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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62)

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Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm—and into Edgar's mother's affections.

Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires—spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward.

David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes—the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain—create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic.

Not always a happy ending -
Edgar Sawtelle had me spellbound. I was clearly not going to put this book down until I read the conclusion. Suffice it to say.. I do expect a sequel...if there is a possiblility that dogs could write. If and when a sequel is written, there might not be any spare time left in my life. Hmmmm that is a thought. At least I have more trust in a Sawtelle dog than I do in our present Government. What has become of "Forte"? Admittedly, I will be first in line to pre-order the sequel..

Tedious and Self-Indulgent -
This book is tedious, self-indulgent, and over-hyped. It is a rip-off of Hamlet, books by Martha Grimes (human-like animals), and even Hard Times by Dickens (the loyal circus dog). After suffering through this book, there is no ending. The exhausted reader is left up to guessing what happens to the dogs. One can only assume they go to Henry Lamb's farm. I cannot recommend this book.

What Happened? -
I loved the players and the twisted, exciting story build up, but.....did the author suddenly leave town before writing the last chapter? This was not an ending, only a terrible, deflating, defeating let down. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62)

Story of Edgar Sawtelle: a Rare Treat -
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is one of those rare books that comes along on occasion. I was reluctant to read it because of its length and because it is an Oprah pick. I don't usually read a book just because Oprah recommends it. However, I read several reviews of the book and the more I read about it, the more I wanted to read it. I actually started reading it from the library but then, I decided I wanted a copy for myself. The language the author uses is so rich and he makes the reader feel a part of the story. The title character, Edgar, and his parents use sign language with the dogs and it is incredible how the dogs respond. I haven't finished reading the book but I know when I do, the story will stay with me for a long time. This book is a story to savor and enjoy.

book order -
My order was placed in November, 2008. By the end of December I still had not gotten my order. I contacted the seller, no response. I contacted Amazon and received a reply, only to find out for some reason my order was never delivered to my house or mailbox and because it had no return address on it, it is now at a Mail Return Center. I have now had to write a letter, because they do not take calls, to MRC to try and get my order. This has been a big hassle. I cant believe the seller did not put a return address on my order. Plus I can't figure out why it was undeliverable to me, since I have never had any problems before. This was to be a Christmas gift. I am not happy with my experience with this seller. They did not answer my e-mails and no return address on the package. I wont even know if I can get my order at all.

Josette Stauffer