Status
Available
Call number
Publication
House of Anansi Press Inc. (2011)
Description
When a frontier baron known as the Commodore orders Charlie and Eli Sisters, his hired gunslingers, to track down and kill a prospector named Herman Kermit Warm, the brothers journey from Oregon to San Francisco, and eventually to Warm's claim in the Sierra foothills, running into a witch, a bear, a dead Indian, a parlor of drunken floozies, and a gang of murderous fur trappers.
Media reviews
Sometimes, a novel is like a train: the first chapter is a comfortable seat in an attractive carriage,and the narrative speeds up. But there are other sorts of trains, and other sorts of novels. They rush by in the dark; passengers framed in the lighted windows are smiling and enjoying themselves.
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You aren't a passenger, you don't care about that destination, and the whole train rumbles on without you. Show Less
Much has been made, over the last few decades, about the death of the western as a genre. All this talk, however, seems to overlook a single, crucial point: the western was never just a genre....DeWitt not only plays the western straight, he draws from the best. Written with the parsed force of the
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best of Elmore Leonard, DeWitt’s closest CanLit antecedent seems to be Michael Ondaatje’s The Collected Works of Billy the Kid. The influence comes through not only in his attention to every word, every detail, but also in the deadpan, unflinching depiction of violence, reality elevated almost to the level of ridiculousness...Despite being deliberately and effectively part of a tradition (one can imagine it being written and read a hundred years ago, with a few caveats), The Sisters Brothers is a bold, original and powerfully compelling work, grounded in well-drawn characters and a firm hold on narrative. When they say “They don’t write em like that anymore,” they’re wrong. Show Less
Because rather than concerning himself with showboating his period-specific research, deWitt has deliberately flouted the rules of straight-laced historical realism here, to stunning effect. And most importantly, what he does get right are the flawed and jagged hearts of his characters, which is
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all the real this reviewer needs....What Western is real anyway? Aren’t they all revisions and stylizations of the past? From the kindergarten morals and the ridiculous bloodlessness of Hollywood Westerns, to Louis L’Amour’s pat Harlequin Romances for men, to the populist machismo of spaghetti Westerns and their impossibly slow gun duels, the genre has never registered very high on the reality scale.....The overall effect is fresh, hilariously anti-heroic, often genuinely chilling, and relentlessly compelling. Yes, this is a mighty fine read, and deWitt a mighty fine writer. Show Less
There never was a more engaging pair of psychopaths than Charlie and Eli Sisters, two brothers who kill for hire—and for necessity, and sometimes for the pure, amusing hell of it....So subtle is DeWitt’s prose, so slyly note-perfect his rendition of Eli’s voice in all its earnestly charming
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19th-century syntax, and so compulsively readable his bleakly funny western noir story, that readers will stick by Eli even as he grinds his heel into the shattered skull of an already dead prospector. Show Less
Nothing in Patrick deWitt’s first novel, Ablutions, a laconic barfly’s lament for a dysfunctional life, could prepare you for his second, a triumphantly dark, comic anti-western; apart, that is, from the same devastating sense of confidence and glittering prose. ...The writing is superb, with
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each brief chapter a separate tale in itself, relayed in Eli’s aphoristic fashion. The scope is both cinematic and schematic, with a swaggering, poetic feel reminiscent of a Bob Dylan lyric, while the author retains gleefully taut control of the overall structure. ... Show Less
But for all its wry playfulness, The Sisters Brothers is no comedy. The travails of the humane yet morally ambiguous protagonist in a hostile, lawless and unpredictable universe have echoes of Cormac McCarthy's speculative classic The Road. That book imagines a journey through a world in which
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civilisation has died; this book explores a world in which civilisation, as we know it, has not yet emerged. But both have much to say about the business of being human. Show Less
DeWitt’s story is hugely entertaining. There are a few stylistic slips where modernity intrudes (“That leaping man’s final act was the embodiment of the collective mind of San Francisco”) but on the whole deWitt keeps the period feel with great skill.
If Cormac McCarthy had a sense of humor, he might have concocted a story like Patrick deWitt's bloody, darkly funny western "The Sisters Brothers....The quest story goes way back — back to "Don Quixote" and, beyond that, to "The Odyssey" — and, just as in these works, between the Sisters
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brothers and Hermann Kermit Warm there inevitably are a number of adventures and life-changing encounters....Despite being not entirely quick, Eli's voice makes reading the book a treat. It's smooth and seamless, shot through with dark humor, pared and antique without being Baroque. Show Less
As the novel runs along, deWitt shifts the story in unpredictable directions, slowing the pace for a surreal finale in the woods that’s touched with alchemy. ..And then, damned if he doesn’t surprise us again with a twilight scene that’s just miraculously lovely.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brenzi
Apparently, I’ve turned into some kind of a Western lover. First there was one of my all time favorites, Lonesome Dove and then, more recently, Mary Doria Russell’s Doc and now the thoroughly enjoyable The Sisters Brothers. It’s 1851 and the Sisters Brothers, hired guns out of Oregon
Along the way they meet a splendid cast of quirky characters, all fully drawn and I have to wonder why I’ve never heard of this author. He is so skilled at both characterization and storytelling to say nothing of being very adept at the turn of a phrase. Here’s Eli’s take on loneliness:
“Shrugging, he put the bottle and needle away and said he wished to cross the street to the saloon. He invited me along, and though I did not much want to watch him grow hoggish with brandy I likewise did not wish to spend my time in the hotel room by myself, with its warped wallpaper, its drafts and dust and scent of previous boarders. The creak of bedsprings suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know.” (Page 53)
The feel of the old West is painted vividly throughout the narrative. When they finally reach San Francisco, the brothers meet a stranger who fills them in on the ways of the western town:
“The whores are working fifteen-hour shifts and are said to make thousands of dollars a day. You must understand, gentleman, that the tradition of thrift and sensible spending has vanished here. It simply does not exist any more….I am happy to welcome you to a town peopled in morons exclusively. Furthermore, I hope that your transformation to moron is not an unpleasant experience.” (Page 173)
Darkly comic, in the tradition of Mark Twain, exciting, and touching, this is a book that I can heartily recommend.
