealing I would recommend you check out The Sisters Brothers. There's a good chance you'll enjoy it.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
deWitt fills this uncommon Western with lots of dark humor, which makes the pages fly by. His setting is not the romanticized American West of the movies and old TV serials - it's violent, dirty, tragic, cutthroat, and, on some occasions, weirdly comical. While the dynamic between Charlie and Eli Sisters (feared gunslingers and assassins for hire) is highly entertaining, it's Eli's narrative on his on-going existential crisis that really make the pages turn.
I laughed out loud reading this book. The narrator's voice was so funny, though it was clear that the humour was intended as a foil to the sadness. Eli's desire for a simpler life (like that of a shopkeeper), for someone to love, and for his brother's affection were sad. His growing attachment to his horse, Tub, was so sweet. Really enjoyed this book. Wondered if the happy family reunion at the end was maybe a bit too clean.
"The branches and limbs of the surrounding trees were bathed in the glow of the river. There was a warm wind pushing down through the valley and off the surface of the water; it kissed my face and caused my hair to dance over my eyes. This moment, this one position in time, was the happiest I will ever be as long as I am living. I have since felt it was too happy, that men are not meant to have access to this kind of satisfaction; certainly it has tempered every moment of happiness I have experienced since. At any rate, and perhaps this is just, it was not something we could hold on to for very long." (284)
About Morris' defection to Warm's camp: "Most people are chained to their own fear and stupidity and haven't the sense to level a cold eye at just what is wrong with their lives. Most people will continue on, dissatisfied but never attempting to understand why, or how they might change things for th ebetter, and they die with nohtin gin their hearts but dirt and old, thing blood -- weak blood, diluted -- and their memories aren't worth a goddamed thing, you will see what I mean." (295)
"The branches and limbs of the surrounding trees were bathed in the glow of the river. There was a warm wind pushing down through the valley and off the surface of the water; it kissed my face and caused my hair to dance over my eyes. This moment, this one position in time, was the happiest I will ever be as long as I am living. I have since felt it was too happy, that men are not meant to have access to this kind of satisfaction; certainly it has tempered every moment of happiness I have experienced since. At any rate, and perhaps this is just, it was not something we could hold on to for very long." (284)
About Morris' defection to Warm's camp: "Most people are chained to their own fear and stupidity and haven't the sense to level a cold eye at just what is wrong with their lives. Most people will continue on, dissatisfied but never attempting to understand why, or how they might change things for th ebetter, and they die with nohtin gin their hearts but dirt and old, thing blood -- weak blood, diluted -- and their memories aren't worth a goddamed thing, you will see what I mean." (295)
I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne
Full review - BookNest - The Sisters Brothers
“I am happy to welcome you to a town peopled in morons exclusively. Furthermore, I hope that your transformation to moron is not an unpleasant experience.”
I read Sisters Brothers after months of my brother, Edward, constantly telling me to pick it up. But I am not the biggest fan of Westerns so delayed it for quite a while. But Sisters Brothers was not what I was expecting. It was a Western, but a unique one that laid bare the anarchy that America really was during the 19th century, with every day a struggle for survival. It is one of tragedy, of comedy, and everything between, with a wonderful blend of tone and emotion.
Sisters Brothers is essentially a Western. But not the typical Western. It is one full of complex character relationships, inner conflict, and one that presents the grim reality of America in the 19th century. Not the romanticised version we so often are presented with.
“The creak of bed springs suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know.”
Sisters Brothers is a story driven by the relationship between two brothers, the Sisters brothers, who have been given a contract to hunt someone down. Eli is becoming tired of this job, but Charlie is not, and despite the decision of leaving has wondered into Eli’s mind many times, he cannot being himself to leave his brother.
I found that the relationships between the characters, especially the brothers, was so multi-dimensional and refreshing to read. It was crafted quickly, but subtly, sharing both their virtues and fallibilities. Despite some… shady things they do, I just could not help but like them both, and root for them during their constant tribulations.
“I lay in the dark thinking about the difficulties of family, how crazy and crooked the stories of a bloodline can be.”
