The Sisters Brothers: A Novel by Patrick deWitt (New York: Ecco Publishing, 2011. 336 pp)
Born on Vancouver Island in 1975,
Patrick deWitt is the author of Ablutions: Notes for a Novel.
Currently living in Oregon, deWitt has also lived in California and Washington.
His latest novel, The Sisters Brothers,
was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Giller Prize.
Last year, the
Man Booker Prize committee encountered controversy when they proclaimed that
the books shortlisted for the prize “had to zip along”. For many readers who value the
artistic merit of such literary prizes, a quick-moving novel represented populist
entertainment.
This debate between
art and entertainment cuts to the core of my reading pleasures. On one hand, I
enjoy getting lost in a good plot. There’s nothing like reading a book that
captivates you and keeps you glued to each page. On the other hand, the most
impressive and meaningful books I have encountered are difficult reads. Often
the trademarked of the literary genre, the plot settles in the back seat behind
the poetic prose. I find myself enamored with the ways that these slow moving
novels illustrate the human condition.
Interestingly,
Patrick deWitt’s The Sisters Brothers,
a Man-Booker-shortlisted novel, conveys some literary depth amongst a fast
moving plot.
California-Gold-Rush Fever
 |
| Photo by bk1bennet |
Make no bones
about it, the Sisters brothers are ruthless and deWitt’s writing leaves nothing
to the imagination.
“’Think I care what you want!’ He jabbed me and held the gun against my smarting leg. A twig snapped in the distance and I felt the gun go slack as the prospector turned to look. I grabbed the rifle barrel and yanked it away. The prospector lit out for the woods and I turned and pulled the trigger but the rifle was not loaded. I was reaching for my pistol when Charlie stepped from behind a tree and casually shot the prospector as he ran past. It was a head shot, which took the back off his skull like a cap in the wind. I dismounted and limped over to the twitching body. My leg was stinging terribly and I was possessed with a rage. The man’s brain was painted in purple blood, bubbling foam emerging from its folds; I raised up my boot and dropped my heel into the hole with all my weight behind it, caving in what was left of the skull and flattening it in general so that it was no longer recognizable as the head of a man. When I removed my boot it was as though I were pulling it from a wet mud” (105).
In addition to
gory descriptions such as this quotation, deWitt explores the softer side of
Eli Sisters. A portly character, Eli refuses to shoot from the hip, drink
obsessively, or find solace in the arms of a prostitute, unlike his unwholesome
brother Charlie.
“I had in the last year or so given up whores entirely, thinking it best to go without rather than pantomime human closeness; and though it was 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” (56)?
A Fast-Paced Western, An Introspective
Tome
A Western that
feels like a Coen Brothers movie, The
Sisters Brothers melds violence and criminal activity with characters you
can’t help but root for. The brothers are smart and crafty; they find
themselves in dangerous scenarios encountering men of a much worse sort.
In addition to
intriguing character developments, deWitt’s plot moves quickly with
cliffhangers keeping me glued to the page. In many ways, The Sisters Brothers represents the perfect mix between a zip-along
plot and character introspection. Patrick deWitt writes beautifully; his
historical setting envelopes the reader. If you are looking for a fast paced
book with depth, look no further than The Sisters Brothers.
Verdict: 5 out of 5
---
Posted by: Donovan Richards
Affiliate Links:
I read this last year and thought, "Finally a book nominated for an award that might actually deserve to win it."
ReplyDelete