A fun Read.

[Mathis]

First and foremost, the cover artwork is wicked!

I must admit western stories usually isn't my cup of tea, but I thought I would give this one a try and it was awesome! I finished it within couple of days. Very well written, fun and easy to get into with all the interesting adventures and mishaps along the way. However the ending fell flat for me; it could have been better.

The story takes place in the 1850's during the California gold rush. Two brothers who are notorious hitmen,gets assigned a job to take out a guy who is accused of being a low-down dirty thief. They go on a wild adventure thirsty for violence, money, and debauchery.

If you have a weak stomach for morbidity, I would not recommend this book to you. Some scenes can get a little gruesome.

[أثير]

Oh you should've listened to it.
The narrator did an amazing job in bringing every single character to life.

[Angie]

I loved this one too! Very funny with loveable characters (Especially Eli). I also felt the ending was a little bit of a let down but very suited to the sheer bad luck of the characters!

[Burd]

I really liked the ending. I was relieved that they were ok. It would have sucked if the brothers felt defeated but I don't think they cared about any of the great losses they suffered because they still had what was really important, right? If Eli was pleased with the conclusion, then I'm happy.
Don't you think this would make a great Quentin Tarantino movie?

[Mesha]

Haha loved this book, it was so funny, my favourite was the dentist, too funny I was laughing for hours and had to re read that chapter.

[Claudette]

I also loved this book, but wish it hadn't had the epilogue - it weakened the book as a whole. It didn't need to have a tidy ending. I loved every character in it though, and have recommended it to all my reading friends.

[Cateline]

I was skeptical of it at first, haven't been much of a western genre fan, but I thought it was well done, and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I'd actually just read True Grit not too long before on account of the new film that came out. Charles Portis is an author fans of The Sisters Brothers should look into.

[Carol]

I enjoyed this book lots more than I expected to. It was unusual and funny. However, the hit man and killings part of the book were not my cup of tea. I'm glad I read it, but I couldn't say I loved it.

[Kim]

I would have LOVED to have studied this book in English class when I was in high school. It's the type of book you just KNOW there is so much hidden symbolism behind everything....Eli's final relationship with Wurm....and women for that matter...

[Eleanor]

Yes, a fun read! I loved the narrators voice, and despite the blood and brutality I found much poetry in the storytelling. Reminds me somewhat of the Jim Jarmusch / Johnny Depp film "Dead Man".

[Casey]

Mesha wrote: "Haha loved this book, it was so funny, my favourite was the dentist, too funny I was laughing for hours and had to re read that chapter."

I loved the dentist chapter too! And then how he brushed his teeth with that woman later on. That was so funny.

[Matthew]

Eleanor wrote: "Yes, a fun read! I loved the narrators voice, and despite the blood and brutality I found much poetry in the storytelling. Reminds me somewhat of the Jim Jarmusch / Johnny Depp film "Dead Man"."

This analogy makes sense.

[Ricky]

I share everyone's enthusiasm for the Sister's Brothers. Black humor in a western is my cup of tea. Loved the writing and the two brothers are wonderful characters. I had the same thought about it sharing some of Dead Man's world, Matthew.

Highly recommend this excellent western.

[Davina]

this is not the kind of book i would ever read, but i heard some good reviews and gave it a try,, i loved it, so i passed it on to my dad whos a big western fan,, he loved it,, and passed it on to my mom whos a romance fan and she loved it,,, a real little gem.

[Cathy]

Read this for my book club. Would probably not have considered it otherwise.
I did end up enjoying most of it. (Didn't care for some of the more graphic gore.) I liked the humor and the prose. Recommended it to my husband, who also enjoyed it.

[Kevin]

I loved the dry humour in this book too, and I thought it was a blast from start to finish. There are a couple of gorey scenes, but they are swiftly dealt with, and you would be missing a rare treat if you let that put you off reading this, even if Westerns aren't your bag. The author is clearly a cool and witty guy, and the coolest thing he does as a writer, is to keep out of the way of the story. OK, I read that last comment on another review on GR, but I thought it very apt, and worth plagiarising here.

[Ryan]

I enjoyed the book...up until the "journal chapter", which felt less like I was reading a journal and more like a massive info dump by the author. Even including long paragraphs of character dialogue when, clearly, there's no way someone is going to write that down in a journal. I was so taken out of the story at that point that I just kind of glossed over the rest of the book.

[Kevin]

Hello Ryan. Yes I recall thinking something similar when I read those sections. They didn't ring true as journal entries. However by that time I was enjoying the book too much to let it distract me, but I do agree exactly with the point you make.

[Vicki]

I am a lover of traditional westerns and am having trouble getting into this do I need to keep going? Or will it just not work for me

[Paul]

Burd wrote: "I really liked the ending. I was relieved that they were ok. It would have sucked if the brothers felt defeated but I don't think they cared about any of the great losses they suffered because they..."

