$17.95
List price: 26.95
You save: $9.00
HARDCOVER, USED
Ships in 1 to 3 days
| Qty | Store | Section |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnside | Literature- A to Z |
| Hide store locations | ||
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by David Wroblewski
|
|
|
About This Book
ISBN13: 9780061374227 |
Only 1 left in stock at $17.95!
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
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.
Review:
"A literary thriller with commercial legs, this stunning debut is bound to be a bestseller. In the backwoods of Wisconsin, the Sawtelle family — Gar, Trudy and their young son, Edgar — carry on the family business of breeding and training dogs. Edgar, born mute, has developed a special relationship and a unique means of communicating with Almondine, one of the Sawtelle dogs, a fictional breed distinguished by personality, temperament and the dogs' ability to intuit commands and to make decisions. Raising them is an arduous life, but a satisfying one for the family until Gar's brother, Claude, a mystifying mixture of charm and menace, arrives. When Gar unexpectedly dies, mute Edgar cannot summon help via the telephone. His guilt and grief give way to the realization that his father was murdered; here, the resemblance to Hamlet resonates. After another gut-wrenching tragedy, Edgar goes on the run, accompanied by three loyal dogs. His quest for safety and succor provides a classic coming-of-age story with an ironic twist. Sustained by a momentum that has the crushing inevitability of fate, the propulsive narrative will have readers sucked in all the way through the breathtaking final scenes. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:
"I doubt we'll see a finer literary debut this year than The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. David Wroblewski's got storytelling talent to burn and a big, generous heart to go with it." Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls
Review:
"I flat-out loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.... Wonderful, mysterious, long and satisfying.... I don't re-read many books, because life is too short. I will be re-reading this one." Stephen King
Review:
"A stately, wonderfully written debut novel... [Wroblewski] takes an intense interest in his characters; takes pains to invest emotion and rough understanding in them; and sets them in motion with graceful language... a boon for dog lovers, and for fans of storytelling that eschews flash. Highly recommended." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Review:
"An excruciatingly captivating read... Ultimately liberating, though tragic and heart-wrenching, this book is unforgettable." Library Journal (starred review)
Review:
"Edgar Sawtelle is a boy without a voice, but his world, populated by the dogs his family breeds, is anything but silent. This is a remarkable story about the language of friendship — a language that transcends words." Dalia Sofer, bestselling author of The Septembers of Shiraz
Review:
"A good old-fashioned coming-of-age yarn. Grade: A" Entertainment Weekly
Synopsis:
This riveting saga of an American family captures the deep and ancient alliance between humans and dogs, and the power of fate through one boy's epic journey into the wild.
About the Author
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.
What Our Readers Are Saying
Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
-
bergdo, July 21, 2008 (view all comments by bergdo)
As your old neighbor, teacher, & 4N6 coach at Pittsville , I am impressed with all you have accomplished in the nation's #1 novel. It is an outstanding literary work written by an obviously outstanding author. I have learned a lot of new vocabulary (and that's exciting for an English teacher!) I am very proud of you! Thanks for the enjoyable read.
Congrats and hope you make a trip back to good ole' Pittsville, Wisconsin, soon.
-
Tom Scruggs, June 26, 2008 (view all comments by Tom Scruggs)
When I realized I was less than 100 pages from the end of this fabulous book, I felt disappointed because I wasn't ready for it to be over. The book had drawn me in thoroughly as no book has done in a long time. The characterizations were excellently handled and the plot always kept my rapt attention. I really loved this book.
-
alsek, June 11, 2008 (view all comments by alsek)
Outstanding first work of fiction set in northern Wisconsin. The main protagoninst is a mute boy who makes for the wilds with a group of canine companions. One of the most moving works of fiction I've read this year. Do yourself a favor and escape into this wonderful book.
View all 3 comments
Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780061374227
- Subtitle:
- A Novel
- Author:
- Author:
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Ecco
- Subject:
- General
- Subject:
- General Fiction
- Subject:
- Literary
- Subject:
- Coming of age
- Subject:
- Family life
- Subject:
- Human-animal relationships
- Subject:
- Speech disorders
- Copyright:
- 2008
- Publication Date:
- June 2008
- Binding:
- Hardcover
- Grade Level:
- General/trade
- Language:
- English
- Pages:
- 576
- Dimensions:
- 9.24x6.52x1.89 in. 2.05 lbs.
