Mixed Pickles - the Book log 2012

Don't let the stickers put you off.
The ones that say "Channel 4 Book Club" and "Bathtub Best Read Award" and "HobNobs Recommended Teatime Novel".  OK, I might be making some of them up, but it did take me about ten minutes to scrape all the various shouty stickers of the front of this one.  The "Man Booker Shortlist" blurb can also be a bit off-putting - is this going to be a "worthy read" or a populist?

Neither.   Funny, touching, sad, happy,  the Oddessey of the two brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters (murderers for hire), across America in pursuit of their nominated victim is highly episodic but always driven towards the final confrontation (and beyond).  Eli begins to dream of a different life but cannot turn his brother from the path of relentless violence.  They gain fortunes.  They lose fortunes.  Eli falls in love.  Repeatedly.  He even waxes affectionate about his broken down old nag.  Eventually they catch up with their intended victim.  And that's where the fun really starts.

They're gunna get you!

The language is exquisite, clever without ever being intrusive.  The dialogue is great - mannered and natural.  And the narrator's voice never once falters.

I doubt that I shall read a better book in the rest of 2012.

Unputdownability:  I read from page 1 to page 325, and went straight back to Page 1 again.