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    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
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    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
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    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
    Ebook703 pages12 hours

    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

    By David Wroblewski

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    'I flat-out loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I don’t re-read many books, because life is too short. I will be re-reading this one.' Stephen King

    An International Bestseller

    Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life on his family’s farm in remote northern Wisconsin, where they raise and train an extraordinary breed of dog. But when tragedy mysteriously strikes, Edgar is forced to flee into the vast neighbouring wilderness, accompanied by three yearling dogs. He comes of age in the wild, struggling for survival, until the day Edgar is forced to choose between leaving forever and returning home to learn the truth behind what has happened.

    Filled with breathtaking scenes – the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain – The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a meditation on the limits of language and what lies beyond, a brilliantly inventive retelling of an ancient story, and an epic tale of devotion, betrayal and courage.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins UK
    Release dateSep 4, 2008
    ISBN9780007285471
    Author

    David Wroblewski

    David Wroblewski grew up in rural Wisconsin, not far from the Chequamegon National Forest where The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is set. He earned his master's degree from the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers and now lives in Colorado with his partner, the writer Kimberly McClintock, and their dog, Lola. This is his first novel.

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    Reviews for The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

    4/5

    238 ratings249 reviews

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    • 5/5
      In the remote reaches of northern Wisconsin, young Edgar Sawtelle and his family raise a unique breed of intelligent, companionable dog. Into this idyllic setting strolls Uncle Claude - a charmer with a touch of menace. When Edgar's father dies, Edgar and a loyal pack of dogs escape to the backwoods - suspecting Claude has committed murder. But no matter where they run, they cannot avoid the creeping hand of fate.
    • 3/5
      hamlet story set in Wisconsin. Deaf son sees dad's ghost after uncle kills the dad. Dogs
    • 5/5
      One of my favorites this year! A wonderful story, an incredibly beautifully written novel. This book deserves to become a classic! Adults will love it, and it is a great book for Young Adults and even tweens!
    • 3/5
      Story of dogs: Claude, the brother, kills father and son (end of book). Although Claude dies at the end, no one is the better for the chaos he creates.
    • 4/5
      The descriptions of the relationships between Edward and the dogs are unique and hauntingly beautiful.
    • 4/5
      Do you like Shakespeare's Hamlet? If you do, then there's a good chance you'll like The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which is an interesting retelling of the story in mid-20th century Wisconsin. The titular character is a mute boy who lives on a dog breeding farm.

      It's an often lovely book, and there is so much dog appreciate going on that it made me want to get a dog right then and there. But it also dives into one of my least favorite tropes, the 'main character gets lost in an unfamiliar situation and wanders through danger and then learns to overcome things through the help of a well-meaning stranger who then has to make a difficult choice.' And the book spends a huge chunk of the back half wallowing in said trope, so that made the last few hundred pages a drag. Still, a worthwhile book.
    • 5/5

      The story takes place in a small Wisconsin town where Gar and Trudy Sawtelle happily raise and train their own unusual breed of dogs. Their only child, fourteen year old Edgar, can hear but is completely mute, unable to make any sound. The family raises and trains a unique breed of dog, prized for their unusual temperament and intelligence. Unlike other breeders who focus on pairings between purebreds, the Sawtelles mated the best physical specimens as well as the most intelligent. Edgar learns the ways of dog breeding and training, always accompanied by his faithful companion Almondine.

       

      When Edgar’s uncle, Claude, is released from jail, Edgar's father gives him a job and a place to stay while he gets back on his feet. The situation becomes difficult before long, and disagreements spark a murder that shatters everyone's life on the farm. The results of this event eventually force Edgar to take some of the dogs and flee into the Wisconsin forest.

       

      Over the years I've avoided reading this book because I always know a book with animals is going to have some sad parts that I find hard to read. This book also seems to have fans that either love it or hate it. What I didn't realize is that The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a modern day adaption of Hamlet where dogs take the place of some of Hamlet’s main characters. And like most of Shakespeare's tragedies, it doesn't end with a traditional happy ending. The author does bring the characters, even the dogs, to life with a wonderful voice. The telling of the story could have been a bit shorter, but that didn't spoil it for me. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is eloquent and philosophical and the characters were so touching that I was crushed when I turned the last page of the book.