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Territory, are on their way to California to complete a job. Charlie and Brother Eli, who tells the story, are as different as night and day. Eli is sensitive and reflective. He longs for a family life with someone who loves him. Charlie is a cutthroat killer who is satisfied with the whores on offer in the desolate towns they pass through on their way to the destination.Along the way they meet a splendid cast of quirky characters, all fully drawn and I have to wonder why I’ve never heard of this author. He is so skilled at both characterization and storytelling to say nothing of being very adept at the turn of a phrase. Here’s Eli’s take on loneliness:
“Shrugging, he put the bottle and needle away and said he wished to cross the street to the saloon. He invited me along, and though I did not much want to watch him grow hoggish with brandy I likewise did not wish to spend my time in the hotel room by myself, with its warped wallpaper, its drafts and dust and scent of previous boarders. The creak of bedsprings suffering under the weight of a restless man is as lonely a sound as I know.” (Page 53)
The feel of the old West is painted vividly throughout the narrative. When they finally reach San Francisco, the brothers meet a stranger who fills them in on the ways of the western town:
“The whores are working fifteen-hour shifts and are said to make thousands of dollars a day. You must understand, gentleman, that the tradition of thrift and sensible spending has vanished here. It simply does not exist any more….I am happy to welcome you to a town peopled in morons exclusively. Furthermore, I hope that your transformation to moron is not an unpleasant experience.” (Page 173)
Darkly comic, in the tradition of Mark Twain, exciting, and touching, this is a book that I can heartily recommend.
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LibraryThing member Crazymamie
The strength and charm of this book, just like that of True Grit and I Capture the Castle is found in its narrative voice - that of Eli Sisters, the younger half of the Sisters brothers duo. This is a tale that holds everything that one would expect of the old West: brutality, ugliness, cynicism,
"I had in the last year or so given up whores entirely, thinking it best to go without than pantomime human closeness; and though it is unrealistic for a man in my position to be thinking such thoughts, I could not help myself: I saw my bulky person in the windows of the passing storefronts and wondered, When will that man there find himself to be loved?"
"...let's say that she wasn't all bad, but the good was there in such measly quantities you had to keep a sharp watch lest you miss it entirely."
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and greed. The Sisters brothers are no innocents, they are hired killers, but when we view their actions through Eli's eyes we are treated to some of the things that we forget to think about when we think about gunslingers. For example, what happens when a hardened criminal is treated to the minty delights that can be found when he is shown how to use a toothbrush and given one of his very own? What do you do when your horse is not cut out for a life of crime but you love him anyway? Eli's conscience reveals his heart and his ruminations as he struggles to find his own voice while remaining in Charlie's shadow. I loved the interaction between the two brothers - Charlie who is a bully and a thug belittles his younger brother, but does not begrudge him. Eli loves his older brother but does not wish to emulate him. He recognizes what Charlie is but also understands why he is that way - like most relationships in life, it is complicated."I had in the last year or so given up whores entirely, thinking it best to go without than pantomime human closeness; and though it is unrealistic for a man in my position to be thinking such thoughts, I could not help myself: I saw my bulky person in the windows of the passing storefronts and wondered, When will that man there find himself to be loved?"
"...let's say that she wasn't all bad, but the good was there in such measly quantities you had to keep a sharp watch lest you miss it entirely."
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LibraryThing member vancouverdeb
I was looking for something completely different to read. The Sisters Brothers is just that! I would call it perhaps - comic western noir? It was just sidesplitting fun for me as a reader. I've never read a western and never desired to do so. But The Sisters Brothers is very different from any
This was a total page turner for me. The book is long listed for the Man Booker Prize. I don't see it winning because it's just so fun -but I'd delighted it if it did win the Booker.
Sisters Brothers is just fabulous and so refreshing. The ending was the perfect touch.
5 very enthusastic stars.
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Western that I've ever looked at. It is really well done. I've read some reviews here on LT that mentioned that the language was stilted - but that 's not the case at all. This is a genre bending western and so well done. The Sisters Brothers are a couple of cowboy brothers . Their relationship is sometimes moving and other times they have bouts of jealousy and disagreement. For the most part, Charlie Sister is violent without thought or compunction. Eli is also violent , but much less so than his brother. Eli struggles with his feelings and twinges of conscience, and is relatively introspective.Brother Eli Sister is a sensitive soul who decides to diet to trim down to be more attractive to the women. The entire books is so intelligently written and so much fun, I just loved it. Sisters Brothers is moving, comical, violent - and the writer does it so well!! I'm amazed! Initially I was very uncertain about reading this book but I'm so glad I took a chance .This was a total page turner for me. The book is long listed for the Man Booker Prize. I don't see it winning because it's just so fun -but I'd delighted it if it did win the Booker.
Sisters Brothers is just fabulous and so refreshing. The ending was the perfect touch.
5 very enthusastic stars.
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LibraryThing member katiekrug
Eli Sisters is a killer with a heart of gold; his brother, Charlie, is a killer with a heart of, well, not gold. Each in their own way has internalized the hardships and violence of life in the “Wild West”. While Eli, our narrator, questions his life as a hired gunslinger and works to improve
There has been a lot of talk about [The Sisters Brothers] as a western, which it certainly is, but the specific genre was secondary to the story. It could just as easily have been a story about two brothers in a modern-day gang, or a Mafia story. At base, this is a story of family and loyalty and how far one can ever move away from personal history. I think deWitt chose the setting of Gold Rush California to show us how universal and timeless these issues are.
This is a fun, funny story with a serious heart, but I expected a bit more given its selection for the Booker Prize longlist. Still, a good read and one I would recommend.
