For October/November we had a spirited discussion of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski on Wednesday November 12 at Carmyn's apt. We also had sour creamy cheesy baked chicken breasts, baked potatoes, green beans, and apple crisp and apple pie ice cream for dessert!
I have been sort of waiting to write about this until after I'd finished the book, but that still hasn't happened so I'll not prolong this any further.
Most everyone in our group enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked it too, but simply ran out of time and then kept on being busy afterward. The Hamlet connections were the focus of much of our discussion. Having a number of English teachers in the group certainly helps. It's been ages since I've read Hamlet, but even I recognized many of the allusions.
I found the language and imagery to be engaging and I enjoyed the descriptions of the dog training aspects, mainly because it was so unfamiliar.
I intend to finish the book, probably over vacation. In the meantime, here are a few words from Goodreads on the book:
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... spoilers omitted....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.
Read this one. It comes highly recommended.
