The Good Brother / Chris Offutt
Just finished this book last night and I'm impressed. I read Offutt's memoir, 'The Same River Twice' years ago. I never read memoirs, but a friend recommended it so highly I had to take a peek and I was hooked.
This is my first read of a novel by him. Having read the memoir, I can kind of see where he draws on autobiography, but that's not a defect.
Setup: Virgil, an educated hillbilly in rural Kentucky, is in a total catch-22. His brother was murdered, everyone knows who did it but nobody will cooperate with the law because the expectation is that Virgil will avenge the death himself. If he doesn't do it, he has no place in the community. If he does, do it, even if he doesn't go to jail, he'll have become someone he doesn't want to be.
Keep in mind, this is all first act stuff. It's quit the epic narrative for being barely over 300 pages, involving traveling by paper, revenge, gun nuts in Montana and the subtleties of racism and class warfare.
Anyone else dig this book? I know Vigorous Puppy is family with the author, though I don't know if he's read this.
When we call soccer 'football' the terrorists have won.
I'll have to look for Coal Black Horse after I finish Mr. Vertigo.
When we call soccer 'football' the terrorists have won.
yeah yeah, i dig this dude! i've only read some short stories though, the one in chabon's comic book and the one in egger's edited mcsweeney's short story collection...i think it's called "chuck's bucket".
Hi there,
I'm new of this forum. Browsing on the web I found this site.
I was looking for information about Chris Offutt, since I have to review his great novel "The Good Brother."
I found it really outstanding. I'm told that his short stories are even better than his novels.
I have a few doubts about the end of the book, though. Is there anyone who has already read the whole book I can write to? I don't want to reveal the end of the novel, so I was thinking of a private message.
I'd appreciate your help.
Thank you in advance.
Quitrazoazul
funny you just read this book, i just received my copy of THE GOOD BROTHER and OUT OF THE WOODS. hitting BROTHER after i finish Robert Olmstead's COAL BLACK HORSE, which is damn near perfect.