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himself and his lot in life, his brother evinces no such compunctions, at least not consciously. We do learn that Charlie whimpers and moans in his sleep.There has been a lot of talk about [The Sisters Brothers] as a western, which it certainly is, but the specific genre was secondary to the story. It could just as easily have been a story about two brothers in a modern-day gang, or a Mafia story. At base, this is a story of family and loyalty and how far one can ever move away from personal history. I think deWitt chose the setting of Gold Rush California to show us how universal and timeless these issues are.
This is a fun, funny story with a serious heart, but I expected a bit more given its selection for the Booker Prize longlist. Still, a good read and one I would recommend.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
I'm not normally a fan of westerns. That said, if there were ever a book that would convert me to the genre, The Sisters Brothers is it! From the very clever cover, to the head-turning title, I was drawn in. The narrator of the tale, Eli Sisters and his brother Charlie are hired guns. They have
Yes, there is violence, and much of it is probably gratuitous, but it is told from the viewpoint of the times. The dashing, daring-do of their antics and the wild-west scenarios are splendid. There's definitely a movie buried in here. Yet, while the action scenes are well written, with just enough detail to paint clear pictures, but not too graphic to sicken, it is the dialogue between the brothers, their victims, and their cons, that is either "roll on the floor laughing " funny, or so philosophically sophisticated that you almost have to stop and say "Wait.....did they really talk like that?" I reflected that many educated men of that era had the "classics" as their text books, so the rather archaic and complex grammar and vocabulary did in fact come naturally to them. It just sounds a bit over the top at first.
It's definitely a book about violence, about vengeance, and about revenge, but it is also a book about self-knowledge, reflection, and forgiveness. I'm not sure I'd call the ending redemptive, but it certainly was more than appropriate to the story. Even if you've never been a western fan, give this one a try. Think Hawaii 5-0 in the gold mining territory of Northern California.
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been sent by "The Commodore" to find someone, get back what was stolen from him, and of course, make sure this thief is not left in a position to steal again. (Or so we believe). The actual tasking is only slowly revealed as the brothers go from place to place looking for their prey, and defending their honor and lives in the meantime. Their adventures bring us a panoply of characters at once dastardly, colorful, and utterly lovable. They are just so much fun!Yes, there is violence, and much of it is probably gratuitous, but it is told from the viewpoint of the times. The dashing, daring-do of their antics and the wild-west scenarios are splendid. There's definitely a movie buried in here. Yet, while the action scenes are well written, with just enough detail to paint clear pictures, but not too graphic to sicken, it is the dialogue between the brothers, their victims, and their cons, that is either "roll on the floor laughing " funny, or so philosophically sophisticated that you almost have to stop and say "Wait.....did they really talk like that?" I reflected that many educated men of that era had the "classics" as their text books, so the rather archaic and complex grammar and vocabulary did in fact come naturally to them. It just sounds a bit over the top at first.
It's definitely a book about violence, about vengeance, and about revenge, but it is also a book about self-knowledge, reflection, and forgiveness. I'm not sure I'd call the ending redemptive, but it certainly was more than appropriate to the story. Even if you've never been a western fan, give this one a try. Think Hawaii 5-0 in the gold mining territory of Northern California.
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LibraryThing member msf59
Charlie and Eli Sisters are hired killers. They work for the Commodore, a ruthless frontier baron, based in the Oregon Territory. The year is 1850 and the California Gold Rush is still booming.
The Sisters Brothers are tasked with heading to San Francisco and locating a man called Herman Kermit
Their journey is the bulk of the story and the colorful, sometimes dangerous people and critters, they meet along the way. Our narrator is Eli, the youngest of the pair, a beefy, taciturn man, with some principles, a big heart and a devastating temper. He also learns the importance of dental hygiene, along the way. Charlie is simply a nasty piece of work.
This is an amazing western, funny, violent and heart-wrenching and the dialogue crackles:
“It is a wild time here, is it not?” I asked.
“It is wild. I fear it has ruined my character. It has certainly ruined the characters of others.” He nodded, as though answering himself. “Yes, it has ruined me.”
“How are you ruined?” I asked.
“How am I not?” he wondered.
The Sisters Brothers are tasked with heading to San Francisco and locating a man called Herman Kermit
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Warm, who has fatefully betrayed the Boss. Their journey is the bulk of the story and the colorful, sometimes dangerous people and critters, they meet along the way. Our narrator is Eli, the youngest of the pair, a beefy, taciturn man, with some principles, a big heart and a devastating temper. He also learns the importance of dental hygiene, along the way. Charlie is simply a nasty piece of work.
This is an amazing western, funny, violent and heart-wrenching and the dialogue crackles:
“It is a wild time here, is it not?” I asked.
“It is wild. I fear it has ruined my character. It has certainly ruined the characters of others.” He nodded, as though answering himself. “Yes, it has ruined me.”
“How are you ruined?” I asked.
“How am I not?” he wondered.
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LibraryThing member maggie1944
Finished reading [The Sisters Brothers] and loved it. Could hardly put it down. Yes, one could describe it as "dark" as there is plenty of gun shooting, and dying, and undeserved miseries but in truth the "old west" of the US of A probably was pretty much like that, in some places. This book is set
Additionally, the book was also funny, and had many instances of the the best in humanity. It is the dark books which are not relieved by these other facets of humanity which give me heart burn.
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during the California gold rush and we all know what greed does to people's concerns for others.Additionally, the book was also funny, and had many instances of the the best in humanity. It is the dark books which are not relieved by these other facets of humanity which give me heart burn.
