Book review by Jane
Edgar is a mute farm boy whose main companion is a dog named Almondine. Almondine would let Edgar’s mother know when he needed to be cared for, since Edgar did not cry. The Sawtelles were used to putting lots of stock in their dogs, and their dogs were highly sought. There is quite a bit of interesting information about dogs and breeding. The history of the Sawtelle dogs went back quite a few generations and they had records for every one. The dogs are amazing. Your hopes are with Edgar throughout. Edgar discovers the Sawtelle’s breeding history through letters of his grandfather, and then embarks on a journey of understanding the importance of the dogs at a deeper level than he had as a young child.

It is hard to believe that this is the first novel for David Wrobleski. I did not realize that when I started reading it. It is a well-written story. The characters are complete, dogs and people alike.

I’m trying to avoid providing spoilers for this novel. I really hope you will read it just on my recommendation, without me providing too much information. This story is full of irony and many things often have more than one meaning. It keeps you guessing and makes you put together puzzles through the book. It would make for a good discussion book, one that many people would be able to speak freely about after having read it. It may be safe to say that if you like dogs you will like this story. But it has a dark side. The story would make a good movie.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62) is an Oprah selection.

Jane.