      "
    • 2/5
      Too predictable...it's a Hamlet spin-off...almost formulamatic...also melodramatic...
    • 1/5
      Agonizingly awful
    • 5/5
      Terrific read
    • 4/5
      I agree with all of the reviewers here on amazon.com that have said that "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" is a beautifully written, captivating story that creatively retells Shakespeare's Hamlet. The novel transports the reader to the Sawtelle farm in northern Wisconsin, and by the end the reader feels like he understands what makes these remarkable dogs so special. Although parts of the book are a little slow--and frankly what do you expect when you're reading a 500+ page novel--the story keeps you reading. My favorite element of the book was the supernatural--the ghosts, the dreams, even some of the "conversations" with the dogs that give Edgar's world so much depth and color, without feeling contrived. Although I would highly recommend this book, I would warn that it is not exactly a light summer beach read. The book is long, the subject matter is heavy, and the narrative often jumps between the perspectives of different characters (including dogs) which can make the book hard to follow. To fully appreciate this novel, you have to slow down and really read it, so make sure you have time to devote to it--it will be worth it!
    • 5/5
      I don’t read much fiction, so I tend to be pretty darn choosy about what I do read. David Wroblewski’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is proving to be well worth my time. It’s a fascinating book that weaves bits of Skakespeare’s Hamlet, Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain, Scott and Fuller’s Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog and Vicki Hearne’s Animal Happiness into a coming of age tale set in a kennel in rural Wisconsin during the 1970’s. I’m thrilled to report that the book avoids the quirky adorableness, purely positive political correctness and glorification of indulgent dog owners who act as mere spectators in their pet’s lives - that far too many of the dog-related novels written today have tortured me with.The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is most definately not a feel-good story, and at 576 pages it isn’t a quick, easy read. But it does provide a fascinating look into the lives of rural Wisconsin and the lives of dog breeders and trainers. The kennel and training routines depicted in this book are some of the most authentic and insightful depictions of this life I’ve read in a work of fiction.As many of the reviewers on amazon.com have noted, I agree that (as good as it is) the book could have been much improved by a more thorough editing. But, unlike most of those reviewers, I wasn’t put off by the long, detailed descriptions of the Sawtelle’s day-to-day activities with their dogs. I found them fascinating. It’s obvious that Wroblewski is well-read on the subject of dogs. I’d love the chance to sit down and chat with him.
    • 4/5
      This book was hard to put down. The author has a beautiful mastery of language, and his descriptions of nature are almost otherworldly at times. Likewise his descriptions of emotions, both human and canine. I would have given this five stars, but I found the tragic ending almost unbearable. I didn't realize until after I had read it that it was based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Had I known this beforehand, it would have done two things: I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the story as much, and I might have been able to bear the ending. Still. it's a wonderful read!
    • 1/5
      A lot of hype, unjustified. Some of the writing is beautiful, but this is offset by the fact that the book is over 200 pages too long. In the guise of lyrical imagery, some passages are almost indecipherable. If my book club did not have it as our next selection, I would never have finished reading it.
    • 3/5
      I sure wish someone had told me this was discussed as being a "modern retelling of Hamlet" before I read it. My expectations would have been much different and I might have enjoyed it more. Or perhaps I would have just not read it since I DON'T LIKE tragedy.
    • 3/5
      This book was beautifully written but I was beginning to get a very bad feeling from it and stopped and flipped to the last page. If I want my heart ripped from my body,let it be after I have died.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book. It's wonderfully written and isn't an ordinary subject matter. I hated to put it down each time I read and thought about the story whenever I wasn't reading it. I will read it again, and it's rare for me to do this. In fact, I'll probably read it more than once again. It is best read without knowing anything about the book. Read it. You will be a little poorer if you don't.

      It's about so much more than just the story that I won't even attempt to summarize here. I wish I had written it.
    • 5/5
      I read this for f2f bookclub and I really enjoyed it and can say that it still is a 5 star read for me. Hamlet type story set in Wisconsin.
    • 4/5
      Tragic, yes, but an unforgettable story.

      I will admit there was a long section in the middle of the book that took me a while to work through, as very little seemed to be happening, plot-wise. But it's worth persevering. I finished the final 150 pages in a day.