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LibraryThing member GCPLreader
Wow--fun, fun read! The Sisters brothers are two guns-for-hire working in the Gold Rush Days of Oregon and California. Eli, the younger and more tenderhearted of the two, narrates the story of himself and his brother, Charlie. Charlie is the brains of the operation. Charlie makes most of the calls
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and is ruthless when it comes to tolerating others. But Charlie loves his liquor too much to keep the boys on schedule. The brothers have been hired to track down a mysterious gold prospector who holds a dangerous secret. The author introduces some fantastic characters here, all fully fleshed out. Eli is a wonder to behold--worrying about love and even dieting on the one hand, yet ready to take a life if his brother so charges on the other. The writing is spot-on and is full of affection and also extreme cruelty. Most Westerns I've read take themselves far too seriously, but DeWitt delivers a lot of humor along the way. I had such a laugh over Eli's discovery of the wonders of brushing his teeth. In addition to the story, the book has an amazing cover and illustrated section breaks. The only criticism I can imagine is that the dialogue is unlike other Westerns. Here the men are well-spoken and good conversationalists. But, I for one, was pleased to trail along with these gunslingers as they journeyed through the Wild West seeking redemption. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
What a great read. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt is a unique, quirky new-style Western that relies on the author’s impressive writing as we follow along with two hired killers on the trail of their latest victim. Eli and Charlie Sisters live a life of casual violence, the back and forth
As our killers wander haphazardly across Oregon and California, they meet a series of eccentric characters, some they help, some they ignore and a few they dispatch. Eli, the younger more introspective brother, narrates the story, while Charlie, who likes to think he is the brains of the outfit, exists for his next drunken spree. I loved these two brothers who nitpick at each other, but who always have each other’s backs.
From the trials and tribulations of Eli’s horse, Tub to Eli’s discovery of dental care, and his gentle musings on the nature of the opposite sex, I found this book to be mesmerizing, humorous and insightful. For a story that works on many levels, I highly recommend The Sisters Brothers.
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conversations between these two sparkle with humor, earthiness and a brotherly connection that is hard to ignore.As our killers wander haphazardly across Oregon and California, they meet a series of eccentric characters, some they help, some they ignore and a few they dispatch. Eli, the younger more introspective brother, narrates the story, while Charlie, who likes to think he is the brains of the outfit, exists for his next drunken spree. I loved these two brothers who nitpick at each other, but who always have each other’s backs.
From the trials and tribulations of Eli’s horse, Tub to Eli’s discovery of dental care, and his gentle musings on the nature of the opposite sex, I found this book to be mesmerizing, humorous and insightful. For a story that works on many levels, I highly recommend The Sisters Brothers.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
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
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
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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?
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LibraryThing member auntmarge64
How often can you claim that a western about two hired killers is charming and funny? And, it's longlisted for the Booker Prize.
Told from the viewpoint of the younger brother, Eli, overweight and yearning for a quieter life, the story follows the pair as they travel from Oregon to California to
Told from the viewpoint of the younger brother, Eli, overweight and yearning for a quieter life, the story follows the pair as they travel from Oregon to California to
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kill a man for their boss, for whom they've done many other "assignments". They meet quite an assortment of odd characters, and their adventures and mishaps explore the wildness of life in the old West. Most amusingly, Eli discovers tooth brushing, with which he becomes enamored. Fortunes come and go with alarming ease, as does life and death. And redemption stalks the brothers, to Eli's delight and his brother's dismay. Well worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member tulikangaroo
I think I liked this. I think. It is a tale simply told by Eli Sisters about his and his brother's lives as much-feared hitmen in the gold-rush era west. Eli is a sympathetic character who dreams of finding love and quitting this harsh, cruel life, though his brother Charlie thrives on it, and they
It is interesting and generally charming, but something didn't quite spark to make it amazing. But, it has depth and takes you to a new world, which is all we can really ask of a book...
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are stuck together until their work is through.It is interesting and generally charming, but something didn't quite spark to make it amazing. But, it has depth and takes you to a new world, which is all we can really ask of a book...
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This darkly comic western is a stylish foray into an old genre. From the eye-catching cover art to the strong interior graphic design, this book shouts for attention. Cleverly written, deWitt tells the story of Eli and Charlie, the infamous Sisters Brothers, as they travel from Oregon territory to
My attitude about this decision was that it would be the last bit of bloodshed for my foreseeable future, if not the rest of my life; I told Charlie this and he told me that if the thought brought me comfort I should embrace it. "But," he said, "you're forgetting about the Commodore."
"Oh, yes. Well, after him then."
Charlie paused. "And there will likely be some killing related to the Commodore's death. Accusations leveled, debts owed, that sort of thing. Could be quite bloody, in fact."
I thought, Then this will be the final era of killing in my lifetime.
The Sisters Brothers is full to the brim with colorful characters and situations. There's certainly never a dull moment as the brothers make their bloody way south. My only quibble with this book is that it lacked depth and substance, but the shiny outer layer was sure pretty.
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San Francisco during the Gold Rush. They are killers-for-hire, although one of the brothers is decidedly less blood-thirsty than the other. Eli is worried about his weight and he discovers the joys of dental hygiene along the way. He longs to settle into a quiet life, with a wife and a store to tend, and to leave his current life far behind him.My attitude about this decision was that it would be the last bit of bloodshed for my foreseeable future, if not the rest of my life; I told Charlie this and he told me that if the thought brought me comfort I should embrace it. "But," he said, "you're forgetting about the Commodore."
"Oh, yes. Well, after him then."
Charlie paused. "And there will likely be some killing related to the Commodore's death. Accusations leveled, debts owed, that sort of thing. Could be quite bloody, in fact."
I thought, Then this will be the final era of killing in my lifetime.
The Sisters Brothers is full to the brim with colorful characters and situations. There's certainly never a dull moment as the brothers make their bloody way south. My only quibble with this book is that it lacked depth and substance, but the shiny outer layer was sure pretty.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
This book initially caught my eye when it was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, but I didn't get around to reading it at the time. I pretty much forgot about it until a recent Kindle Daily Deal. It turned out to be a fun and unusual read.
