The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

# Of book read so far this year: 5
Title: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Author: David Wroblewski
Narrator: Richard Poe
Year Published: 2008
Rating (1-10): 10
Date Finished: 01/26/09
Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction
# Of pages: 576, 21 hrs 45 min.
Where did the book come from: Audible.com
Series: N/A

Blurb: 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 strikes, Edgar is forced to flee into the vast neighboring wilderness, accompanied by only three yearling pups. Struggling for survival, Edgar comes of age in the wild, and must face the choice of leaving forever or revealing the terrible truth behind what has happened

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.


My Comments: As a sign language interpreter and one who is familiar with the deaf culture, I took a great interest in this story. As it turns out, Edgar was not a part of any deaf community, but that’s okay. It didn’t matter, in the end. If I had known just how long it really would take to get through it, I probably would have been too daunted by it. I’m so glad I chose it from Audible.com!

This is truly a family saga and an epic tale, and I have no doubt it will become a classic. I was really amazed that I was kept so interested as it took nearly 22 hours of listening to get through it. It is written vividly and with real emotional impact. It has a bit of the paranormal in it, but only a bit – just enough to make it interesting. I found it to be a compelling read (well, okay, “listen”) and was always eager to get back to it. I felt that Edgar was someone that I knew, and so many times I wanted to help him out or give him advice. At times the prose is almost lyrical. It is a story I will not soon forget, and it made me view my own dogs in a new light. This is a book that made me go hunting for more information, both about the book itself and the author. It is a must read – but bear in mind it is definitely a big book and it’s going to take you some time investment to read it. Worth it!