The Good Brother

Chris Offutt

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (May 27, 1998)
List Price: $21.95

amazon.com »
    New: from $0.01  /  Used: from $0.01

Everyone's Book Log for this book

amazon.com editorial reviews

Product Description

Virgil Caudill has never gone looking for trouble, but this time he's got no choice -- his hell-raising brother Boyd has been murdered. Everyone knows who did it, and in the hills of Kentucky, tradition won't let a murder go unavenged. No matter which way he chooses, Virgil will lose.

The Good Brother, Chris Offutt's finely crafted first novel, is the story of Virgil's struggle to find his real self in the wake of an impossible choice. Traversing the American landscape from the hollows of Eastern Kentucky to the plains of Montana, Offutt explores the hunger for belonging that drives our most passionate beliefs, and in the process shows himself to be one of our most powerful storytellers.

amazon.com customer reviews (14 reviews »)

Morality play Jul 02, 2004
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.
It will stay with you long after you've put it down Aug 21, 2003
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.
Montana, a very weird state Jul 23, 2003
Every book I've ever read in which Montana was a character has been a big disappointment. I read this one only because my sister sent it to me in a box of her used books.

The writing wasn't bad, but I didn't like any of the characters, I didn't like the plot, and I didn't like either of the settings.

What is with these people who want to live outside the laws that as citizens the rest of us have agreed to abide by? I think they're a bunch of hypocrites. They refuse to pay income taxes, but they don't mind buying gasoline for their gas-guzzlers and paying tax on it. As usual with such groups, the leader turns out to be a nut case.

Full of feeling and vivid descriptions Mar 18, 2003
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.

The Good Author writes great novel Apr 16, 2002
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.

People Who Read This Book Also Read