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Familiaris
The follow-up to the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling modern classic The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Familiaris is the stirring origin story of the Sawtelle family and the remarkable dogs that carry the Sawtelle name.
It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle's imagination has gotten him into trouble ... again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin's north woods, where they hope to make a fresh start--and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends--human, animal, and otherworldly--to realize their dreams.
By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, mysterious and enchanting, Familiaris takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the halls of a small-town automobile factory, through an epic midwestern firestorm and an ambitious WWII dog training program, and far back into mankind's ancient past, examining the dynamics of love and friendship, the vexing nature of families, the universal desire to create something lasting and beautiful, and of course, the species-long partnership between Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris.
It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle's imagination has gotten him into trouble ... again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin's north woods, where they hope to make a fresh start--and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends--human, animal, and otherworldly--to realize their dreams.
By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, mysterious and enchanting, Familiaris takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the halls of a small-town automobile factory, through an epic midwestern firestorm and an ambitious WWII dog training program, and far back into mankind's ancient past, examining the dynamics of love and friendship, the vexing nature of families, the universal desire to create something lasting and beautiful, and of course, the species-long partnership between Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris.
992 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
About the author
David Wroblewski
5 books1,040 followersDavid 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
April 27, 2024
At 1164 (kindle) pages, this is not a story you can read in a day, nor should you try. This is a book to sink into and spend time inside the pages, but if you read and loved ‘The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’, one of my all-time favourite reads, you will likely not need any encouragement to tackle this mammoth tome, as it shares the story of the years before ’The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’ begins.
’Familiaris’ shares the story of the years before ’The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’ begins. It is a long and winding road of a journey, but it is a journey you won’t want to miss, especially if you read and loved ’The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’.
This story begins slowly, with John Sawtelle in the early years of his life as an adult, which share the years as he and his soon-to-be wife are young and somewhat naive, but also filled with hope for the future. When John comes across a farm that appears deserted that is for sale, he envisions a life there and despite how little funds they have, he knows in his heart that this will be their home, and that despite all the work needed, that they will thrive there. This is where they will begin the work of raising and training exceptional dogs, and where they will raise their children when they come into their lives, as well.
With an old friend, Elbow, by his side, along with Frank, another old friend and a veteran of the war, and So Jack with his horse, Grandaddy, make a great team. Each has their flaws, some physical as a result of the war, but each is eager to help turn this place into something special. Their enthusiasm for what they are creating is what keeps them working hard.
When the dogs enter the picture, there is a tangible sense of change, an essence of both assurance and pleasure that this is what they are meant to do with their lives, to raise and train these dogs to be exceptional. I remember when I read Edgar Sawtelle how much that made me wonder about the Irish Setter I grew up with, as he was relatively young when he arrived in my life, but he had been sent by a previous couple who had bought him from one of our neighbors, then sent him someplace for obedience, and then returned him to the neighbor that they had purchased him from, and thus he became ours. I grew up with him, technically on him, as that is where I took my naps, who I learned to crawl with, and was, more or less, my babysitter.
There’s so much more to this story, so many wonderful characters who are considered family, as well as those who arrive as the years pass. A story that covers a lifetime of hard work, love, loss, and memories. Of family and those who become family as the story evolves. The journeys they went on, the changes over the years.
And, of course, the dogs.
Pub Date: Jun 04 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Blackstone Publishing
April 1, 2024
Received from NetGalley for an honest review, I squealed with excitement as I have been waiting for many years for the follow up to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I have 960 pages ahead of me, but I’ll be back with my thoughts on this one.
Two books, going backwards. I just finished the ARC prequel to The Book of Edgar Sawtelle, which I first read in 2008. After waiting 16 years for this, it was everything I needed, maybe a skosh excessive at times. I will want to ponder Familiaris a bit before I can really review it, the book takes you on a journey you never want up end - so to continue I think I’ll take another run at the original to tie it all together and truly see the forest for the trees. I pray the author comes to Mellen, WI, it could be worth the trip, scene of the crime as it were. My heart is full after this. Hold up.
