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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absurd until the 40% mark - Neither of the brothers were particularly likeable, which made it difficult for me to read and be engaged in their quest of sorts, seemed like it had the events and shenanigans of a western but written in a formal, childish manner - which for me made it difficult to get into. Fro 40-70%, dragged through. However the ending being as tragic (?) as it was, I found that had retroactively enjoyed it more once I had finished it. (Best part - "so Sad, so sad" - also one of the characters to referring himself as someone who most definitely is bestie bestie with a bunch of angels as a strength of character. )
Normally not a fan of Westerns but this one was an interesting take on the genre. Great writing and devious characters; it certainly earned the many book industry kudos this title received in the past year.
We read this in group and discussed it with "our pakt". For me, it was a pleasant surprise. I reacted to the book, because it was described as a "dark, funny western", and deWitt delivers exactly that. It isn't your typical western, with people riding off into the sunset, but it did offer a good few chuckles (for all the wrong reasons) and even a bark of laughter on occasion.
At the same time, I found some poetry and philosophy in the musings of Eli, who is a sadly tragic and seriously disturbed man. Once you figure out "the trick" his mother taught him, you'll know why I added the latter. His brother, Charlie, is equally disturbed and downright nasty when it comes to women, alcohol and overall morals. Incidentally his quote "Morals come later." did make me laugh out loud. There is definitely a certain charm to the dialogues between the two brothers, who are terribly pragmatic in one moment and turn into quarreling siblings in the blink of an eye the next. The way Charlie and Eli know how to push each other's buttons, while suffering through the dominant older brother / stuck in the shadow, insecure little brother bond, was fairly realistic to me. Neither of these men, however, are winning any prizes any time soon, unless it's prizes in killing.
The intermezzos are curiously weird and cryptic enough to add another layer. As for the ending, well, each their own... I had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it makes sense; the universe flipping one huge bird at two men who are - at their core - bad men. On the other hand, it was a bit anticlimactic. I do believe Eli got, more or less, what he wanted though.
Through discussing it, I realized there is a mirroring aspect to the novel, in which secondary characters, like the weeping man, Mayfield, plenty of whores and the Commodore, who are introduced (almost) all return at a later time, and some, like the child and the witch are subtly connected. The chapters are short and the style is pleasant and easy to read. Overall, I enjoyed this book and there's more to it than meets the eye on a first read. Also, I am inclined to go see the movie that'll be coming out along 2017.
At the same time, I found some poetry and philosophy in the musings of Eli, who is a sadly tragic and seriously disturbed man. Once you figure out "the trick" his mother taught him, you'll know why I added the latter. His brother, Charlie, is equally disturbed and downright nasty when it comes to women, alcohol and overall morals. Incidentally his quote "Morals come later." did make me laugh out loud. There is definitely a certain charm to the dialogues between the two brothers, who are terribly pragmatic in one moment and turn into quarreling siblings in the blink of an eye the next. The way Charlie and Eli know how to push each other's buttons, while suffering through the dominant older brother / stuck in the shadow, insecure little brother bond, was fairly realistic to me. Neither of these men, however, are winning any prizes any time soon, unless it's prizes in killing.
The intermezzos are curiously weird and cryptic enough to add another layer. As for the ending, well, each their own... I had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it makes sense; the universe flipping one huge bird at two men who are - at their core - bad men. On the other hand, it was a bit anticlimactic. I do believe Eli got, more or less, what he wanted though.
Through discussing it, I realized there is a mirroring aspect to the novel, in which secondary characters, like the weeping man, Mayfield, plenty of whores and the Commodore, who are introduced (almost) all return at a later time, and some, like the child and the witch are subtly connected. The chapters are short and the style is pleasant and easy to read. Overall, I enjoyed this book and there's more to it than meets the eye on a first read. Also, I am inclined to go see the movie that'll be coming out along 2017.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-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
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
A hired killer with the soul of a poet, that is Eli Sisters. A ruthless killer with ambition, but who became that way to protect his family, that is Charlie Sisters. A gritty, melancholic story with dark humor, a ‘noir western’, that is The Sisters Brother.
When I was thinking of how to describe what I just read, the phrase noir western popped in my head. I had never seen such a description, to my recollection, so I researched the phrase. Of course, there is such a thing and, of course, No Country For Old Men, was given as one example. I completely understand why people would suggest that the Cohen Brothers would be interested in the Sisters Brothers. (Heck, maybe in another reality they ARE the Sisters Brothers!)
The voices in this Western felt authentic, as well as the hardships and excitement depicted throughout - after all it was during California’s gold rush era. Life must have been both extremely exciting and extremely tough. But there were other, introspective questions posed like how a person’s decisions move them through life and can that person take control of the direction they are headed in? Or, maybe, what do we owe family?
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It took me on a different path.
When I was thinking of how to describe what I just read, the phrase noir western popped in my head. I had never seen such a description, to my recollection, so I researched the phrase. Of course, there is such a thing and, of course, No Country For Old Men, was given as one example. I completely understand why people would suggest that the Cohen Brothers would be interested in the Sisters Brothers. (Heck, maybe in another reality they ARE the Sisters Brothers!)
The voices in this Western felt authentic, as well as the hardships and excitement depicted throughout - after all it was during California’s gold rush era. Life must have been both extremely exciting and extremely tough. But there were other, introspective questions posed like how a person’s decisions move them through life and can that person take control of the direction they are headed in? Or, maybe, what do we owe family?
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It took me on a different path.
This is going to be a great Coen Brothers movie! Is give 4.5 stars if I could. A little slow at first but got better and better with a great ending.
An interesting story told through the poetic voice of Eli. I enjoyed it