Patrick deWitt’s prose is that of the first person, smooth, very easy to read, and one that allows the reader to quickly gain a grasp of the world and characters without overloading with info. A style of writing that I certainly wish was more common, and one that I look forward to reading again.
While there certainly is a plot that pushed this story forward, the main point of the story is to mirror reality, in that many events occur that are not directly linked to our end goal. And many of the main conflicts arise from things other than the contract the Sisters Brothers are on. Again, a very well crafted aspect of the story.
“We can all of us be hurt, and no one is exclusively safe from worry and sadness.”
Overall, there is basically no negative I can say about this story. While it may not be my favourite book ever, as Westerns and that culture is not my greatest passion, it is certainly up there, and that is a feat indeed. Patrick deWitt has created a story that I believe has something for everyone, and is a book that everyone should find the time to read. It is not a long book, but one that is thought provoking and rather impressively forms a huge depth to every aspect of the story, without ever becoming boring, by perfectly balancing each element of the story.
5/5 STARS
Full review - BookNest - The Sisters Brothers
“I am happy to welcome you to a town peopled in morons exclusively. Furthermore, I hope that your transformation to moron is not an unpleasant experience.”
I read Sisters Brothers after months of my brother, Edward, constantly telling me to pick it up. But I am not the biggest fan of Westerns so delayed it for quite a while. But Sisters Brothers was not what I was expecting. It was a Western, but a unique one that laid bare the anarchy that America really was during the 19th century, with every day a struggle for survival. It is one of tragedy, of comedy, and everything between, with a wonderful blend of tone and emotion.
Sisters Brothers is essentially a Western. But not the typical Western. It is one full of complex character relationships, inner conflict, and one that presents the grim reality of America in the 19th century. Not the romanticised version we so often are presented with.
“The creak of bed springs suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know.”
Sisters Brothers is a story driven by the relationship between two brothers, the Sisters brothers, who have been given a contract to hunt someone down. Eli is becoming tired of this job, but Charlie is not, and despite the decision of leaving has wondered into Eli’s mind many times, he cannot being himself to leave his brother.
I found that the relationships between the characters, especially the brothers, was so multi-dimensional and refreshing to read. It was crafted quickly, but subtly, sharing both their virtues and fallibilities. Despite some… shady things they do, I just could not help but like them both, and root for them during their constant tribulations.
“I lay in the dark thinking about the difficulties of family, how crazy and crooked the stories of a bloodline can be.”
Patrick deWitt’s prose is that of the first person, smooth, very easy to read, and one that allows the reader to quickly gain a grasp of the world and characters without overloading with info. A style of writing that I certainly wish was more common, and one that I look forward to reading again.
While there certainly is a plot that pushed this story forward, the main point of the story is to mirror reality, in that many events occur that are not directly linked to our end goal. And many of the main conflicts arise from things other than the contract the Sisters Brothers are on. Again, a very well crafted aspect of the story.
“We can all of us be hurt, and no one is exclusively safe from worry and sadness.”
Overall, there is basically no negative I can say about this story. While it may not be my favourite book ever, as Westerns and that culture is not my greatest passion, it is certainly up there, and that is a feat indeed. Patrick deWitt has created a story that I believe has something for everyone, and is a book that everyone should find the time to read. It is not a long book, but one that is thought provoking and rather impressively forms a huge depth to every aspect of the story, without ever becoming boring, by perfectly balancing each element of the story.
5/5 STARS
This book could have been really cool...I thought it was going to be a black comedy adventure story that made you laugh AND cry, but it was just pretty bland. I could tell what the author wanted to/thought he was doing with it, but it just wasn't fully realized.
Si ce livre débutait très bien, j'ai vite trouvé l'histoire se dégonflait au fur et à mesure que j'avançais. Je n'avais pas envie de lire un livre sur des tueurs à gage en pleine crise de conscience. Les 100 dernières pages ont vraiment été pénible à lire, l'intérêt n'y était plus. Je ne comprend pas trop pourquoi ce livre a gagné autant de prix. Pas mauvais mais sans plus.