As I mentioned, Familiaris is the prequel to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I read Edgar 16 years ago when it was chosen as an Oprah book. That combined with the fact it was written by a local man about a boy and his dog taking place in Northern WI, made it an instant must read for me. I had read that author David Wroblewski was writing a companion book and have been literally waiting for it. It did not disappoint me.
I found the length of the book immediately intimidating. Familiaris is 960 pages long. Once I committed I luxuriated in some of the complicated words and atmospheric scenes. It lays the groundwork for the Story of Edgar Sawtelle as it begins with his grandfather, John Sawtelle, in early adulthood, the strays – both human and canine - he picks up along the way. It was whimsical at times. We often “hear” John thinking and while occasionally the story gets a little lost in the sauce, the side tales draw the story out and often, me in. They end up in Mellon, WI as John finds a farm there that appears to be empty and for sale. He doesn’t know why but he needs to buy it and puts in an offer without sharing that detail with his betrothed, Mary. Ultimately, through an interesting twist, they buy the property and begin to assemble a motley crew. Each character is likable and brings something to the greater story in their own right. Elbow is a good friend from childhood who is a talented wood maker, Frank is a veteran of the Great War who is sprung from the Veterans hospital and So Jack and his horse, Grandaddy, have their own unusual tale. I found myself rooting for everyone.
Separate from John Sawtelle and his gang, there is a story of Walter who comes upon baby Ida – found in the ash after the Peshtigo fire (I do love a bit of WI history, this fire happened the same night as the Chicago fire. It did not get as much press as a result and devastated the area, it is on record as the deadliest wild fire in the US). Walter and Ida’s story converges with Sawtelle as Walter opens a general store in Popcorn Corners just up a piece from Mellon. There is some magical realism in their story which I found compelling, a bit weird but also delightful.
The story and how it unfolds takes a village, and this is a village I can get behind. It reminds me of button soup, how everyone brings something different to add the broth and the result is glorious. We learn about the dogs, the foundation of all things. We learn how Mary and John shape and develop their unique the dog whelping/ training business. Separate from the dogs, it is as if each character finds their own success while also finding themselves on the farm. Each characters aspiration takes a unique direction and away from the farm but in the end they are friends who are also a chosen family. There is some darkness but I felt it was generally painless and selfless.
Late in the book, we, the reader, learn how Edgar’s dad, Gar, and his brother Claude enter the picture, and the fissure there that grows between them. This difficult relationship is a cornerstone of Edgar’s story.
I re-read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle on the heels of Familiaris and I am so glad I did. The story is darker and heavier than I remembered, perhaps especially so following the gathering light of Familiaris. It is rather amazing how the Edgar story made sense standing alone but so much more sense and depth building upon the foundation of Familiaris. I marveled at the details now that I could see where the threads began. This book is a 5 star for me because I appreciate nostalgia, atmosphere and well told story, this book brought all of that and more for me. It was a pleasure to read.
Two books, going backwards. I just finished the ARC prequel to The Book of Edgar Sawtelle, which I first read in 2008. After waiting 16 years for this, it was everything I needed, maybe a skosh excessive at times. I will want to ponder Familiaris a bit before I can really review it, the book takes you on a journey you never want up end - so to continue I think I’ll take another run at the original to tie it all together and truly see the forest for the trees. I pray the author comes to Mellen, WI, it could be worth the trip, scene of the crime as it were. My heart is full after this. Hold up.
As I mentioned, Familiaris is the prequel to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I read Edgar 16 years ago when it was chosen as an Oprah book. That combined with the fact it was written by a local man about a boy and his dog taking place in Northern WI, made it an instant must read for me. I had read that author David Wroblewski was writing a companion book and have been literally waiting for it. It did not disappoint me.
