The Sisters Brothers

A Novel

By: Patrick deWitt

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2011 Patrick deWitt (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

“…gritty, as well as deadpan and often very comic…DeWitt has chosen a narrative voice so sharp and distinctive…it’s very narrowing of possibilities opens new doors in the imagination.” ( New York Times Book Review)

“Weirdly funny, startlingly violent and steeped in sadness… It’s all rendered irresistible by Eli Sisters, who narrates with a mixture of melancholy and thoughtfulness.” ( Washington Post)

“[T]here’s something cinematic about Mr. deWitt’s unadorned prose style, which at first made this reader do a double-take—can this be serious?—only to continue flicking the pages with pleasure.” ( Wall Street Journal)

Excellent!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! It is an engaging story and wonderfully narrated.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the "flowery" language. It completely set the mood and tone of the book in an effective way. It made the funny bits funnier and really helped me stay immersed in the story.

If you could take any character from The Sisters Brothers out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Eli. The duality of him was completely fascinating. He was loyal, and funny, and and thoughtful, and a killer.

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend this to anyone. Regardless of your genre preference, I think this is a story most people would enjoy.

Interesting and unexpected

I listened to this based on my brother's recommendation--he said it was one of the best books he had ever read. I jumped into listening without any idea of what it was about.

I will say that it was unexpected -- a very well written narrative exploring the lives of some potentially unlikable characters.

This was not a book full of building climax and resolution, but rather a steady path with a justified resolution.

It was not the book I usually trend towards but I enjoyed the journey.

Entertaining, but a bit dry.

Would you try another book from Patrick deWitt and/or John Pruden?

I choose this book for my book club pick. That is probably the only way I would read another book by this author. My friends concur,

Would you be willing to try another book from Patrick deWitt? Why or why not?

Although I did enjoy the book, it was a little dry. I never really felt a connection with any of the characters.

Did John Pruden do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I thought he did a decent job of making each voice unique to the character.

Did The Sisters Brothers inspire you to do anything?

The only thing that this novel inspired me to do is pick up a beach read.

Enjoyed the Yarn

an old fashioned western yarn. I enjoyed it. way better than the movie. all done.

Honda you right away

I loved this book. such an amazing tale of these brother assassin's. the narrator was perfect.

that's some great writing. Really beautiful book.

fantastic story. great performances, and very expertly crafting of themes. I'll be grabbing another of his books soon.

Vreat Book and Audio Performance

Really loved this. A very gritty and tragic western. Harsh yet very touching. A cut above other novels.

Modern Western

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an odd western, not traditional cowboy fare. It is the type of story that could become a Tarantino movie one day.

Would you recommend The Sisters Brothers to your friends? Why or why not?

I think it will be a hit with a narrow slice of listeners, those who enjoy good writing but read/listen for more than entertainment. Those just seeking entertainment may be left cold.

Which character – as performed by John Pruden – was your favorite?

Of course, the protagonist.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

This is a Tarantino movie waiting to happen.

Any additional comments?

I would have given it 3.5 stars, if it were possible.

Too much Animal cruelty

I hoped for so much more from The Sisters Brothers. Other reviewers promised this book would be funny. It was not. Nor was it rolicking, fast-paced, or a good time.

It’s agony for me to read animal cruelty scenes in a book, and this novel had quite a few.

I got through it and stopped listening for up to a week at a time because I just did not really care that much about what happened next. Finally I finished it. There. Good. Done.

The phrasing and descriptions were appealing, and the historical facts were informative. That gave it three stars.

Loved every bit.

What a great story. This was well put together, from characters to plot line. Even the narration was spot on.