Customer Reviews

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is a thrilling read, full of realistic, wince-inducing violence, monsters out of the darkest avenues of folklore, and a rich helping of gallows humor. The Grossbart brothers wander through darkest Europe in the wake of the Black Death, attracting deeply uncouth and disreputable henchmen as they do the right things for the wrong reasons, the wrong things for the wrong reasons, and debate theology from the orthodox to the heretical all the way around to a twisted orthodoxy. Townsmen, demons, and witches beset them, and yet they muddle their bloody way through it all (not unscathed!). You'll enjoy this book if you like fantasy that doesn't come from a cookie cutter, or grittily detailed historical fiction. The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart isn't quite like anything else I've ever read, and I couldn't put it down once I started.

There are heroes - mighty heroes. They're honest, reliable, deeply moral and they vanquish evil and smite dragons with mighty swords. They're shining in glory and holiness. And there are villains - evil villains. They are foul and twisted, with no morals, obsessed with their cunning ways and determined to bring their forces of forceful evil into the world so the dead can rise, and all will bow before the mighty knees of MISTER EVIL muahahaha!

Inbetween these two lies the Brothers Grossbart. They're pure evil and pure heroes all at once. But how can this be? They can't both be the Kwisatz Haderach.

Or maybe they can...

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is an exceptional novel, written by Jesse Bullington. It is exceptional because I've been racking my brains and just can't think of anything like it at all. Not that I'm a big fan of comparing novels (it's like comparing paintings), but sometimes it's nice to know where something fits in that inventory of the mind.

The plot itself isn't extremely taxing - it's a simple one, really, which is when the skills of a writer can really shine. Our mad graverobbing heroes begin the book with a single act of ruthless depravity and then shuffle off on their way to the land of the Infidels in search of Gyptland - where Grossbarts were wont to go in search of hefty gold looted from graves laden with such mighty treasures. Along the way they battle witches, monsters, demons and an assortment of rogues, all the while convinced of their own holiness due to their worship of Mary because "she loves them what stands up to the Lord more than those kneelin' down to'em."

Their twisted logic turns the Grossbarts from being the villains of the piece outlined in the opening, to being the heroes of the work - an odd twist which far from redeems them as their goal never changes and neither do their morals. Pursued by the man they did wrong who picks up a small army of his own along the way (including a witch's brood), the Grossbarts shuffle onward from disaster to disaster in time for a truly epic final confrontation with those they have wronged.

What makes this book work so well is Mister Bullington's style which never wavers from beginning to end. The very stylised language used by the Grossbarts looked to be very hard to maintain, yet Mister Bullington carries it with an enviable ease through to the conclusion. I was deeply amused by his style, which shifted smoothly between a folkloric fairytale manner to a more conventional fantasy pulp style which kept the plot moving at an exciting and sometimes gruesome pace.

I could find only one single gripe with the entire book, and that is the final pages, for me, seemed a little rushed to a conclusion and while I do appreciate it added to the folkloric feel, it wasn't the end I was hoping for. Not that I can think of a better one, me being a hack and all. However, I think I wanted something more. Something a little more satisfying as befitted these two wonderful characters.

And there's where the magic lies. The Characters. The two Grossbarts are the most unique creations - part ogres, part serial killers. It was almost like seeing Jason and Michael from those epic horror movies team up and go on a bit of a roadtrip. In fact, that's the most accurate description I could paint for you. Their steadfast determination and self-belief in their own purity is a delightful component which adds a great deal of depth to what could have very easily been rather uninteresting characters in the long run, and I still feel extremely overwhelmed by Mister Bullington's ability to maintain their manner with equal steadfastness. It's a fine accomplishment and one I admire more than I can say. The Grossbarts, I think, will remain two of my favourite characters ever created and that's a fact.

There's humour, action sequences which leave you breathless, dark fairytale monsters and secondary characters caught in the Grossbart web to feel sorry for. You'd just got everything you need for an absolute ripper of a book.

Pageturner? I ate this like it was my last meal.

All I need now is the movie for dessert...