I found the length of the book immediately intimidating. Familiaris is 960 pages long. Once I committed I luxuriated in some of the complicated words and atmospheric scenes. It lays the groundwork for the Story of Edgar Sawtelle as it begins with his grandfather, John Sawtelle, in early adulthood, the strays – both human and canine - he picks up along the way. It was whimsical at times. We often “hear” John thinking and while occasionally the story gets a little lost in the sauce, the side tales draw the story out and often, me in. They end up in Mellon, WI as John finds a farm there that appears to be empty and for sale. He doesn’t know why but he needs to buy it and puts in an offer without sharing that detail with his betrothed, Mary. Ultimately, through an interesting twist, they buy the property and begin to assemble a motley crew. Each character is likable and brings something to the greater story in their own right. Elbow is a good friend from childhood who is a talented wood maker, Frank is a veteran of the Great War who is sprung from the Veterans hospital and So Jack and his horse, Grandaddy, have their own unusual tale. I found myself rooting for everyone.
Separate from John Sawtelle and his gang, there is a story of Walter who comes upon baby Ida – found in the ash after the Peshtigo fire (I do love a bit of WI history, this fire happened the same night as the Chicago fire. It did not get as much press as a result and devastated the area, it is on record as the deadliest wild fire in the US). Walter and Ida’s story converges with Sawtelle as Walter opens a general store in Popcorn Corners just up a piece from Mellon. There is some magical realism in their story which I found compelling, a bit weird but also delightful.
The story and how it unfolds takes a village, and this is a village I can get behind. It reminds me of button soup, how everyone brings something different to add the broth and the result is glorious. We learn about the dogs, the foundation of all things. We learn how Mary and John shape and develop their unique the dog whelping/ training business. Separate from the dogs, it is as if each character finds their own success while also finding themselves on the farm. Each characters aspiration takes a unique direction and away from the farm but in the end they are friends who are also a chosen family. There is some darkness but I felt it was generally painless and selfless.
Late in the book, we, the reader, learn how Edgar’s dad, Gar, and his brother Claude enter the picture, and the fissure there that grows between them. This difficult relationship is a cornerstone of Edgar’s story.
I re-read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle on the heels of Familiaris and I am so glad I did. The story is darker and heavier than I remembered, perhaps especially so following the gathering light of Familiaris. It is rather amazing how the Edgar story made sense standing alone but so much more sense and depth building upon the foundation of Familiaris. I marveled at the details now that I could see where the threads began. This book is a 5 star for me because I appreciate nostalgia, atmosphere and well told story, this book brought all of that and more for me. It was a pleasure to read.
May 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read in return for an honest review. Without a doubt, the writing here is superb. Characters jump off the page with voices and actions and quirks that will remind you of people you know, and life events both joyous and tragic. I turned the pages quickly, eager to live the next adventures in the life of John Sawtelle and his wife Mary and their band of cohorts. And, of course, the marvelous dogs. But two-thirds through the 950+ pages, the narrative seemed (to me) to lose its way, and I began skimming. At perhaps 300 pages shorter, this book would have been a perfect five stars.
July 6, 2024
4.5 stars
This long awaited prequel to The Story of Edward Sawtelle is massive in volume but it is a wonderful story and well worth the time to read. It was a slow start for me but soon I was engrossed and reminded of the excellent writing from this author, David Wroblewski.
I agree with some other reviewers that the book could have been shorter but I am happy to have read it and would certainly recommend it to others who also loved The story of Edward Sawtelle.
This long awaited prequel to The Story of Edward Sawtelle is massive in volume but it is a wonderful story and well worth the time to read. It was a slow start for me but soon I was engrossed and reminded of the excellent writing from this author, David Wroblewski.
I agree with some other reviewers that the book could have been shorter but I am happy to have read it and would certainly recommend it to others who also loved The story of Edward Sawtelle.
April 24, 2024
Familiaris is a prequel to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (SES), relating the back story of the special dogs but mostly centering around John Sawtelle, his wife Mary and friends Frank and Elbow. In a smoothly written style, we learn the details of John's observation and training of the dogs. We follow his family and friends through the years including the birth and raising of Edgar and Claude as well as discover the motivation behind Claude's subsequent actions in SES. Other subplots include finely tuned wood boxes, interludes of the Goddess Nix and gourmet cooking. Familiaris is a wide scope portrait of an American family in the structure of the 20th Century relating many of the values and themes to be found in that context. Adroitly proposed through narration and plotting are many questions; for example, what is the course of life all about? What is our place there? Does hard and virtuous work count more than the complexities of individual identity? Bitter losses and gory life events are counterbalanced by optimism and perhaps even, interestingly, supernatural forces and are not indulged in morbidly. One is left with a sense of satisfaction after gazing across these special years and prepared for the events yet to be in the SES.
