The Sisters Brothers - PART 1 –Trouble With The Horses, Spoilers Allowed (June 2012)

[Mikela]

A few questions came to mind as I read this section:

1) How do you see the relationship between the two brothers?
Both brothers are afraid of the curse they believe the old woman put on the cabin door. Despite his fear Eli races out the door to save Tub from the bear yet Charlie does not do the same to come to the aid of his brother.
2) Do you think Eli's recognition of this will prove significant?
3) Does Eli's loyalty to Tub tell us anything about his personality/character?
4) Is Eli coming across as a sympathetic character?

[Casceil]

Eli is a much more sympathetic character than his brother. I got the impression that the only reason Eli was a killer was that he was following his brother. Charley seems to just not care about killing people; he doesn't care who he kills or why. Eli thinks about things like that more. Eli wonders what their target has done to deserve killing, and how is it so many people have stolen from their boss and need to be killed.

Along the way Eli and Charlie meet various other people, and the two brothers react very differently to the strangers. Eli worries about the weeping man, tries to discover why he is weeping, and tries to feed him. Eli does not think it is a good idea to go into the old woman's cabin. Charlie is apparently most concerned about his own comfort, though he claims he is doing it for Eli. Eli races out of the cabin to save Tub. Charlie returns and sees Eli lying on the floor and fears he might be dead, but he still won't go through the door.

I was intrigued by Eli's dream that the old woman was pouring something black into Charlie's mouth. I found myself wondering if that was a curse, and the beads over the door were a good thing.

[Mikela]

I had forgotten about the dream Eli had about the old woman. During the intermission another dream is introduced, this time a young girls. I wonder if the two dreams are related, in that Eli passed the first test by crossing the door and now becomes the protected man. Perhaps you are right about the black thing being a curse on Charlie.

It is easier to have sympathy for Eli but one cannot forget they are both savage killers, the main difference being Charlie is more naturally inclined that way.

[Jason]

The theory that the beads were actually a good thing is an interesting one.

When you view the attack on Tubs as a test of ones compassion for others then Eli's status as a Protected Man begins to make more sense.

[Allen]

I agree with Mikela that it is perhaps easier to feel sympathetic toward Eli. However, I feel DeWitt has crafted a seemingly simple and in some instances sympathetic character, that is far more complex than he seems. For me, the fact that he engages in contract killing essentially to follow along with his brother makes him far less sympathetic than he appears on the surface. I think DeWitt is asking the question of whether there is a difference between a person who is a cold hearted killer at their core and a person who becomes a cold hearted killer essentially because their brother does?

[Mikela]

Allen wrote: "I agree with Mikela that it is perhaps easier to feel sympathetic toward Eli. However, I feel DeWitt has crafted a seemingly simple and in some instances sympathetic character, that is far more com..."

You raise a good point Allen. Who is to be judged as the worse, one who kills by nature or one who goes against his nature and kills.

[Deborah]

When I read about this book I was pretty sure I did not want to read it. Someone said it was written as if it were written in the 19th Century, and I thought, "Screw that."

But the library had the audio book and I figured what the hell.

I am enjoying it immensely. It's smart and funny. I like the grit and the feeling of momentum. I just started the second part and I'm looking forward to keep going.

I thought Casceil raised an interesting question about the beads and the dream. Maybe Charlie is Eli's curse.

[Mikela]

I'm glad you found an audio version and decided to listen to it. I don't think your suggestion that Charlie is Eli's curse has been posited but when I think about it, there is a lot of merit to that idea. Charlie certainly wasn't his good luck charm nor a neutral influence on Eli's fate.

[Thing Two]

Mikela wrote: "A few questions came to mind as I read this section:

3) Does Eli's loyalty to Tub tell us anything about his personality/character? ..."

I feel Eli's loyalty to Tub is an obligation in the same way his loyalty to Charlie is an obligation. A duty, his cursed fate in life.

[Mikela]

I felt that Eli raced out to protect Tub more out of compassion than a sense of obligation. He felt protective of Tub in the same way that he felt protective of Charlie.

[Meera]

Hi, I've been a lurker in this group for a bit and this book has been on my tbr list... I'm not sure how I feel about this novel yet. I find the relationship between the brothers very complex and Eli being the more complex one. I agree with being said that while he's a more sympathetic character, I have to remind myself that they are both killers and he doesn't stop Charlie from from violence. I feel like I'm readin a Coen brothers movie where I can't predict anything and violence can erupt at any moment.

[Deborah]

I think, the relationship with Tub is manipulative. Not a bad thing, mind you.I like when a writer
moves me to feel as he intends. But the author wants us to side with a man who is a follower not a leader, a killer, an ambler, unattractive and a bit awkward.

It presented an opportunity to side with this man, in spite of all the above.

[Mikela]

In some respects I felt that Eli identified with Tub and felt they were both victims. Upon telling Charlie that this was his last job - Charlie hurried to agree and stated his possible replacement. When Eli had the opportunity to replace Tub with the big strong black horse he opted to sell the new and retain Tub. I can see no other reason to do so except it would be like replacing himself.

[Jeremy C. Brown]

I think comparing Eli to Tub is a good observation. I think it was more than just compassion that Eli decided not to replace the horse like you say Mikela.