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Blogs by Gabriel Boutros
Reviews of Other People's Books 1/4/2014 12:31:18 PM
I've been enjoying reading as much as I've been enjoying writing over the past year, and so for 2014 I decided to share my thoughts on some of the books I've been reading. Many of them are by well-known writers, and released by traditional publishers, but I've also come across many interesting books by lesser-known or independent authors. I'll certainly be including reviews for these writers, who often don't get the attention they deserve. I think readers will be surprised to learn that many of these writers have the same story-telling talent as some of the best-selling authors on the market. Sometimes it's a question of just getting noticed.
So, while I don't plan on using this space solely to wave the flag for self-published books, expect to learn about some hidden gems from time to time.
My first review will be of a book I greatly enjoyed in 2013, and which received a great deal of critical acclaim, as well as several literary awards. It's called "The Sisters Brothers."
"In this off-beat Western two brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters, are hired to kill Herman Kermit Warm, a man who may have stolen money from their ruthless boss, although they don’t worry too much about the reason they have to kill him. They’re hired killers, and so they set out to do what they’re hired to do. Charlie is the nastier, quick-tempered one of the two brothers, while Eli, the narrator, maintains a bit of optimism about humanity, although he’s just as ready as Charlie to kill whoever gets in his way.
The story takes them on a search for Warm during the California Gold Rush, and on the road they meet the expected unusual cast of characters: Indians, witches, barflies, and so on. The details are rich, the commentary by Eli is sometimes touching, and even humorous, despite the violence in the book. As we get to know Eli we come to feel that he and his brother are prisoners in a jail of their own making, knowing nothing else but violence and life in the wilds. Eli, at least, would be happier doing anything else for a living, but he is fiercely loyal to Charlie, no matter what the other does.
A revisionist Western, in some ways, exploring stereotypes and turning them inside out, but far from plodding or preachy. The book keeps you reading to find out what sort of mischief the two brothers will get into next, all the while wondering if there will be redemption for either of them at the end, or if they will face a reckoning for the choices they’ve made. Definitely worth reading."
This review was originally published on Amazon.com, at
http://www.amazon.com/review/R10MMPH0XU2LOD?ref_=pe_620760_65501210