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is not the type of novel I usually read-- violent, nasty, and filled with unpleasant people-- yet, somehow, from the first time I picked up this text, I was entranced. Bullington's version of medieval Europe is grim but realistic, terrifying but familiar, a nightmarish landscape utterly devoid of the characters who populate your standard sword-and-sorcery romps. Yet, out of the chaos of "vomit, gore, and turnips" (so says Publishers Weekly) Bullington crafts a beautiful narrative about the actual problems real people must deal with when the world around them always seems to work to someone else's advantage. Even though many of those characters have supernatural or arcane aspects to their personalities, they never lose their grounding in humanity-- glorious, disgusting, beautiful, despicable, loving, hateful humanity-- and that is what Bullington is most adept at capturing. The best part is, it's also darkly funny and self-reflective, so it never comes across as being more than it is: a solid read as elusive as the Brothers themselves, vacillating between gross potty humor and more honest discussions of theology, women's rights, race, taxonomy, and might-makes-right cultural entitlement.

Jesse Bullington's debut novel is a difficult one to review, not because of plot or character, but because of the general style in which it is written. Plainly speaking; it's pretty gross. Full of pus, vomit, blood, urine, gore, snot and other bodily fluids, "The Brothers Grossbart" isn't short on content that will make you screw up your nose in disgust. Yet dismissing this novel for its ability to make you cringe is a bit like going to a Quentin Tarantino movie and complaining about the violence. That's the whole point.

Set in the fourteenth century, Hegel and Manfried are brothers that take over the family business of grave robbing, with plans to travel to Gyptland to seek their fortunes there. They traverse the countryside from the mountains of Europe to the deserts of the Middle East at a time in which life was short, violent and smelly. To make things even more difficult, this is a world that is strewn with demons, witches and other monsters straight out of the Old Testament. Grotesque in appearance and evil in nature, the brothers end up pitting themselves against these hellish denizens as they rob and hack their way across the continent.

Naturally, there have been hundreds of anti-heroes throughout literature, many of whom the reader can secretly cheer for, or at least admire for their cunning, determination or audacity. The Grossbarts however, exist well outside the parameters of basic human decency, falling short of the standards set by the likes of other anti-heroes such as Long John Silver, Captain Ahab, Becky Sharp or Heathcliff. In the very first chapter the brothers decide to finance their trip by robbing a farmhouse, a task that ends with them killing a woman with an axe, cutting a boy's throat in front of his father, and burning the house down with several infants still inside it. They leave the farmer alive since killing him would mean: "there'd be no one left to learn the lesson."

After reading this, all anyone wants is for the two of them to die slow, painful deaths. But again, that's the point. And naturally it's not to say that they're not interesting despite their horrid natures. The two brothers engage in philosophical discourse as they travel, discussing the nuances of Christian orthodoxy and casually (unconsciously?) twisting it so that it justifies their own behaviour - as you may have guessed, neither brother really believes that they're doing anything wrong.

To add suspense, the Grossbarts also make enemies along the way, both demonic and human. Tracked by horrific creatures with a vendetta against them, the brothers eventually fall in with a lying priest and a sea captain that has a secret of his own. Though the pacing slows when the brothers reach Vienna, the beginning and ending segments of the novel are suitably fast-paced and intriguing, despite the gruesome subject matter. Likewise, Bullington's style is impeccable; the brothers' speech patterns are maintained throughout the novel, as is an atmosphere that's difficult to describe: every oozing boil and spurt of blood is lovingly described, the monstrous creatures are grotesque yet vividly rendered, and hanging over all is a palatable sense of dread; the reader knowing full well what both human and demon are truly capable of.

And yet for all of this, the moments of humanity contained here shine all the more brightly for their grim context. Nicolette's story is as chilling as any macabre 14th century horror story can possibly be, and yet also bizarrely touching as a love story, one that reads like a dark fairytale that the Brothers Grimm purposefully left out of their anthologies. Likewise, the farmer who the Grossbarts leave alive at the beginning of the novel naturally has a tragic story and a heartrending journey of despair as he tracks down the men who murdered his family, finding no solace in heaven and so turning to the nefarious regions in order to sate his thirst for vengeance.

