The book I am currently reading, The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt, handles every element with razorlike precision. It is both a mockery of old westerns, as well as a love letter to them, all wrapped up in an egregiously violent, introspective, and darkly humorous piece. I personally love how the book manages more tender parts of the story, involving love that we always know will be short-lived.
“‘Looking up at my face she asked me to take off my coat, which I did, and she pulled a length of bright blue silk from her layers. She tied the sash over my shoulder, fastening it with a snug knot and afterward stepping back to look at me. She was very sad and beautiful, her eyes damp and heavy with their powders and ancient spells. I placed my hands on the material but could think of nothing to say about it.”
This quote precedes a grisly, unexpected scene, and truly shows how much the book can throw you for a loop. As well as this, it shows how the story tries to stay true to classic westerns, with their picturesque love stories intertwined with the main, often action-oriented plot, providing some relief from the intensity that such stories often create.