July 1, 2024
This book.
Damn.
It has a lot to live up to. Of all the books in the world that I've read up to now, its predecessor, THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE is a book that, for something like 16 years, I have labeled as my favourite novel of all time. The weird thing? I can't put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it's the characters. Maybe it's the story. Maybe it's the dogs. Maybe it's the gorgeous writing.
But it's my favourite book. So, FAMILIARIS has a lot of work to do.
And honestly, while there's no real plot beyond it being, in the first half, THE STORY OF JOHN SAWTELLE, it's truly enjoyable. It meanders here. It meanders there. It brings you to a certain point, then stops, jumps locations and characters, and starts all over again. The villains that show up are dispatched quickly and mostly off-stage. There's no slow build of tension as any reasonable book has, but there's tension throughout. Characters come and go. Some come back, some don't.
Then, in the second half, it kind of does all that again, but with Gar and Claude, John's sons. So, for a while, it becomes THE STORY OF GAR AND CLAUDE SAWTELLE. I will say I had a harder time with this section, primarily because of the business one of the sons was engaged in. I found it hard to believe he'd do this, raised in the Sawtelle home.
So, there's a good two to three hundred pages that I would rate more a 3.5 stars, rather than five.
And then, toward the end, it becomes THE DIARY OF JOHN SAWTELLE, which was both frustrating and illuminating.
But through it all, there was fear, and laughter, and anger, and frustration, and hope, and inspiration, and despair, and hate, and heartbreak.
Ultimately, this is a book about lives. About setting out to do something magical and, sometimes pulling it off, sometimes not.
This shouldn't work as a novel. But it does.
It does not supplant my ranking of EDGAR SAWTELLE as the best book I've ever read, but I'd say its a worthy successor to it, and an interesting prequel to that novel.
I can only hope we don't have to wait until 2040 for the next Wroblewski work.
Damn.
It has a lot to live up to. Of all the books in the world that I've read up to now, its predecessor, THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE is a book that, for something like 16 years, I have labeled as my favourite novel of all time. The weird thing? I can't put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it's the characters. Maybe it's the story. Maybe it's the dogs. Maybe it's the gorgeous writing.
But it's my favourite book. So, FAMILIARIS has a lot of work to do.
And honestly, while there's no real plot beyond it being, in the first half, THE STORY OF JOHN SAWTELLE, it's truly enjoyable. It meanders here. It meanders there. It brings you to a certain point, then stops, jumps locations and characters, and starts all over again. The villains that show up are dispatched quickly and mostly off-stage. There's no slow build of tension as any reasonable book has, but there's tension throughout. Characters come and go. Some come back, some don't.
Then, in the second half, it kind of does all that again, but with Gar and Claude, John's sons. So, for a while, it becomes THE STORY OF GAR AND CLAUDE SAWTELLE. I will say I had a harder time with this section, primarily because of the business one of the sons was engaged in. I found it hard to believe he'd do this, raised in the Sawtelle home.
So, there's a good two to three hundred pages that I would rate more a 3.5 stars, rather than five.
And then, toward the end, it becomes THE DIARY OF JOHN SAWTELLE, which was both frustrating and illuminating.
But through it all, there was fear, and laughter, and anger, and frustration, and hope, and inspiration, and despair, and hate, and heartbreak.
Ultimately, this is a book about lives. About setting out to do something magical and, sometimes pulling it off, sometimes not.
This shouldn't work as a novel. But it does.
It does not supplant my ranking of EDGAR SAWTELLE as the best book I've ever read, but I'd say its a worthy successor to it, and an interesting prequel to that novel.
I can only hope we don't have to wait until 2040 for the next Wroblewski work.