Set in the American West during the 19th
The SIsters Brothers is much more comical and heartwarming than one would expect given the considerable violence. Charlie and Eli are rather hapless killers, and their mistakes can be quite amusing. And although this is technically a Western, there are overarching themes about good and evil, and following your dreams, that sneak up on you as you devour this well-told tale.
Set in the American West during the 19th
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century gold rush, The Sisters Brothers is the story of Eli and Charlie, hired killers en route from Oregon to San Francisco for a job. Eli is the narrator, and portrays himself as the more sensible of the two, although he acknowledges Charlie as the leader and mastermind of their operation. Charlie is also more violent and ruthless, and doesn't hesitate to take a man down simply or convenience. And there are plenty of situations where something or someone stands in their way. And yet, on arrival in San Francisco they learn more about their target and begin to feel differently about the job they have been hired to do.The SIsters Brothers is much more comical and heartwarming than one would expect given the considerable violence. Charlie and Eli are rather hapless killers, and their mistakes can be quite amusing. And although this is technically a Western, there are overarching themes about good and evil, and following your dreams, that sneak up on you as you devour this well-told tale.
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LibraryThing member edgeworth
The Western seems to be enjoying a revival in the last few years, at least as far as my personal tastes are concerned. Of the top ten films in my Best of the Decade list, one is a classic Western (The Proposition) one is a modern Western (No Country For Old Men) and one is a sort-of Western (There
They have changed a lot, of course, since the chiselled-jaw John Wayne films of the 50’s and 60’s, which I occasionally catch on daytime television. Those were stories about man triumphing over nature, about man surviving against the wilderness and the natives, about man being manly. These days Westerns are generally used to explore the human psyche, particularly its capacity for violence.
In this sense, The Sisters Brothers is very much in line with other recent Westerns. Where it differs is in its quirkiness. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “hilarious,” as some reviewers have, but it’s certainly “darkly comic” and “off-beat,” to use other favoured terms. As an example, in the opening sentence Eli casually mentions that he and his brother have new horses, as their previous ones were “immolated.” But – like True Grit, another funny Western – it has a serious side as well.
The novel follows the titular Sisters brothers, hired killers employed by “The Commodore” in 1851 Oregon, on a mission to find and kill a California gold prospector named (in the delightfully ridiculous 19th century style) Hermann Kermit Warm. Along the trail to San Francisco they meet many strange and amusing characters, from starving children to weeping cowboys to prostitute accountants, and these encounters serve to remind Eli of other lives he could be living. He is the less dominant member of the partnership, and is not particularly wedded to life as an assassin. Eli narrates the novel with a mixture of wistfulness and resignation; when they abandon a child to his fate in the wilderness, he thinks “Here is another miserable mental image I will have to catalog and make room for.” His character arc follows his desire to leave this life of killing, matching it against his unwillingness to leave his brother’s side.
This a unique novel, and despite the strangeness of it all, DeWitt manages to give Eli a pitch-perfect voice. He is a confident and gifted writer. Of all the Booker nominees I’ve read, The Sisters Brothers is second only to Jamrach’s Menagerie as my favourite of them.
BOOKER VERDICT
I was surprised when this made the shortlist, and prior to reading it I doubted it had a shot. A comic Western? But this Booker panel has shown that they are free of prejudice and more than happy to embrace the unusual, and so I believe The Sisters Brothers is a serious contender. I would still describe it as “an unusual choice” if it won, but wouldn’t be massively surprised.
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Will Be Blood). Had I seen The Assassination of Jesse James before I compiled that list, it would have placed very high. True Grit was awesome. Deadwood is one of the most well-regarded TV series of recent years. I’m currently playing Red Dead Redemption, one of the best video games I’ve come across in a while. Last year’s Vogel Award was won by The Roving Party, an Australian Western. Westerns Westerns everywhere. Westward ho!They have changed a lot, of course, since the chiselled-jaw John Wayne films of the 50’s and 60’s, which I occasionally catch on daytime television. Those were stories about man triumphing over nature, about man surviving against the wilderness and the natives, about man being manly. These days Westerns are generally used to explore the human psyche, particularly its capacity for violence.
In this sense, The Sisters Brothers is very much in line with other recent Westerns. Where it differs is in its quirkiness. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “hilarious,” as some reviewers have, but it’s certainly “darkly comic” and “off-beat,” to use other favoured terms. As an example, in the opening sentence Eli casually mentions that he and his brother have new horses, as their previous ones were “immolated.” But – like True Grit, another funny Western – it has a serious side as well.
The novel follows the titular Sisters brothers, hired killers employed by “The Commodore” in 1851 Oregon, on a mission to find and kill a California gold prospector named (in the delightfully ridiculous 19th century style) Hermann Kermit Warm. Along the trail to San Francisco they meet many strange and amusing characters, from starving children to weeping cowboys to prostitute accountants, and these encounters serve to remind Eli of other lives he could be living. He is the less dominant member of the partnership, and is not particularly wedded to life as an assassin. Eli narrates the novel with a mixture of wistfulness and resignation; when they abandon a child to his fate in the wilderness, he thinks “Here is another miserable mental image I will have to catalog and make room for.” His character arc follows his desire to leave this life of killing, matching it against his unwillingness to leave his brother’s side.
This a unique novel, and despite the strangeness of it all, DeWitt manages to give Eli a pitch-perfect voice. He is a confident and gifted writer. Of all the Booker nominees I’ve read, The Sisters Brothers is second only to Jamrach’s Menagerie as my favourite of them.
BOOKER VERDICT
I was surprised when this made the shortlist, and prior to reading it I doubted it had a shot. A comic Western? But this Booker panel has shown that they are free of prejudice and more than happy to embrace the unusual, and so I believe The Sisters Brothers is a serious contender. I would still describe it as “an unusual choice” if it won, but wouldn’t be massively surprised.
