The Sisters Brothers in Around the World in 80 Books

Oct 01, 2013 Steve rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-mystery-noir, westerns

Patrick deWitt successfully juggles a number of genres and influences, to come off with his unique brand of Western. The Sisters brothers (Eli and Charlie) are a pair of hard core killers, much feared throughout the Pacific Northwest. They have a reputation -- and it's deserved. Eli, the narrator, is unusual in that he's not hardened by his occupation. He shows a remarkable sensitivity to the others, that counters his brother Charlie's always present brutality. That's not to say Eli won't crush ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2013 Mary rated it really liked it

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," ...more

Like · see review

Jun 02, 2018 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

Patrick deWitt offers a lot of "voice" in this one. A fun read with healthy dose of humor (often about morality or lack thereof) that comes off maybe like Mark Twain combined with a Coen brothers' movie.

UPDATE: I had no idea there was a film version, and it's set to come out this October (2018)! I guess we'll see if it plays out similar to the Coen brothers'-style film I envisioned as I read this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sis... ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Kathleen Valentine rated it really liked it

I very much enjoyed this book. It was the kind of book I had to force myself to put down because it would be easy to gobble up all at once but it deserves some contemplation. The narrative reminds me of Charles Portis with a rather Hemingway-like economy of language but the real charm of the book is the 1st person narrative of Eli Sisters, the younger of the two Sisters Brothers.

In 1851 Eli and his brother Charlie earn their living as hired guns for a wealthy man known only as The Commodore. Ch ...more

Like · see review

Apr 07, 2014 Missyjohnson1 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. The way it was written really brought it to life for me and I found it to be very well done. The mannerisms described and the way of speaking of the characters felt authentic. I was intrigued by the intermission and the end intermission. this was a new device for me to read and I was intrigued. Once again the Man Booker nominations were a winner.

Like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Greer rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012-books

This book was a mixed bag. It's offbeat and charming -- reminded me of a Coen brothers' movie. I read a comment comparing it to The Odyssey, and it does have a mythic journey quality. However, in the end it was too disjointed and superficial. The LA times review stated: "If Cormac McCarthy had a sense of humor, he might have concocted a story like Patrick deWitt’s bloody, darkly funny western.” But deWitt's novel is all surface -- some nice turns of phrase, a sometimes amusing hipster view of th ...more

Like · see review

Jun 24, 2011 Micha rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-2011

This was a fine novel and I had trouble putting it down which is why it only took me a day and a half (possibly less) to read! It is one of those books that if you start it in the eveningtime it is quite possible you might not set it down again until you've finished it. Unfortunately for me I had work and other annoying barriers and had to actually force myself to stop reading it, so it was spread over the course of two evenings and this morning to finish it.

Anyone considering reading this book ...more

Like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 Sharon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved this book. Such amazing, distinct characters. One of the quotes I read about the book was "Cormac McCarthy with a sense of humour" which I think really captures the feel of this book. ...more

Like · see review