Helpful Score: 9
First Line: I was sitting outside the Commodore's mansion, waiting for my brother Charlie to come out with news of the job.
The year is 1851. The California Gold Rush is at a fever pitch, and the Commodore has his little corner of the universe in Oregon City, Oregon nailed down tight-- due in part to the efforts of his two hired guns, brothers Eli and Charlie Sisters.
The Commodore sent another of his employees down to San Francisco to keep an eye on someone who severely displeased him. Now it is up to Eli and Charlie to go down there and kill the man.
They pack a few provisions, saddle up their horses, and set out... only nothing on this trip seems to go smoothly. Every time Charlie gets near a saloon, he has to get drunk, and they're losing time because of his hangovers. Eli has nothing but trouble with his horse, and every single person they meet along the way seems to be more than a bit strange.
This picaresque novel is a pure delight. The tale is told by younger brother Eli, and as the pages turn, it's easy to begin to wonder how on earth he could be one of the infamous Sisters Brothers-- killers that most people cross the street to avoid. Eli is so honest and forthcoming about himself and what happens along the way that when I did find out that he, indeed, did come by his reputation honestly, I was in a bit of a shock.
It is easy to fall into a line of work and be good at it whether you like it or not, but Eli's had enough. He wants to turn over a new leaf, take the money he's saved up, set up shop, and become a storekeeper. Even though his brother Charlie thinks that idea is hilarious, I was rooting for Eli every step of the way.
DeWitt makes every paragraph of his tale look as easy as falling off the proverbial log. Every character comes to vivid life (even Eli's horse) and the action flows as smooth as can be. By book's end I honestly felt as though I'd experienced life during the Gold Rush in all its grimy, scary, funny, thought-provoking glory.
My only complaint is that I finished the book far too quickly, and I'm left feeling like Oliver Twist. Please, sir-- may I have some more?
The year is 1851. The California Gold Rush is at a fever pitch, and the Commodore has his little corner of the universe in Oregon City, Oregon nailed down tight-- due in part to the efforts of his two hired guns, brothers Eli and Charlie Sisters.
The Commodore sent another of his employees down to San Francisco to keep an eye on someone who severely displeased him. Now it is up to Eli and Charlie to go down there and kill the man.
They pack a few provisions, saddle up their horses, and set out... only nothing on this trip seems to go smoothly. Every time Charlie gets near a saloon, he has to get drunk, and they're losing time because of his hangovers. Eli has nothing but trouble with his horse, and every single person they meet along the way seems to be more than a bit strange.
This picaresque novel is a pure delight. The tale is told by younger brother Eli, and as the pages turn, it's easy to begin to wonder how on earth he could be one of the infamous Sisters Brothers-- killers that most people cross the street to avoid. Eli is so honest and forthcoming about himself and what happens along the way that when I did find out that he, indeed, did come by his reputation honestly, I was in a bit of a shock.
It is easy to fall into a line of work and be good at it whether you like it or not, but Eli's had enough. He wants to turn over a new leaf, take the money he's saved up, set up shop, and become a storekeeper. Even though his brother Charlie thinks that idea is hilarious, I was rooting for Eli every step of the way.
DeWitt makes every paragraph of his tale look as easy as falling off the proverbial log. Every character comes to vivid life (even Eli's horse) and the action flows as smooth as can be. By book's end I honestly felt as though I'd experienced life during the Gold Rush in all its grimy, scary, funny, thought-provoking glory.
My only complaint is that I finished the book far too quickly, and I'm left feeling like Oliver Twist. Please, sir-- may I have some more?
Helpful Score: 3
The Sister's Brothers is simply laying in wait to become a movie. It will be the next True Grit: a great book into a decent movie. The extreme foreign nature of the world that the brothers live in is fascinating, where a toothbrush is a nonentity and you look like a "foaming, rabid dog" when using such a foreign object. The give and take of Eli and Charlie is tense, awkward, and strangely loving, and it examines the complicated nature of a Brotherhood. Overall, great read!
Helpful Score: 3
This book gets 5 stars...Why, you may ask??? Cause it deserves it!!! Dewitt brings Eli and Charlie to life and the events in this book are begging to be made into a feature film...I see Phillip Seymore Hoffman as Eli...Overweight, thoughtful, and tired of the life he is living...You don't have to be a fan of Westerns to enjoy this tale...Not by a long shot...These are two of the most horrible characters that you will dare yourself not to love...Hermit Kermit Warm is a delightful "villain" and you will want to pinch his cheeks and adopt him...I had a difficult time in the beginning of the book because it seemed to get off to a slow start...But Dewitt's humor keeps your attention and makes for a great read...Can't say enough about it...GREAT read...
When I first got "The Sister Brothers" I started it and couldn't get into the story. About a month later I picked it back up and couldn't put it down. A modern take on the old west with duels, proscpectors, murders and a story of two brothers. I can't wait for Dewitt's next book.