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
I found this to be a fairly strange book, and I'm not sure it's worth the hype..... The story is narrated by Eli, one of the two infamous Sisters brothers, a pair of hit men in the wild West. They're journeying to California to kill a man, and have lots of misadventures along the way.
The story is
The book is full of dark humor - if it were a movie, it would be directed by the Coen brothers. However, I was never quite sure what DeWitt wanted my reaction to this violence to be: with a Coen brothers movie, part of me laughs and part of me knows that I'm laughing because it's the only way to deal with how despicable people can be. With this book.... I was uncertain what the moral tone or the point of the dark humor was. Maybe I had this ungrounded feeling because the story itself didn't seem to have as much of a point, or message, or clear trajectory, as I felt like it should. Ultimately, this was a story about brothers being brothers, and I didn't feel like the black humor served much of a purpose in making the story's point.
The brothers speak in somewhat formal, stilted language, which to me is very reminiscent of 'Firefly.' I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator's delivery might have created this impression for me. Still, I wonder where this convention comes from, and it made the book feel a little artificial to me.
The story is
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mostly about the relationship between the two brothers. Like any brotherly relationship, it is full of both love and hate, but ultimately of mutual dependence. Eli is the more humane of the two; the older brother Charlie is often cruel and has no compunction about killing people. Eli's humanity is revealed less by his averse reactions to his brother's violence than by his relationship with his horse: he is stuck with an inferior animal whom he comes to love.The book is full of dark humor - if it were a movie, it would be directed by the Coen brothers. However, I was never quite sure what DeWitt wanted my reaction to this violence to be: with a Coen brothers movie, part of me laughs and part of me knows that I'm laughing because it's the only way to deal with how despicable people can be. With this book.... I was uncertain what the moral tone or the point of the dark humor was. Maybe I had this ungrounded feeling because the story itself didn't seem to have as much of a point, or message, or clear trajectory, as I felt like it should. Ultimately, this was a story about brothers being brothers, and I didn't feel like the black humor served much of a purpose in making the story's point.
The brothers speak in somewhat formal, stilted language, which to me is very reminiscent of 'Firefly.' I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator's delivery might have created this impression for me. Still, I wonder where this convention comes from, and it made the book feel a little artificial to me.
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LibraryThing member ptdilloway
Neurotic gunfighters searching for gold. Could make a decent Coen Brothers movie if they want to do another western.
LibraryThing member Smiler69
Hired by the powerful Commodore to kill a man by the name of Hermann Kermit Warm in the mid-19th century, brothers Eli and Charlie Sisters embark on a road trip from their home in Oregon City to the California of the Gold Rush frenzy to find their mark. As Eli, who tells us the story from his own
What is often a brutal story filled with violence and plenty of grizzly details is handled with so much skill and sensitivity by Patrick deWitt, that I found myself by turns laughing and sighing sadly, often within the same short paragraph. My only regret is that I didn't take note of the countless quotable sections I came across as I was reading the book, but scanning quickly through again to find those bits, I realized that much of the humour was very much contextual and that taken in isolation, bits that made me chuckle out loud like "I do not know what it was about that boy but just looking at him, even I wanted to clout him on the head" won't come off right until there's been some buildup to that moment (though I doubt anyone will find my comment to be a spoiler). Did this novel deserve to be picked for the Booker Prize Longlist? I couldn't say because I haven't read any other contenders. Did it deserve to be picked for the Shortlist and should it win? I'd say probably not, because while there is plenty to reflect upon in this story, I wouldn't define this as a particularly profound novel, if only because it does too much of a darn good job at entertaining us. But I certainly won't fault it for that. Much recommended, but animal lovers beware that there are some harsh scenes ahead.
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perspective informs us, there is a lot of bickering and arguing between the brothers. There is the matter of their horses to start with. After their last assignment in which their steeds were immolated, Charlie got first pick among two other mounts and got the aptly named "Nimble", while Eli, who had loved his previous horse and still has nightmares about the horrible way in which he died, got stuck with "Tub", who is as quick and lithe as his name implies. Though Tub poses a very real threat as an impediment to their next assignment, Charlie won't hear of replacing him before they're done with the job, for which he informs his younger brother that he has been chosen as the lead by Commodore and will therefore also earn more money. Eli is already ambivalent about what they do to earn a living—and well he should be as the sensitive and poetic soul he is—and he can't help but view his brother with a measure of contempt, quick as Charlie is to anger and given his brutal ways and hard drinking. But for all that, there is no denying the brothers make for a formidable and fearsome team, and as they make their way to California and to H. K. Warm, they find plenty of opportunities to stay on top of their game when it comes to killing, maiming and stealing as they encounter various individuals en route. It seems a sure bet that Hermann K. Warm doesn't stand a chance against this duo, and though the brothers have proved time and again that (almost) nothing can stand in their way, they are completely unprepared for what awaits them when they finally find him. What is often a brutal story filled with violence and plenty of grizzly details is handled with so much skill and sensitivity by Patrick deWitt, that I found myself by turns laughing and sighing sadly, often within the same short paragraph. My only regret is that I didn't take note of the countless quotable sections I came across as I was reading the book, but scanning quickly through again to find those bits, I realized that much of the humour was very much contextual and that taken in isolation, bits that made me chuckle out loud like "I do not know what it was about that boy but just looking at him, even I wanted to clout him on the head" won't come off right until there's been some buildup to that moment (though I doubt anyone will find my comment to be a spoiler). Did this novel deserve to be picked for the Booker Prize Longlist? I couldn't say because I haven't read any other contenders. Did it deserve to be picked for the Shortlist and should it win? I'd say probably not, because while there is plenty to reflect upon in this story, I wouldn't define this as a particularly profound novel, if only because it does too much of a darn good job at entertaining us. But I certainly won't fault it for that. Much recommended, but animal lovers beware that there are some harsh scenes ahead.
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LibraryThing member Upthealbion
A really enjoyable romp through the Wild West in the style of the Coen Brothers.