      I do wish the author had given us more insight into what made Claude tick. There are a few hints, but I don't understand how childhood and teenage resentments led him to do the monstrous things he did later.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book - so well written, and so sad. Now I have to read Hamlet! ... and then something a bit more upbeat before the holidays.
    • 5/5
      A most excellent read. A very interesting take on the Hamlet story. Fascinating insights into the world of dog breeding and training as well.
    • 1/5
      Did NOT like this book - bad ending.
    • 4/5
      Loved the dogginess of this story, having a hard time shaking the sorrow of it.
    • 5/5
      This book was amazing from the very first page. As a person who loves dogs, I was enthralled with the descriptions of the breeding and the dog training program described in the book and the way Edgar's father and grandfather created a new, extremely intelligent ando believable breed of dog. That aside, the story of Edgar's life was also fascinating. This is one of a very few books that I couldn't put down until I read it all. Then for months after, I could not stop thinking about it.
    • 3/5
      I read this book some time ago for a book club discussion but felt that I hurried through it so decided to re-read by audio book. I just finished listening to the 19 discs and I enjoyed the book more than on the first reading. It is probably because I already knew the ending. The idea of raising “Sawtelle dogs” was intriguing but I got lost in the details. The book changes between sad, morose and suspenseful. Edgar, who is born without a voice is brought up in and around the kennels and is raised by his father and mother. Tragedy or foul play strikes and Edgar is filled with anger and sadness. In fact, tragedy and or foul play seems to repeat itself in this book. Edgar Sawtelle is not a happily ever after book and is a bit depressing, although one character Henry was well developed and I was drawn into the positive interactions between him and Edgar. I am glad that I read the book a second time so that I could better understand the characters. The language was rich and the writing well done. The ending is very difficult so be prepared to shake your head in wonder leaving you with more questions than answers. I would give the book a 3.5 rating.
    • 5/5
      The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a wonderfully written book by a truly talented author. The story is compelling, the characters intriguing, the language beautiful and the reading of it effortless. For such a lengthy book (almost 600 pages), I was amazed how quickly I finished it. It pulled me in and was a delight to read.Edgar is a remarkable child who lives with his parents who are dog breeders. No ordinary dogs, however, but 'Sawtelle dogs' with amazing skills. The dogs play a large role in the book. I have never spent a large amount of time around dogs so I don't know how much of the dogs' behaviour is realistic and how much is bordering on fantasy. However, Wrobewski brings the dogs to life and they are as full in character as the humans of the novel.The main character - other than the Sawtelle Dogs! - is Edgar who is a young boy who is mute but is possibly a better communicator than most other people. He is clearly gifted in many ways and this becomes more and more apparent as the book progresses. He is clever, insightful and an excellent dog handler/trainer. The story is about Edgar Sawtelle and the tragedy that befalls his family and what follows next. But it's about many other things as well: love, loss, friendship, loneliness, family. It's hard to talk too much about the story without giving things away. The best thing to do is read it. It has been likened to Hamlet but as one other reader says, it stands alone as its own story.Finishing the book felt a little like emerging from a gripping dream, trying to stay asleep for just a few more minutes because you want to stay immersed in it for a little longer. It's a book that inspires many emotions, not least of all disappointment because you've reach the end of those 576 pages. It's certainly a book to put on the shelf and read again at some point, at which time I doubt it will be any the less engaging.
    • 4/5
      Like another review stated, I'm torn between 5 stars and 1 star. The beginning of the book was irresistible. I loved it. The last part of the book was seriously lacking. It's like the author lost steam and just wanted to end it.

      Certain things in the book reminded me of Harry Potter...I think it's just the frustration that comes with reading about a teenager. I was so irritated with Edgar at times. I really felt the frustration that he must have had with not being able to verbalize ANYTHING!
    • 3/5
      No doubt you have to be patient to train dogs and as Claude says in the book you can get anything you want if you are patient, and you have to be patient to enjoy this book. I found the premise of the story promising and about the first third of the book interesting and engaging. Then it becomes more and more abstract: ghosts, thoughts of animals, strange characters. I simply cannot figure out where some of the characters fit in or some of the strange events in the story. In my opinion, there were far too many unanswered questions and plot lines left hanging. Granted the writing is at times beautiful; I had no problem envisioning the Wisconsin woods, the smell of smoke, and the moist wet noses of the dogs. However, there was far too much detail about the nuances of training dogs (especially by a mute), and too many strange and seemingly unnecessary characters. Just too many words for what I consider a plot that has been told before (son avenges father's death, etc.)
    • 4/5
      G. and I are doing this as a read-aloud together. It's beautifully written. It might take us a while to finish :-)... UPDATE: Finally finished this as a read-aloud. It's fun trying to figure out the Hamlet cognates. A good story, with lots of finely-detailed observations about canine behavior.
    • 3/5
      The Story of Edgar Sawtelle includes some memorable scenes and provides interesting reflections on the relationship between humans and dogs. Once I recognized the aspects of the book that borrow from Hamlet, I became a bit less engaged with the text. The complexity of feelings that were already inherent in the stories of loss, redemption, and a quest for purpose seemed not not need the relatively simple revenge drama as well.

      The aspects of the novel I most enjoyed happened in between the main action: in the portions of the story that take on a dog's point of view, during the reflections of a ghost of a Wisconsin farmer recalling his family and regretting having spent a life doing work he didn't enjoy, in all the passages wherein characters dwell on their own lives and relationships. These are the standout portions of the story for me. I also enjoyed Edgar's delving into the extensive breeding documents from his family's business and all of the portions that recalled the activities of his father and grandfather in seeking out dogs in their effort to create dogs of superior ability and intellect.

      The writing, while showing sufficient craft to move the story in its intended direction, failed to engage me. Perhaps it is more direct and less embellished than I expected after the reception the novel received. I found myself wishing for metaphors at times, hoping that the dramatic images being adequately described could also be strikingly evoked so that they would activate my imagination more vividly. Perhaps one could argue that the relatively spare language suits the relatively simple country setting, but for my taste the prose tended to be more spare than served the story.