July 10, 2024
4.5 ⭐️'s
This is a difficult review to write. There were parts of the book I loved, but others I struggled with. There were many sideline stories that I felt were unnecessary and too long. Just a little background would have been nice. Other characters I would have liked more information about. Claude, where did he go? I also wanted more on Ida, Frank and Elbow. Forget the pages about dog training and record keeping and give me a soul deep character.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about the dogs. But for me less would have been more.
Now I need to mention Ida and Walter. I don't want to give any spoilers, but why is this in the book? A little magic with an overlay of mythical is the description of Ida. What was her true roll in the lives of the Sawtelle's? Again, I wanted more, more of a connection. More of Ida's voice.
The whole book is a love story that surrounds the main characters John and Mary. It spans their entire lives from the time they meet to the end of their days. And what a love story it is! This, this is the heart of the book. And it is so enjoyable.
"But how does the story of a life begin? Or in the case of Familiaris, the story of a thousand lives?"
The above quote sums up the books theme and also has me contemplating; "How does the story of a life begin?"
Thank you to David Wroblewski and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this wonderful book. I won it in a goodreads giveaway. Also thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC.
This is a difficult review to write. There were parts of the book I loved, but others I struggled with. There were many sideline stories that I felt were unnecessary and too long. Just a little background would have been nice. Other characters I would have liked more information about. Claude, where did he go? I also wanted more on Ida, Frank and Elbow. Forget the pages about dog training and record keeping and give me a soul deep character.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about the dogs. But for me less would have been more.
Now I need to mention Ida and Walter. I don't want to give any spoilers, but why is this in the book? A little magic with an overlay of mythical is the description of Ida. What was her true roll in the lives of the Sawtelle's? Again, I wanted more, more of a connection. More of Ida's voice.
The whole book is a love story that surrounds the main characters John and Mary. It spans their entire lives from the time they meet to the end of their days. And what a love story it is! This, this is the heart of the book. And it is so enjoyable.
"But how does the story of a life begin? Or in the case of Familiaris, the story of a thousand lives?"
The above quote sums up the books theme and also has me contemplating; "How does the story of a life begin?"
Thank you to David Wroblewski and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this wonderful book. I won it in a goodreads giveaway. Also thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC.
July 6, 2024
The writing is lovely, but it’s just too much, too long, too slow. I loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, so I had high hopes.
June 22, 2024
It took me a little to get into this book. I considered a DNF...but am so glad I persevered. Once I understood the characters and their motives, I was hooked. It truly is a wonderful book,! Great characters whom I loved and some I totally disliked. I am now reading Edgar Sawtelle and so glad I had all the background to the story. Read together, what an amazing set!
Read
June 19, 2024I didn’t finish. Gave it 10 hours, and still kind of boring. Don’t know why I ever start an Oprah book. They never interest me.
June 11, 2024
This is a prequel to the book The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The main character of Familiaris is John Sawtelle (Edgar’s grandfather) and the book begins with John being a young man looking for property to buy for him and his bride to be, Mary. Once he purchases a farm, two old friends join John and Mary in their new lives. We read about the training of the dogs and the births of Edgar and Claude. This is a chunker of a book (probably could have been edited down quite a bit in my opinion) but if you stick with it you’ll discover a story that is rich and worth your time and effort.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2024
4.25⭐️ I read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (a retelling of Hamlet) several years ago and it still lingers with me. Familiaris, the prequel, is more than just the origin story of the Sawtelle dogs—it is about found family, betrayal,and unconditional love.
July 22, 2024
There are many great storytellers, but IMHO only a precious few Storytellers (with a capital S). David Wroblewski is a Storyteller. This was my first Wroblewski novel, and I’m so glad I listened to it (and subsequently bought the hardback for my library) so I didn’t miss a single, solitary word.
I spent 35 hours in upstate Minnesota on a journey with John and Mary Sawtelle and their friends Elbow, Frank, and So Jack in a mesmerizing story set in the 1910s to 1950s. This is 100% a character-driven novel (my favorite). There really isn’t a plot outside of “a very interesting young man named John marries Mary and they randomly buy a farm in the North Woods and convince their friends to go with them … and then 50 years happen.” It’s told in both linear and non-linear fashion with meticulously written and compelling tangents and backstories for each character that could last several hours. I love me a good backstory!!