LibraryThing member MusicalGlass
Narrated by the more reflective half of a pair of brothers working as hired killers on assignment in the Old West, The Sisters Brothers is simultaneously the story of a quest, a revisionist western, and a black comedy memoir. Genre tropes, quasi-formal language, and melodramatic markers are all
The trappers, meanwhile, were unhappy we had usurped their glory with the she-bear and were, I felt, preparing to exhibit rudeness. To thwart this I introduced Charlie and myself, our full names, which silenced them. Now they will hate us ever more virulently, but secretly, I thought. Charlie found these men amusing, and could not help but make a comment. ‘It seems you four are involved in a kind of contest to become totally circular, is that it?'
North Coast Pranqster Golden Ale
Anchor Steam Porte
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cleverly skewed. The reader is always somehow aware that the affect is more the writer’s than the narrator’s, but the style is never heavy. DeWitt constructs a voice that is old-fashioned and post-modern all at once. The trappers, meanwhile, were unhappy we had usurped their glory with the she-bear and were, I felt, preparing to exhibit rudeness. To thwart this I introduced Charlie and myself, our full names, which silenced them. Now they will hate us ever more virulently, but secretly, I thought. Charlie found these men amusing, and could not help but make a comment. ‘It seems you four are involved in a kind of contest to become totally circular, is that it?'
North Coast Pranqster Golden Ale
Anchor Steam Porte
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LibraryThing member craso
Charlie and Eli Sisters are hired guns working for the Commodore. They travel from Oregon City to Sacramento to kill a man named Warm. On the way they meet a variety of old west characters all desperate and searching for a better life.
Eli is a thoughtful and compassionate narrator who isn’t
I knew the tone of the book I was going to be reading from this line near the beginning referring to Eli’s horse Tub:
“I was often forced to whip him, which some men do not mind doing and which in fact some enjoy doing, but which I did not like to do; and afterward he, Tub, believed me cruel and thought to himself, Sad life, sad life.”
The line is full of pathos; it is a tragically funny statement. In fact that is how I would describe this whole book; tragically funny.
The novel is about Eli’s journey to self-discovery. In the end he discovers who he is and where he belongs. It follows the path of “The Hero’s Journey”; call to adventure, supernatural aid, challenges, transformation, atonement, and return.
I enjoyed reading this novel. It is very well written and a surprisingly quick read. The nature of the book reminded me of Thomas Berger’s “Little Big Man.” It is peppered with very strange old west characters. Right after I finished reading it my husband and I re-watched “The Outlaw Josie Wales” and I was struck by some of the same types of characters.
If you enjoy westerns from the 1960s and 1970s when movies and books were moving toward gritty reality and away from the mythology of plucky pioneers, and cowboys fighting off nasty Indians then you will like this book. If you are fond of reading books where the main character goes through a transformation and becomes a better person in the end then you will appreciate this book. Finally, if you read dark humor you will find this book entertaining.
Eli is a thoughtful and compassionate narrator who isn’t
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happy with the life of a killer. He is bound to his brother Charlie by a childhood tragedy. Charlie cares more for drink, money, and whores than Eli does. It becomes evident that those things don’t matter to Eli who is constantly giving away his money to the hopeless people he meets as they travel. He even keeps riding a poor old dying horse as they journey into California because he just can’t give up on him.I knew the tone of the book I was going to be reading from this line near the beginning referring to Eli’s horse Tub:
“I was often forced to whip him, which some men do not mind doing and which in fact some enjoy doing, but which I did not like to do; and afterward he, Tub, believed me cruel and thought to himself, Sad life, sad life.”
The line is full of pathos; it is a tragically funny statement. In fact that is how I would describe this whole book; tragically funny.
The novel is about Eli’s journey to self-discovery. In the end he discovers who he is and where he belongs. It follows the path of “The Hero’s Journey”; call to adventure, supernatural aid, challenges, transformation, atonement, and return.
I enjoyed reading this novel. It is very well written and a surprisingly quick read. The nature of the book reminded me of Thomas Berger’s “Little Big Man.” It is peppered with very strange old west characters. Right after I finished reading it my husband and I re-watched “The Outlaw Josie Wales” and I was struck by some of the same types of characters.
If you enjoy westerns from the 1960s and 1970s when movies and books were moving toward gritty reality and away from the mythology of plucky pioneers, and cowboys fighting off nasty Indians then you will like this book. If you are fond of reading books where the main character goes through a transformation and becomes a better person in the end then you will appreciate this book. Finally, if you read dark humor you will find this book entertaining.
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LibraryThing member maryreinert
One of the most creative stories I've read in a long time, this book follows the exploits of two hired gun killers who are brothers. The older brother, Charlie is cold, heartless, and mean and sees no good in the world; the younger brother, Eli, does many of the same things as Charlie, but with
There are truly some disgusting scenes in this book. Yet, there is humor, respect, empathy, and the most simplistic philosophy of "gotta do what you gotta do." This is certainly not a book for everyone. The removal of an eye for the horse Tub is graphic, the killing is graphic, a description of nude, fat, drunk whores is graphic, but all that violence is never gratuitous; it is like the ugly background to a very interesting painting. It takes a very good writer to create the world of the Sisters Brothers with its unique mix of basic human emotions set in the hard world of the Old West.
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some slight hope that there should be something better. This is truly an interesting portrayal of a relationship between brothers. I'm a mother of two sons who are very different. Thankfully, they are not following a career path of hired killers, but I could see some of the same brotherly tug and pull of my own boys. Through the lives of two of the most disgusting male characters, the reader is given a view of the universality of male sibling rivalry/love.There are truly some disgusting scenes in this book. Yet, there is humor, respect, empathy, and the most simplistic philosophy of "gotta do what you gotta do." This is certainly not a book for everyone. The removal of an eye for the horse Tub is graphic, the killing is graphic, a description of nude, fat, drunk whores is graphic, but all that violence is never gratuitous; it is like the ugly background to a very interesting painting. It takes a very good writer to create the world of the Sisters Brothers with its unique mix of basic human emotions set in the hard world of the Old West.
