The Sisters Brothers
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Published: 2011
Length: 328 pages
This caught my eye when it was first released. I picked it up a few years back, and I’ve only just gotten to it now. Better eight years late than never, I suppose. I was looking for Canadian books to read for the CanBook Challenge and Patrick deWitt was born about twenty-five minutes from where I currently live.
It’s the height of the California gold rush, and two brothers are hired to kill a man. They travel to Sacramento from Oregon City, reflecting on the lives they’ve chosen on the way, only to realize on arrival that the job will be a bit more complicated than they’d anticipated. The two brothers, Charlie and Eli Sisters, are a fun match. The book is told from Eli’s perspective, the more sensitive of the two, who finds himself in this line of work essentially by association with his brother. Charlie takes much more enjoyment out of everything in life, from the whiskey to the killing, and the two play off each other well. They’re an obvious contrast in most ways, but they are similar enough that the relationship still feels very real. They’re also both polite and charming characters, which gives their psychotic sides all the more menace.
I expected this to be a bit heavy, to be honest, but it moves very quickly. The plot itself isn’t particularly fast-paced, but the writing is very concise, while still managing to be somewhat poetic, and the dialogue flows easily between the characters. I really loved his writing style. He was able to take some serious topics and write them in a way that felt light and quick but not superficial. He was even able to take these two vicious characters, unapologetic killers, and make them incredibly endearing. There’s a quiet humour to this whole book that ties everything together so well.
“I’ve thought of the man many times, these last years,” Mayfield said. Returning his pen to its holder, he told us, “I will have him gutted with that scythe. I will hang him by this own intestines.” At this piece of dramatic exposition, I could not help but roll my eyes. A length of intestines would not carry the weight of a child, much less a full grown man.
Even though it reads quickly, it’s not shallow in any way. There’s real depth to these characters and the world around them, and they develop in interesting ways. There are horrific moments in this that feel well-earned, not just tossed in for shock, and the underlying comedic tone is in perfect balance with the more poignant moments. It never feels goofy and the plot never feels like it’s just trying to set up a bit or punchline. It all feels very natural, while at the same time having a heightened theatrical touch. I’m now eager to read more from Patrick deWitt.
2 Comments
Ruthiella
I also really enjoyed this one. You are right, there is a deft balance between light and heavy that is just right.
I was really hoping that his latest, French Exit, would make the Tournament of Books short list (it did make the long list) to make me read it but alas.
And yes, the cover design is great! Surely it won an award or something!
Rob
I’m excited to read his other books and see how his writing style translates to different genres.