The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

This laudably written meticulous story is an adventure with a little mystery and a hint of paranormal (or hallucination), that arouses feelings of joy, sorrow, anxiousness, and everything in-between, all in a disarmingly measured way. Being an octogenarian, some parts caused me to leak at both ends."Life was a swarm of accidents waiting in the treetops, descending upon any living thing that passed, ready to eat them alive. You swam in a river of chance and coincidence. You clung to the happiest accidents—the rest you let float by."Of note: This is not a book for those wanting to read a wham-bang frivolous thriller/adventure/mystery with paper cutout characters. The story alternates between characters at chapter breaks, and each chapter is conveyed with omniscient narration, thus giving it a literary aspect.

This is a very elegant book. I understand why some reviewers call it long-winded but that's about style: this is not Tom Clancy or a similar author writing on a tight, fast-plotted story-line. You'll either like that style of writing or it'll drive you nuts. This book is not fluff but it's certainly not a chore to read, I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. Part of the charm of the book for those of us who like it is found in what some would call the 'digressions', although there are no true digressions in the book. Everything in it serves the end-point of the story.That said, I'm another person who found the ending not entirely satisfying, especially since it seemed to hinge on the dogs. It wasn't satisfying to me and not 'uplifting,' which I think was its intention. I'm not putting spoilers in here so it is hard to say exactly why it didn't work for me but perhaps this advice will help the next reader: I urge the reader not to be "species centric" as you devour this book because for the book to work the dogs have to be characters on an equal basis to the humans, not simply appendages to a human story, not even supporting characters to the human story. To me that becomes critical at the end. I want to avoid spoilers but being as general as I can be while still (hopefully) making sense, it might help to have the idea that the book is about the dogs and the transformation of the dogs into free beings of choice through the breeding of the Sawtelles. It is the dogs that will remain.I thought I was good with the story except at the end and then I didn't feel a connection with the group of dogs with Essay. The ending wasn't as compelling to me as it should have been and I think that's because I was too deeply into the human side of the story to see an ending that hinges on dogs as compelling (and I like dogs!). I think the people who really love this book don't have my limitations as a reader. I think the people who find the ending a huge let-down are probably not able to get the story at the level of the dogs.Anything that is loosely based on Hamlet isn't likely to have a happy ending, but if the story always remains about the people you're likely to find the ending unsatisfying; for the book to work completely it needs to become about the dogs, possibly even more than the people, except as they relate to the growth of the dogs.With that in mind, there's a dog character that I just didn't see the point of, not during the story; not at the end. I knew it was going past me as I was reading and I suspect that the people who really love the book rather than just being well-satisfied by it got the bit about that one "free" dog in a way that I did not. So do your best to be conscious of the status of the dogs in your own mind as you read the story and you'll probably enjoy the ending more than the dissatisfied reviewers here.

An account; a statement; a narrative. These pallid definitions of a story have no place in this review. Stories that last evoke a visceral feeling, touch our humanity, show us sides of ourselves and the world that we knew existed but could not articulate."The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" is just such a story. It is epic, heroic, romantic; a saga of generations familiar to any one of us in parts, if not in total. I said epic, heroic, romantic - but not in the flashy or grandiose sense of these genres. It is a story quietly told, familiar, compelling, delving into common themes of love, marriage, envy, fear, childhood, and a murderous hatred.It begins "In the year 1919, Edgar's grandfather, who was born with an extra share of whimsy bought their land and all the buildings on it from a man he'd never met." This extra share of whimsy permeates the Sawtelle family, down through the generations. It sparks their dreams and creates what is the center of their lives - the raising of dogs who are more than mere animals or pets. The Sawtelle dogs are thoughtful companions, friends, intuitive, chosen and trained to encourage their innate humanity.Edgar of the title is the third generation to work with these fantastical dogs. He loves them like family and in return, receives the love, humor, and life affirming qualities possessed by the dogs.These qualities are revealed early on in the story. "Eventually she understood the house was keeping a secret from her. All that winter and all through the spring, Almondine had known something was going to happen, but no matter where she looked, she couldn't find it." Almondine is a Sawtelle dog, and that thing she sensed was Edgar, waiting to be born. Almondine becomes Edgar's lifelong companion. She guards and protects Edgar, she intuits his thoughts and feelings, and she understands the signs and body language that this mute boy uses in place of vocalizations. Edgar was born mute; hearing but mute.This numinous story slowly grabbed my heart and soul, making me read on far into the night, until I realized that soon, it would end. And to all indications, it would not end well for the Sawtelles and their wonderful dogs. I began to parcel out the pages I would read at one time, hoping to prolong the time spent in the midwestern, small town world of the Sawtelles. I wanted to return to the refulgence of the earlier portions of the story, yet could not stop from reading this story to its bitter end.Wroblewski is a writer of great talent and imagination. He strings together the most prosaic of words into jewels, evocative, sensual; words which, connect right to the soul. The story of family, love, and hatred is timeless. Edgar comes alive on these pages, as does Almondine, and the strength and depth of their relationship resonates throughout the story. Edgar's forced hejira leaves Almondine searching for "her boy. Her essence. Her soul."To me, these words so clearly describe how special this story is. And how very possible it is that dogs and people can be so closely united - soulmates. This thread winds its way through the story making the dogs' lives and "stories" as compelling and urgent as are the lives of the Sawtelle family.If you only read ONE book this year - make it "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle."

This was a reading group choice - so probably not a book I would have picked normally. "It's Hamlet with dogs - you will love it!" I was assured.Edgar is a mute boy being brought up on a farm in Wisconsin where his parents breed and train dogs. His father dies and his uncle Claude gradually moves in takes his place. The Hamlet references are fairly easy to spot: Trudy/Gertrude, Claude/Claudius Papineau/Polonius. There is even an Ophelia but I won't spoil that for any future reader. The Hamlet references work well, especially the way in which Claude insinuates himself into the family.Unfortunately I did not love this book. After a concert Emperor Joseph II is supposed to have said "Too many notes, Mozart, too many notes." I felt the same about Edgar Sawtelle - too many words. - 550 pages of small print. The story just took much too long to tell and there were several sections that could easily have been omitted (such as the time Edgar stays with Henry). The physical landscape is very well portrayed and Edgar is a likeable central character. But the story as a whole just did not grip me.

I read this book after watching Oprah rave about it on her show. I absolutely love dogs and have three of my own. I really did enjoy the story and loved the Almondine chapters and wish the author would write a whole book from a dog's perspective though it could prove heartbreaking. I didn't like the 101 ways to describe weather. Some description was beautiful but some just got in the way of the progress of the story. It almost felt like the author was padding out the story. I loved the characters and would say that the farm itself was the main character in the book. I have marked it down due to lack of substance but have heard that the author is going to make this a three book series so I will be reading them all when they come out.

I have never written a review before. I never read books twice.I am writing this review because I thought The Story of Edgar Sawtelle was such a fantastic book. It was a real roller coaster which left me emotionally drained at the end. Anyone who loves, understands and has a close relationship with dogs should read this book.I read it twice (with at least ten years in between) and love it both times.

I was given this by a friend and was so impressed that I bought a copy to re-read in the future. I've never read a story quite like it and enjoyed it for many reasons but most of all because one never quite knows where it's going next. A thoroughly good read.

One of the most incredible books I have ever read. It takes the reader on a journey difficult to describe and touches many emotions.I cannot recommend it highly enough.