In simple, beautiful language Wroblewski describes love, marriage, friendship, war, loyalty, whimsy, betrayal, and loss, while describing the landscape and the seasons so vividly I could literally see it in my mind. He also includes a hearty dose of gorgeously wrought mysticism that pervades the entire novel. Oh, and he writes about DOGS. THE dogs. The imaginary, legendary Sawtelle dogs that I dearly wish weren’t imaginary.
The best way to sum up this book is to blatantly steal Richard Russo’s quote from the back of the book jacket:
“‘Suppose you could do one impossible thing,’” John Sawtelle says in David Wroblewski’s stunning new novel Familiaris. What would you do? Clearly, what the author would do and has done is write this impossibly wise, impossibly ambitious, impossibly beautiful book.”
Side note (for what it’s worth): I’m glad I read Familaris before considering reading the “sequel,” The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I have ZERO interest in reading even one more word about Claude.
I spent 35 hours in upstate Minnesota on a journey with John and Mary Sawtelle and their friends Elbow, Frank, and So Jack in a mesmerizing story set in the 1910s to 1950s. This is 100% a character-driven novel (my favorite). There really isn’t a plot outside of “a very interesting young man named John marries Mary and they randomly buy a farm in the North Woods and convince their friends to go with them … and then 50 years happen.” It’s told in both linear and non-linear fashion with meticulously written and compelling tangents and backstories for each character that could last several hours. I love me a good backstory!!
In simple, beautiful language Wroblewski describes love, marriage, friendship, war, loyalty, whimsy, betrayal, and loss, while describing the landscape and the seasons so vividly I could literally see it in my mind. He also includes a hearty dose of gorgeously wrought mysticism that pervades the entire novel. Oh, and he writes about DOGS. THE dogs. The imaginary, legendary Sawtelle dogs that I dearly wish weren’t imaginary.
The best way to sum up this book is to blatantly steal Richard Russo’s quote from the back of the book jacket:
“‘Suppose you could do one impossible thing,’” John Sawtelle says in David Wroblewski’s stunning new novel Familiaris. What would you do? Clearly, what the author would do and has done is write this impossibly wise, impossibly ambitious, impossibly beautiful book.”
Side note (for what it’s worth): I’m glad I read Familaris before considering reading the “sequel,” The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I have ZERO interest in reading even one more word about Claude.
July 8, 2024
This has been the longest book I’ve read/listened to in my life. It also has been the best book that I’ve read/listened that I can recall. This isn’t a book you gloss through. It’s a book that you settle into, savor and enjoy. If you like dogs, it makes it all the better. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter-it’s still a great story. The characters, descriptions of the northern Wisconsin landscape and overall storytelling made me laugh, and shed some tears. 37 hours of listening to this audio book wasn’t enough. Bravo, David Wroblewski! You have my standing ovation!
July 10, 2024
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is in my top five list of the most important books I've ever read. Fifteen years later, David Wroblewski has done it again. This book is pure magic. At nearly 1,000 pages there was never a moment I thought it should end. The story is so simple, yet so profound. There is humor and tremendous sadness. You won't read this book without laughing out loud or crying too many times to remember. It is so easy to get lost in the book and to feel like you know each character as if they were your neighbor. And the dogs...they add an element of purity and joy that is a part of life if you own a dog. The finest book of 2024 and in my top five of all time.
June 30, 2024
If this book had stopped after the early years, I would have rated it higher. Its a beast of a book, so I'm sure it could easily have done so.
It gave me 7 fantastic characters that made me laugh, made me cry, and made me care.
Then we did a time jump, and suddenly its Gar, Claude and too many dogs I didnt care about. Possibly the time to admit I didn't read the first book?
For the most part it was enjoyable if a bit over long, but I missed those early days.
It gave me 7 fantastic characters that made me laugh, made me cry, and made me care.