I can hardly describe this as a pleasant book, nor even an "enjoyable" one (unless you like the feeling of nausea), but it is entertaining, intriguing, oddly thought-provoking, and evocative of its place and time. It is certainly not for everyone, yet it manages to straddle a wide range of subjects (horror, fantasy, black comedy, history, theology) all in a tone that feels authentic to the period in which it is told, in which superstition and religion were more or less interchangeable, and witchcraft and the black plague were dangers that weighed equally on everyone's minds.

As someone who likes her fairytales dark, this novel was certainly blacker than I had anticipated, and yet once I'd adjusted to the debauchery and violence, there was plenty here to both ponder and appreciate, particularly in the chaotic mish-mash of demonology and mythology that permeates the story (though I would have dearly loved to learn more about the Nixie!) One thing is for certain, and that is that "The Brothers Grossbart" is like nothing else I've read. It is unique, standing in a genre of its own.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is one of the most original books I've read all year in terms of style and it is a debut to boot. It also sports one of the best covers of the year with M.C. Escher like art from István Orosz. The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbarts reminds me a lot of Christopher Moore's recent Fool, only not as nice. Jesse Bullington twists folktales to places they have never gone before with the strength and bravado of an author much more seasoned. Forget about the Brothers Grimm. Long live the Brothers Grossbart! They kick ass, get their asses kicked, and kill demons and monsters of all sorts in their fumbly, vomit encrusted ways.

This disturbingly funny tale is placed in Europe during the tumultuous 1300s when the height of the black death and fear of witches was at the tip of everyone's tongues and where magic of the worst and darkest kind is practiced. Centered on the more than aptly named Grossbarts are Hegel and Manfried. Their story goes to unexpected depths with the most unremorseful characters found anywhere. The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is dark, evil, vile, and repugnant yet somehow endearing with the narrative. The Grossbarts through all the murder, debauchery, and vomit somehow see themselves as pious. You just have to follow the boys through on their journey to Gyptland where all the treasures they so richly do not deserve are housed. The ending is very satisfying as was the final conflict.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Gorssbart won't' be for everyone, especially those that want and need a hero of sorts in their tales. Yet the Grossbarts do things that would be considered courageous by most, just their reasons for doing them are more out of selfishness or self-preservation. That said even the most despicable things done and said are tempered with a humor that permeates. Hereafter the name Grossbart shall mean the most vile type of being on earth ever to have lived. I give The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart 9 out of 10 hats. Bullington is an author to watch.

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is a strange, fearless, wild, rough-and-tumble ride through a world that we all know, in our secret hearts, is what Europe was really like in 1364. It's a world of witches and demons, plague and violence, living saints and Road Popes, where some of the most sympathetic characters are cannibals and madmen. It isn't exactly a horror story, nor precisely a fantasy (in the usual sense), nor, probably, like anything you've ever read before.

There are many deft supernatural touches, and I have a particularly soft spot for the brilliant creature designs, but through it all the two eponymous brothers remain the most larger-than-life figures in a world full of monsters and demons. Hegel and Manfried Grossbart are brigands, graverobbers, murderers and blasphemers, equally at home debating theology (or etymology) as they are at cracking open tombs or skulls. They're also devoutly dedicated - at least in their own minds - to the Virgin Mary, and to finding their way to the rich tombs of "Gyptland", toward which Grossbarts have traveled since time immemorial.

It's a great book, but it's also not one that's going to be for everybody. Consider this your warning. The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart is disgusting, violent, and filled to the brim with cursing, blaspheming, great quantities of bodily fluids, and just about every manner of degeneracy, and it takes some getting used to. If that doesn't sound like your brand of vodka, there's a good chance that The Brothers Grossbart won't be for you. That said, it doesn't sound like the kind of thing that's generally for me, either, but after getting my sea legs, I found it to be wonderfully written, clever, funny, and ultimately, brilliantly itself. It's a debut novel of a kind we rarely see, and I think it'll divide a lot of people, and get a lot of much-deserved attention. So, if that all sounds like something you can roll with, then you could do a lot worse than to give The Brothers Grossbart a chance.

