The Sisters Brothers: A Novel

Decided to read a western and came across this book. First, the narration is exceptional. This is part comedy, part tragedy. As Eli and Charlie Sisters set out to find and kill Herman Warm for their boss, the Commodore, they meet a group of interesting characters along the way. I enjoyed listening to this book very much. The narrator made it an incredibly enjoyable experience.

The Sisters Brothers is a western set during the Gold Rush. It’s not something I would have normally picked up but it was recommended to me. I really enjoyed the story and the relationship between the two brothers. The atmosphere is rich and the pacing is fast. It’s told in Eli’s perspective as he and his brother, Charlie, travel from Oregon City to California to kill Hermann Kermitt Warm. They both work as hit man for a man called the Commodore. Eli has an interesting relationship with his brother. He struggles with his feelings towards Charlie. He both admires and despises him. Eli also longs for something more than being a hit man and working for the Commodore, whereas Charlie is completely content. Eli wants a simpler life and has never enjoyed the killing but stays with his older brother in fear of losing him. The first half of the novel follows the brothers in their travels. Many things happen in the journey including illnesses, curses, trouble, and luck. They run into all sort of crazy scenarios but are completely realistic. The reader learns just how infamous the Sisters brothers are by the way people react to their name. Charlie is without remorse and will kill any man who gets in his way. He is also a very skilled gunman. In the second half, they make it to California. The Commodore didn’t tell Eli or Charlie why he wants Warm dead, only that he is a thief. The two find a journal left by an associate and learn all about the enigmatic and uncanny Hermann Kermitt Warm. This makes them question the Commodore and whether or not they want to fulfill the job. The Sisters Brothers is about a relationship between brothers and what they would do for one another. I really like Eli as the protagonist. It also had its funny moments. Even if you don’t like westerns (I’m not a big fan), give this one a chance. It’s a short, quick read.