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LibraryThing member SistersGrimm
“Our blood is the same, we just use it differently,” is likeable Eli Sisters’ comment on his brother Charlie.
The Sisters Brothers, feared throughout the Old West for their brutality, are on a job for the Commodore. Eli, who got dragged into this world trying to protect his brother, is tired
But as we follow their journey, we realize this story could easily traverse time lines. The world of their making is one of violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, dysfunctional families and family ties.
The theme of this novel is as old as the ages. Author Patrick DeWitt creates a very readable lesson showing how each of us must learn to carve out our own path. We must learn that what is acquired by force does not satisfy, nor does it bring contentment. We must learn that family ties are important, but that it is our choice whether or not we are bound by blood that is the same, but used differently.
By Deb Carpenter-Nolting
The Sisters Brothers, feared throughout the Old West for their brutality, are on a job for the Commodore. Eli, who got dragged into this world trying to protect his brother, is tired
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of their lifestyle. He realizes his brother Charlie is calculating, selfish, and greedy, and that he will never change. Eli yearns for peace and love. He would like to find a kind woman, settle down, and work at an honest living.But as we follow their journey, we realize this story could easily traverse time lines. The world of their making is one of violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, dysfunctional families and family ties.
The theme of this novel is as old as the ages. Author Patrick DeWitt creates a very readable lesson showing how each of us must learn to carve out our own path. We must learn that what is acquired by force does not satisfy, nor does it bring contentment. We must learn that family ties are important, but that it is our choice whether or not we are bound by blood that is the same, but used differently.
By Deb Carpenter-Nolting
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
A strangely formal story about two brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, who are hired killers embarking on yet another murderous job during the California Gold Rush. As they head toward their target, a number of strange events causes Eli to question their lifestyle. But he's devoted to Charlie, even
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if he does not particularly like him all the time. Charlie is more proud, greedy, and blood thirsty than Eli. Will he ever abandon this way of life? And, if not, does Eli have the courage to leave him and start over? An unusual story with cinematic flair, along the lines of a Coen brothers or Quentin Tarantino movie. Show Less
LibraryThing member indylrm
I like the genre and I really like the writing style. Patrick DeWitt has written an entertaining and informative book about the Gold Rush period in the United States. I really enjoy the short but concise pieces/scenes that make up a chapter--tells me all I need to know for that scene.
Eli Sister,
One of my favorite passage was the memorial to Morris: "Here lies Morris, a good man and friend. He enjoyed the finer points of civilized life but never shied from a hearty adventure of hard work. He died a free man, which is more than most people can say, if we are going to be honest about it. Most people are chained to their own fear and stupidity and haven't the sense to level a cold eye at just what is wrong with their lives. Most people will continue on, dissatisfied but never attempting to understand why, or how they might change things for the better, and they die with nothing in their hearts but dirt and old, thin blood--weak blood, diluted--and their memories aren't worth a goddamed thing, you will see what I mean. Most people are imbeciles, really, but Morris was not like this. He should have lived longer. He had more to give. And if there is a God he is a son of a bitch." 'Nuf said.
Eli Sister,
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the narrator, is lovable and sympathic as he follows along with his brother, who seems just the opposite. They are really bad guys who think nothing of killing, but somewhere along the line Eli comes to the realization that the hired killing needs to be examined. He begins looking at their "prey" as humans and questions why they would kill someone who was just trying to make a living. When they go after Morris and Warm, he is able to persuade his brother, Charlie, to work with them rather than kill them. I think Eli actually liked both men. One of my favorite passage was the memorial to Morris: "Here lies Morris, a good man and friend. He enjoyed the finer points of civilized life but never shied from a hearty adventure of hard work. He died a free man, which is more than most people can say, if we are going to be honest about it. Most people are chained to their own fear and stupidity and haven't the sense to level a cold eye at just what is wrong with their lives. Most people will continue on, dissatisfied but never attempting to understand why, or how they might change things for the better, and they die with nothing in their hearts but dirt and old, thin blood--weak blood, diluted--and their memories aren't worth a goddamed thing, you will see what I mean. Most people are imbeciles, really, but Morris was not like this. He should have lived longer. He had more to give. And if there is a God he is a son of a bitch." 'Nuf said.
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Awards
Booker Prize (Longlist — 2011)
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2013)
The Morning News Tournament of Books (Finalist — 2012)
Governor General's Literary Award (Finalist — 2011)
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award (Winner — 2012)
British Book Award (Shortlist — 2012)
Oregon Book Awards (Winner — 2012)
Scotiabank Giller Prize (Longlist — 2011)
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction (Longlist — Fiction — 2012)
Libris Award (Winner — 2012)
Quill and Quire Book of the Year (Fiction — 2011)
CBC Bookie Awards (Nominee — 2012)
Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize (Winner — 2011)
The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (Shortlist — 2012)
Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour (Winner — 2012)
Prix des libraires du Québec (2013)
Canadian Authors Association Award (Winner — Fiction — 2012)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Fiction — 2011)
This Mystery is Amazing! (#4 — 2014)
Notable Books List (Fiction — 2012)
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2011)
Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
344 p.; 6.02 inches
ISBN
1770890327 / 9781770890329
Local notes
2011 Governor General's Literacy Award Winner
2011 Rogers Witers' Trust Fiction Prize Winner
2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalist
2011 Man Booker Prize Finalist
#1 Amazon Best Book of 2011
National BestSeller
2011 Rogers Witers' Trust Fiction Prize Winner
2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize Finalist
2011 Man Booker Prize Finalist
#1 Amazon Best Book of 2011
National BestSeller
Other editions
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (Paperback)