Then we did a time jump, and suddenly its Gar, Claude and too many dogs I didnt care about. Possibly the time to admit I didn't read the first book?
For the most part it was enjoyable if a bit over long, but I missed those early days.
June 30, 2024
This is the type of book that makes me wish for more rating options. It is a long novel--992 pages--and it contains an incredibly moving story, beautiful prose, and several imaginative storylines. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because the author appeared to get sidetracked a few times along the way. I love beautiful language and if the book is written well enough, I savor every word. Whenever I find myself tempted to skim, regardless of how great the majority of the book is, I know I have to knock the rating down a bit from 5 stars. Spoiler alert: there is a section that includes animal cruelty and I definitely jumped ahead through that part, too.
June 17, 2024
Beautifully written, it was a magical read that pulled me in and touched my heart. Was it long? Yes. Was it worth the hours of reading? Absolutely. I would do it again just to have the same journey of creative storytelling.
July 4, 2024
Stating the obvious. It was very, very long but good. There were some strange parts that didn't seem to fit and I thought that some the language/phrases/words of the characters didn't fit the times - more 21st century than early 20th century.
July 15, 2024
The follow-up to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. My only negative would be the length, but still beautifully written about Edgar's grandfather, John, his wife Mary, and their friends Elbow, Frank and So Jack. A story about their purchase of an abandoned farm in Mellon, WI and their work raising and training dogs. Loved all the characters and story. Although I haven't read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle yet, I don't believe that took away from this story since it was the prequel, but I plan to definitely read that one as well.
July 8, 2024
A great prequel to Edgar Sawtelle. Wroblewski does a masterful job weaving history in with several generations of Sawtelles and their dogs leading up to the birth of Edgar.
July 15, 2024
3 1/2 stars rounded up. This could have been a 5’rated book but there was just too much bloat here.
July 23, 2024
WOW! WOW! WOW! If you love dogs and an excellently woven story then this and his other The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle, are for you!
July 23, 2024
This book was a little hard for me to follow at times. I persevered and I’m glad that I did. The ending wrapped it all up for me .
July 21, 2024
LOVED this book. Just want to go back into this world. Despite 970 ish pages I want more. All the characters - so fun to get to know each of them 🤗. Can’t wait to read Edgar Sawtelle next.
June 29, 2024
This was so daunting. It’s so long. I thought it would take me weeks and my library stack was growing. It could use fewer pages but the love story is deep and very moving.
July 2, 2024
What an epic book! I recall very much loving The Story of Edgar Sawtelle 15 years ago, and this prequel, though different, was just as great. At first, I thought it was a bit long, but decided it needed to be to tell the story the way it needed to be told. A must read!
June 20, 2024
Could this book have been edited to be a little shorter? Yes. Or could it have been a little less effusive at times? Certainly. But overall, it is an extraordinary achievement as a novel filled with characters to carry with you for some time to come… most to love and a few to despise. Do all the characters have flaws? Yes, just like all of us. But the characters who form the core of the Sawtelle family (both born and chosen) are a delight to know. I loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, but it was dark and tragic (how could it not be with Shakespeare’s Hamlet as its subtext). By contrast, Familiaris is effervescent in contrast. John and Mary Sawtelle and their sons Edgar and Claude, and the friends that make up their family, the carpenter Ulysses Elbow, the WWI amputee Frank Eckling, the logger So Jack and his horse Granddaddy, and their Dry Goods neighbor and his daughter Ida have deep backstories that are fascinating. Wroblewski offers up a rich, heartwarming tale with humor throughout, as well as sadness and heartache. And perhaps best of all is the seminal development of the wonderful Sawtelle dogs along with the Wisconsin North Woods as their home. There’s even some magical realism added in that I am ordinarily leery of - but it works to give the story its sense of being an old fable, even though the events represent the first half of the 20th Century. Even though this book is very long, I was sorry to see it end. A beautiful story from beginning to end.
Want to read
June 11, 2024oprah pick June 2024
July 12, 2024
Wanted to love this as I had loved Edgar Sawtelle but it doesn’t didn’t work for me. Forced myself to read 150 pages before abandoning it.
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