Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

From Publisher’s Weekly:
Starred 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."

Last night I reached the end of the journey that is "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle." In a word, it was heavy. Within the first 20 pages a dog and a baby had died, and that set the tone for the rest of the book. I raced through the first 250 pages, continuously curious about what would happen next but always uneasy about what the next chapter would bring. Somewhere after that, Edgar was on the run, and there were nights I looked at the book sitting on my nightstand and almost didn’t want to pick it up. The effort that was his life was making me tired, even though he was persevering. But, I had come to care about Edgar as much as one can care about a fictional character, and I knew I would finish the book because I had to know how things turned out for him.

There are so many themes threaded throughout the book, all of which contribute to the realness of the characters and the overall literary value of the story. First, the human-animal bond. Edgar’s relationship with the Sawtelle dogs, particularly Almondine and the litter of pups Edgar’s dad assigns to his care, demonstrates the strength of non-verbal communication, the power and value of the bond, and the purest kind of love. The personalities of the dogs are as real as Edgar’s, and we experience them through Edgar. Not much more can be said without giving something away, but it is a certainty that any animal lover will be deeply touched by the Sawtelle dogs and their bond with Edgar. Second, the impact of family legacies – both positive and negative. Edgar demonstrated unwavering devotion to preserving the Sawtelle breed first created by his grandfather. Along the way he encountered evil, corruption, and greed, but honored the breed and its intended purpose in every way he knew how. He believed in it will all his heart and tried to do right by those who came before him and preserve their traditions. Edgar’s story also speaks to overcoming adversity, the impact of grief and trauma, self-reliance, and moral responsibility.

The final scenes are breathtaking, and I will not giveaway the ending here. Be assured it is the type of ending that leaves you silent and reflective for a long time after you turn the final page. It’s a story that draws you in from the beginning and is worth every emotion-filled minute.