It would be an awesome Taratino Movie ... good call!

[Marissa]

This book was so great! A great, breezy read that was full of adventure and memorable characters. I love how they go searching for gold near the end. The scene with the dead beavers still haunts me to this day!

[Robert]

I hope you will all indulge me with a comparison from another medium. Patrick Dewitt's writing style was for me rather like the painting of some of the naive artists such as Henri Rousseau and LS Lowry. The style at first sight appears almost child like in it's simplicity but on closer examination is actually very sophisticated. A great book and I have to agree, the cover is wicked!

[Paul]

Robert wrote: "I hope you will all indulge me with a comparison from another medium. Patrick Dewitt's writing style was for me rather like the painting of some of the naive artists such as Henri Rousseau and LS L..."

I like that comparison ... most apt!

[Aisling]

I read this book knowing nothing of it beforehand and imagine my surprise (shock!) when I realised what they were actually at. Loved it and amazed by it's originality & found it extremly funny aswell.

[SARAH]

Mathis wrote: "First and foremost, the cover artwork is wicked!

I must admit western stories usually isn't my cup of tea, but I thought I would give this one a try and it was awesome! I finished it within couple..."

[Beverley]

Robert wrote: "I hope you will all indulge me with a comparison from another medium. Patrick Dewitt's writing style was for me rather like the painting of some of the naive artists such as Henri Rousseau and LS L..."

That's a very interesting observation and I can see completely what you mean! There was just something about the style that made it feel self conscious to me, look how clever, clever and comically dry I can be, that sort of thing. I liked the book but the style kept me from really immersing myself in it for some reason. I think the cover was more fascinating than the actual story!

[Stephen]

Great novel. A great mother's day gift. And I like the short chapters. Great for reading at work.

[Kerry]

I love the scene when Eli tries to order a salad or other light fare. Absolutely loved this book, and it would make a fantastic movie if done by the correct filmmaker! (Coen brothers?)

[Keith]

This is one of those books that doesn't really promise you anything but you leave it feeling like you found a masterpiece.
I kept seeing this cover in my local library, i saw a poster somewhere while i was walking and decided right i'll read the blurb and if it sounds decent then i'll give it a shot.
A fair amount of coffee and cookies, 2 late nights and a lot of laughter later and i'm thinking WHY did i not read this sooner.
Even the cover is brilliant.
The old western isn't really my thing but i was so glad to read this that i'm giving other westerns a try now too.

[Mathis]

Kerry wrote: "I love the scene when Eli tries to order a salad or other light fare. Absolutely loved this book, and it would make a fantastic movie if done by the correct filmmaker! (Coen brothers?)"

Yea, that part was hilarious. Also, when he was teased with the restaurant's in-house homemade pie. Just hysterical.

[Haydn]

This has got to be one of the best quick reads that I have had the pleasure to encounter. Not a western novel fan at all I was reluctant to read this one but the cover and the reviews really sold it to me. I was not disappointed. A little gem.
I agree it would make a cracking film and only the Coen brothers could do it justice.

[Gale]

Vicki wrote: "I am a lover of traditional westerns and am having trouble getting into this do I need to keep going? Or will it just not work for me"

I can't say that I am a lover of traditional westerns, but I have adored a few. I think it's precisely because this is an offbeat story that I liked it so much.

[Gale]

Mathis wrote: "Kerry wrote: "I love the scene when Eli tries to order a salad or other light fare. Absolutely loved this book, and it would make a fantastic movie if done by the correct filmmaker! (Coen brother..."

I was thinking of the Coen Brothers--exactly! Though some of the weirdos rushing for gold reminded me of the colorful refugees from Cold Mountain.

[Trina]

Killer cover:) The story? Sort of East of Eden meets Lonesome Dove. It takes place in California but has elements of the Wild West, and it involves the Cain & Abel rivalry but isn't developed as deeply as Steinbeck does. I'd say de Witt is quick on the draw when it comes to characterizations (e.g., prospectors, outlaws, whores, etc.), but slower on making them matter. Still, this is a highly enjoyable read thanks to a sympathetic narrator and his horse. If you haven't read The Last Crossing, you might like it. It's by another little-known Canadian writer, Guy Vanderhaeghe, about two brothers dispatched to find their missing brother in the wilds of the American west...

[J.S.]

LOVED this book.

[Gisela]

Me too. Usually don't like westerns and was reluctant to read it at first, but was a book club read. I loved it although I had to get my head around them being killers to feel sympathy with them. Would have loved a bit more background on the brothers. But it was funny and probably pretty realistic for the times, after all they weren't the only killers and definately not the worst kind. Gave it to my husband for his holiday read (usually doesn't read fiction but loves WEstern) and he loved it too. Looking forward to other books by the author.