This book was a maudlin, violent, disgusting, grotesque, and hilarious trek across Medieval Europe in the company of two of the most odious saints to ever consider themselves the blessed of the queen of heaven. The grave robbers of the title do unspeakable, horrific acts and even a few good deeds according to their own, particular moral code that is constantly, and hilariously hammered out in discussion between the twins. They smite demons, make deals with witches, murder children, and aid their fellow man as they see fit to judge them meritorious, living moment-to-moment on their journey from Germany, through Italy, and into Egypt. ("Gyptland" as they call it.)

Beyond just the brothers, they encounter all sorts of comically individual characters, each with their own particular moral codes that get hashed out along the way as the constant moral debate of the scoundrels picks up or abandons, celebrates or condemns, blesses or murders all the people along the way. One thing is certain, the Brothers Grossbart are anti-heroes of the blackest sort, and as long as they are in a book where one need not actually smell them, wildly charismatic.

I recommend this book to fans of Rowan Atkinson's "Black Adder" character in particular, and perhaps fans of Monty Python's "Quest for the Holy Grail".

From beginning to end I enjoyed every minute of this book. The Grossbarts are vile, disgusting, ignorant, backwater pieces of excrement and I could not help but root for their success, even as I was expecting and desiring their punishments...... Definitely gory and irreverent- but intelligent, witty and entertaining from start to finish. As a fan of dark fantasy, horror, sci fi, supernatural, mystery and crime thrillers I am often frustrated with each of these genres idiotic need to include romance, unneccessary sex, dry over-explanations and to above all take themselves too seriously.I was afraid the authors I enjoy were all dying off or moving on to making movies and graphic novels exclusively.
Thankfully there are Jesse Bullingtons in this world........

I was rather excited about The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart coming out on audio. It's excellently written and the audiobook is excellently performed by Christopher Lane who was given ample opportunities to show off his skills.

But the only parts of The Sad Tale I liked were those in which no action occurred -- when the brothers were sitting around arguing with each other about philosophical topics such as Christianity (e.g., is it cannibalism to take communion, how Mary could have been a virgin, etc.). These blasphemous conversations were truly clever and funny, as were the brothers' regular assertions that they were good Christians and their illogical justifications for their reprehensible behaviors.

But other than these bright (sort of) moments, the rest of the plot was full of horrid violence, lots of gross bodily emissions, and various other unpleasant items. I'm sure I had a look of disgust on my face the whole time, with occasional bursts of laughter during the dialogue.

I quit half way through chapter 7 when I realized that I was just not enjoying myself. However, I wouldn't want to steer others away from this clever book, because I think it was unique and well written and likely to be enjoyed by those with more fortitude than me. And for them, let me recommend the excellent audio version of The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart.

I'll skip most of the synopsis, as it's been included in previous reviews, and go with a liked/disliked format.

Liked:

Writing. I enjoyed Bullington's style. He's obviously talented and does a good job with the characterization of the two brothers and with painting a picture that's easy to imagine and at some points interesting. Maybe too good, actually, considering the content.

Premise: Medieval monsters intertwined with Dark ages religious philosophy and politics? Yes, please!

Monsters: Detailed (graphic really), imaginative and, in my opinion anyway, unique. It may have been a function of the authors talents with description, but I found myself with clear, vivid, and horrible visualizations of the creatures through out the book.

Side storys: Martyn and Nicolette's chapter length side stories were two of the high points, in my opinion. Familiar, but at the same time unique, and a nice break from the oafish brothers.

Disliked:

The brothers themselves: I know you're supposed to hate them, but it's hard investing in a book where you dislike the two main characters so much, at least for me it was. Of course I was expecting this to be rewarded with a final, outrageously imaginative, comeupance... which brings me to my second dislike.

The ending: As stated in Dislike #1, I hated the Brothers so much, the only thing that kept me going was the chance to read, in Bullingtons' vivid style, of the Brothers gory demise. I was disappointed to say the least.

The middle: Maybe it was the setting change, maybe it was the new characters, save for the captain and the Arab, melding into one another, but after the Brothers arrived at the city, I found myself slogging through to the more or less disappointing end.