Of all the many joys present in deWitt's new novel Undermajordomo Minor, its greatest trait is that it is relentlessly funny. In the same vein as deWitt's much-acclaimed predecessor, The Sisters Brothers (which remains a personal favourite), Undermajordomo Minor delights in word play, finely crafted dialogue, all while providing a moving literary love story. Rather than forcing comedy, the novel's dialogue is the most reliable source of humour, reflecting hilarity in the characters' nature. The

This is the story of a boy named Lucy who got bored (and more than a little scared by the supernatural apparition of a 'man in burlap') in his small village in the middle of nowhere and who went out into the wild world in search of adventure: Lucy, having nothing better to do, and nowhere in the world to be, and feeling vulnerable at the thought of the man in burlap's return, embraced his fate and wrote back to Mr. Olderglough, formally accepting the offer, a decision which led to many things, i...

What type of book IS Undermajordomo anyway? Is it an old-fashioned adventure tale? A dark fairy tale (think: Brothers Grimm)? A serio-comedy narrative in the vein of his earlier work, Sisters Brothers? It’s hard to define, exactly, but I will say this: for a reader like me, who leans towards strong character-driven or theme-based novels, I was a bit out of my comfort zone and that was just fine. The strong writing and the plot kept me eagerly turning pages and I surrendered to DeWitt’s talent.Th...

“…appreciation at life’s small but dependable comforts.”This is the third Patrick DeWitt novel I have read, and like the others, it is unique and interesting in style and that is probably its biggest selling point. And that is not a bad thing by the way. UNDERMAJORDOMO MINOR is a well written quick read, with a clever and slightly absurdist approach to telling a simple story.The plot…Lucien (Lucy) Minor is offered a job as the under majordomo at Castle Von Aux. His life at home with his mother i...

Beautiful in its weirdness....Great writer. Out of the box. A surreal darkish fairytale...Lucien (Lucy) Minor accepts a position at a remote castle of the Baron Von Aux, assisting the majordomo. And a strange story unfolds, where he meets some weird and colorful characters. Like his previous book The Sister Brothers, only quite different. Different from lets say the 'mainstream' of books. Fascinating and weird!Undermajordomo Minor wears a fairytale cloak, but at its wondrous and fantastical hear...

How remarkable a thing a lie is. Lucien "Lucy" Minor, a seventeen-year-old champion liar and "unmoored soul in search of nestled safe harbor" leaves home for a position at a remote castle. There, the food will suck, but he will experience "true love, bitterest heartbreak, bright-white terror of the spirit, and an acute homicidal impulse."The Castle von Aux is a mysterious place, tended by two elderly staffers who serve an unseen master. Left to wonder about the dubious fate of his predecessor

Undermajordomo Minor begins where The Sisters Brothers leaves off: with a son saying goodbye to his mother. The title is a joke in The Sisters Brother mold. Lucy Minor gets a job working for the Majordomo of a castle that has fallen into disrepair, which makes him the Undermajorodomo. It's a story filled with strange violence, vivid scenes and elegant language. If The Sister Brothers is like a Coen Brothers movie, then Undermajordomo Minor is akin to a Wes Anderson film. Or, better yet, Franz Ka...

Sometimes a train is just a train. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Sometimes a hole is just a hole. Sometimes a book is just meh.If I were to choose one word for this novel it would be underwhelmed. If I were to choose two words for this novel the second would be cute. Cute works for puppies. It also works for babies. For me, however, cute doesn't work on its own for novels. Well, shit, I guess it isn't on its own. It is also, technically, sitting next to underwhelmed. But, you know what I'm

This is a very strange book, like a tongue in cheek fairytale full of eccentric characters, dark humor, silliness and sudden violence. It's set in an unspecified country where there's an endless war, the occasional orgy and The Very Large Hole. The inhabitants are always very polite, until they're not. The protagonist is Lucien (Lucy) Minor, 17 years old. He is hired by Myron Olderlough, the majordomo of the estate of Baron Von Aux. A hiring that led to "true love, bitterest heartbreak, bright-w...

Very offbeat and entertaining "fairy tale" that plays out like a Wes Anderson movie (think "The Grand Budapest Hotel"). I loved the main character Lucien (Lucy) Minor and the odd, unpredictable dialogue and characters. The problem for me was I kept waiting for a POINT. An explanation of everything going on. Logic. Purpose. Resolution.Uh uh.Never happened. It's a journey just for the journey's sake - and a very strange journey it is! Whether or not you enjoy it depends on your tolerance for silli...

