Who Would Like This Book:
If you think Westerns are all about gun-slinging heroes and dusty clichés, get ready for a surprise! "The Sisters Brothers" is a darkly comic, totally offbeat tale set during the California Gold Rush, with two memorable anti-heroes at its heart. Narrated by the sensitive, introspective Eli as he and his ruthless brother Charlie travel on a violent mission, the book blends sharp humor, home-spun wisdom, and moments of tenderness with gritty, sometimes grotesque adventure. Fans of the Coen Brothers’ movies, quirky dark comedies, or folks who love character-driven stories with surprising depth and wit will probably eat this up - even if you think you don't like Westerns.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers who crave traditional action-packed Westerns or deep, sweeping plot arcs might find the book meandering or anticlimactic. The novel’s deadpan humor, slow-burn pacing, and occasional lack of emotional depth in parts of the narrative can feel a bit flat or distant for some. If you’re sensitive to violence (to both people and animals) or want clear moral messages, you might not click with the book’s black comedy tone and ambiguous morality.
About:
The Sisters Brothers follows the journey of two hired killers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, in the Wild West during the California Gold Rush era. The narrative is presented in a first-person perspective by Eli, who reflects on their violent lifestyle as they travel from Oregon City to California on a mission to assassinate a prospector named Hermann Kermit Warm. The book combines elements of dark comedy, gritty Western settings, and unexpected plot twists, all wrapped in a narrative style that is both charming and authentic.
The story delves into themes of brotherhood, redemption, and self-discovery as Eli grapples with his desire for a different life while remaining loyal to his bloodthirsty brother, Charlie. The novel captures the essence of the Old West with vivid characterizations, engaging dialogues, and a blend of humor and melancholy that keeps the reader entertained and emotionally invested in the characters' journey.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, animal cruelty, and themes of death.
From The Publisher:
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JAKE GYLLENHAAL, JOHN C. REILLY AND JOAQUIN PHOENIX
A BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST
AND A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly
Amazon
Hudson Booksellers
Washington Post
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, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters-losers, cheaters, and ne'er-do-wells from all stripes of life-and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love.
Ratings (55)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (19) | |
Liked It (17) | |
It Was OK (9) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (113):
Read It (55) | |
Want To Read (35) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (22) |
4 comment(s)
The novel is well written and somewhat entertaining however, I just could not get into it. The story just felt like it rambled on and on. I was not very fond of Eli, who narrates, which limited my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
I have hardly ever liked a western that I've read, if I did it's most likely YA and romance. But I found this book so intriguing, with the cover and the premise however I did not enjoy the audiobook at all, in the end I was hardly paying attention to it and I should probably have DNF it but I had hoped I would turn around and love it.
I would have awarded this book with a 5 star but felt that the story was a bit draggy at the end. But it was a story that stays in your hearts. No, its not romantic, not with best places in the world, not with amazing food or a very lovely family in it.
There are 2 Killers, hired ones, who are brothers. Its their journey towards their next killing. Along the way they go through different places where they kill different people, sometimes out of rage, sometimes just because they have to, mercilessly. Even though they kill, they are kind in unusual places, one is too kind with ladies, another one is with ethics. One wants to settle down, another wants to go on and make money.
I was getting confused with this "sisters" surname which usually came along with the word Brothers. It took time to get used to that detail, but the story was narrated in short chapters and was moving fast. The narration was witty, quick and with a comic sarcasm. I never knew a Booker Book being this witty but yet too profoundly touching.
Offbeat, dark comedy, a Tarantino-style western
What can you read after
The Sisters Brothers?
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