Customer Reviews

The Good Brother

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chris Offutt's "The Good Brother" tells the story of Virgil Caudhill's inescapable fate after his brother Boyd is murdered. Offutt's beautiful but terrible tale perfectly demonstrates the futility of revenge, and the unintended but inevitable consequences that flow from retribution. This moving novel showcases Offutt's ability for character development and perfect dialogue with a true "page-turner" plot. While some reviewers are critical of the novel's turn once Virgil reaches Montana, I think they are missing the point. Offutt has done a magnificent job of conveying Virgil's isolation and disconnect with the world once he's removed from his native Kentucky. It is a telling moment when Virgil's happiest time in Montana occurs as he bonds with his would-be assassin, a native Kentuckian. This Southern boy can tell you, that moment was real.
Read this book. Offutt is a treasure.

As the brother of the author, I could be said to be somewhat biased about his book, The Good Brother. On the other hand, I think I can safely claim that nobody else will understand it better. We grew up in Eastern Kentucky, where the first half of this book is set, and nobody has ever bestowed a more accurate description of modern life in the hills from an inside perspective. Every detail was carefully crafted and derived from real events and actual people. If you have ever lived in or near the Appalachian hills, you will see reflections of your memories, drawn in a stark, cutting, way. If you have not, then this book will show you the dark side of Appalachia, including the poverty, the simple joys, and the hopelessness of a culture that has been transformed from being based on pride to being based on welfare.

Of course, the point of the book is not about Eastern Kentucky culture, but about the current anti-government culture. The book expresses the positive side of this movement, the allure of the extremists, and makes you understand how this movement has been able to grow from origins in Vietnam and the cold war. These essential points are presented as sidepoints to a moving story about a dead man and his good brother.

This is a compelling story of the pain and regret one can have by trying to fulfull the obligations placed upon us by family responsibilities. It also gives great insight into the militia movement in America. The author does a tremendous job of explaining the sacrifice and alienation that can occur by trying to live up to other people's expectations and not following our own feelings. I greatly enjoyed this book and will read others by this author.

Was this really written by the same person who wrote Kentucky Straight and The Same River Twice? Those books are fantastic. This one was filled with lackluster writing, cliches, and two- dimensional "scary" characters in Montana. Oooh, those anti-government types are nuts. Tell me something I didn't know.

Mr. Offutt has captured the agony of living up to family expectations at great personal expense and of the loneliness which achievement sometimes requires. The first section is powerful and makes one not want to put it down. I hopes he keeps writing.

As the brother of the author, I could be said to be somewhat biased about his book, The Good Brother. On the other hand, I think I can safely claim that nobody else will understand it better. We grew up in Eastern Kentucky, where the first half of this book is set, and nobody has ever bestowed a more accurate description of modern life in the hills from an inside perspective. Every detail was carefully crafted and derived from real events and actual people. If you have ever lived in or near the Appalachian hills, you will see reflections of your memories, drawn in a stark, cutting, way. If you have not, then this book will show you the dark side of Appalachia, including the poverty, the simple joys, and the hopelessness of a culture that has been transformed from being based on pride to being based on welfare.

Of course, the point of the book is not about Eastern Kentucky culture, but about the current anti-government culture. The book expresses the positive side of this movement, the allure of the extremists, and makes you understand how this movement has been able to grow from origins in Vietnam and the cold war. These essential points are presented as sidepoints to a moving story about a dead man and his good brother.

Offutt's method is to draw you into the culture of both eastern Kentucky and western Montana. He lets everything build up to the point where you could almost see yourself in the shoes of the people that Virgil/Joe meets. I found myself agreeing with many of the militia members' sentiments, even though I (like Joe) found their methods and their thoughtless racism profoundly disturbing. Incidentally, if you liked this book you'll also like his book of short stories, Kentucky Straight. I also loved his memoir, The Same River Twice.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found this book to be a united whole. The two locales are meant to contrast and draw out the character of the protagonist, Virgil Caudill. The book is character-driven, although there are a few scenes of tension. The key question Virgil must answer is "Who am I?" The moral themes in the book are a bit ambiguous. While the book is infused with a moral dimension, very little time is spent in moral reflection. Guilt exists, to an extent, and it haunts Virgil, to an extant, but here most of I all I feel the book falls short in exploring the consequences to the soul of Virgil's actions. Please note that the language and the description of a sexual encounter between a man and a dog would not make this book appropriate for high school libraries.

The reader is given a glimpse into several fascinating cultures that are traditionally a well-kept secret. The lead character is at first a seemingly simple man leading a "hillbilly" life. Yet, in the face of adversity, he comes alive and you quickly realize he is exceedingly intelligent. The book drew me in and held my attention long after the last page.

Two worlds, unknown to most, are vividly portrayed in The Good Brother.

I love when an author trusts the reader to make some decisions about the character, without spelling out every detail. I feel like I got to know Virgil/Joe. He had depth and intelligence that was never force fed. We got to know him over time and see that while he lacked education, he was a thinker. His loneliness was not only conveyed, but felt. The most moving scene for me was definately when Joe meets his would-be assasin.

The descriptions of the Kentucky hills and Montana were fantastic. I really felt that I got a taste of the scenery, climate and people. Almost a mini vacation in a book. I felt the dryness of Montana summers. I experienced the humidity of Kentucky.

I read this book for my all-female book club and thought it was an excellent choice. Especially for readers who feel over-dosed on estrogen. Parts of it were educational, as I got a deeper look into radical anti-goverment groups and a better understanding as to what can lead people down this path. This male-centered book has plenty of feeling and emotion, but also revenge and good ole' gun slinging!

I also like the way this book ended. I gives the reader a chance to think for themselves about what might happen next.