"The Very Large Hole was very, very large."I heard Undermajordomo Minor referred to as a 'deconstructed fairytale' and I can't think of a more fitting description. This story has all the components of those legendary fables but it confounds expectations and winks at the genre's clichés in a playful and considerably more adult fashion.The action takes place in an unnamed European country, with a backdrop straight out of the Brothers Grimm. Lucien 'Lucy' Minor, our so-called hero, is yearning for

I have no idea why I liked Undermajordomo Minor so much -- it's completely off the wall -- but I loved it. I didn't even particularly like deWitt's previous book -- The Sisters Brothers -- but this time I really fell under the spell of this writer's oddball sensibility. One reviewer compared this book to a Wes Anderson movie -- which is an apt comparison. It doesn't fit neatly into any genre. It's like a very dark fairy tale for adults. It's surreal -- although nothing that happens is magical or...

What The Sisters Brothers did for the Western, this does for the Gothic fairytale. It’s not quite as fun or successful as the previous book, but has a nicely campy Dracula or Jane Eyre feel. Lucien “Lucy” Minor survived pneumonia thanks to a folk figure (view spoiler)[the devil? (hide spoiler)] who transferred the illness to his father. Now of age, this compulsive liar sets out to find adventure and romance as the undermajordomo of a castle in the quaint German countryside. Here he meets pic...

'He was mourning the fact that there was nothing much to mourn at all, he decided.'Smart humour and odd atmosphere are the big draws here and they delighted me. As I progressed, though, and certainly as I finished, I couldn't really see the point of it all.I'll admit my buddy-reader actively disliked this book and maybe some of his disdain actually landed on me. I like the fairy tale feel, and it really is very clever. It turns out that the story-line is just as absurd as its presentation, howev...

Why yes I do! It’s this story right here, in fact. Despite The Sisters Brothers having a spot on my TBR for an age, I never got around to reading it. Luckily, this came along . . . . With a recommendation of Undermajordomo Minor that ended up being such an unexpected delight.The story here is about a young man named Lucy (short for Lucien) who takes a position at the Castle Von Aux as – you guessed it – the Undermajordomo. The details of his employment are sketchy at best, with little ta

Majorly underwhelming, minorly annoying and thoroughly disappointing. In 2013, I read The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt's comic riff on The Western, and I liked it so much that I gave it 5 stars and recommended it to friends and family full throttle. I accepted its hyperdriven violence as dark comedy and I enjoyed its picaresque story, but what I wound up enjoying most of all were its characters. They were believable even in the midst of the sometimes over-the-top story and they gave the nove...

Well, that was quick. Quick because the storyline intrigued. Quick because there are short chapters, mostly dialogue, and a considerable amount of empty pages. Quick because it was hilarious.Patrick deWitt, whom I hadn't read before but now will, has a gift for dialogue, using it to invent not just characters but his own time and place. Two men are arguing:"I saw the sun set thousands of times before you drew your first breath.""And so?""I was entering women when you were still soiling your shor...

Exhaling sharply, she clapped the book shut and said, "I for one find it an annoyance when a story doesn't do what it's meant to do. Don't you, boy?""I'm not sure I understand what you mean, ma'am.""Do you not appreciate a little entertainment?""I do.""And would you not find yourself resentful at the promise of entertainment unfulfilled?""I believe I would, ma'am.""There we are, then.""Here we are," Lucy agreed. I couldn't agree more with the above sentiment. But how ironic it was that the autho...

In a rural mountain area in an unknown part of the world (mainland Europe?) at an unknown point of time (mid-19th century?), a young man called Lucien Minor nearly dies from a terrible illness before his life has even begun. He miraculously survives, resolves to have something happen in his boring life and is subsequently appointed as the assistant to the Majordomo of the Castle Von Aux - an Undermajordomo - where his wish will be granted. Thieves, maidens, warriors, demented aristocrats await -...

Call me an eye-rolling, disappointed prude, go ahead. I *almost* DNF at 66% but pressed on. Didn't really improve. I adored The Sisters Brothers BIG TIME (truly, big time) and pre-ordered the hardback of this book. It arrived this summer, and just before I could get going with it, a trusted friend told me that it was likely I would be disappointed. He and I have huge agreement on book selections and impressions, so I sat it out for six months. Doug was right. The book is quirky and is set in som...