Commentaries-The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (with spoilers!)
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Commentaries-The Story of Edgar Sawtelle-with spoilers
The complexity of the story of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" is truly amazing once you understand what material the author used as its basis. It has metaphors galore, besides some questions as to "what just happened?" that has readers scratching their heads.
Here is a researched look into the reviews and commentary to get into the meat of the book, to help you understand what really happened and to discuss any puzzling and unclear elements. Please do not read this lens if you have not read the book, as we tell you what happens, or what we and others think happened.
Please feel free to discuss the book here, in the comments area!
Here is a researched look into the reviews and commentary to get into the meat of the book, to help you understand what really happened and to discuss any puzzling and unclear elements. Please do not read this lens if you have not read the book, as we tell you what happens, or what we and others think happened.
Please feel free to discuss the book here, in the comments area!
New Table of Contents
- My commentary on "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Purchase "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" on Amazon for less
- Don't forget to look at Shilo's book
- Oprah Book Club Discussion="The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Barnes & Noble Discussion with the author
- Amazon Discussion of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Visit our other Lenses!
- Reviews from publications on "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Squidoo Lens with published reviews
- Comments & Discussions on the book
My commentary on "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
*SPOILER ALERT*
My commentary on the book from-"Thoughts from the Bark Side"
First, if you have not read "THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE" by David Wroblewski and intend to, just bookmark this post, and stop reading, the whole post is a *SPOILER ALERT*! However, if you want to go blissfully along reading this book and not know a bit of what will happen, I advise you to not read any reviews much less the book jacket. Even the book jacket gives far too much information, rather like the current crop of movie trailers that reveal the entire movie before viewing it. Buy the book, read the book, then proceed to the book club analysis- in that order. Ok, if you've not read the book- stop here.
Welcome to the club of the Sawtelle fans. Amazing writing, right? I am in awe of the style of writing of this software designer (!). I read somewhere that it took him 10 years to write the book, and he went to school to learn how to write such a book after having the concept for the plot. Education paid off. I have a quibble with the basic premise, but let's get to the meat of the book.
Based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" the threads of the plot from the classic intertwine all the way through the book right until the end. A true scholar would go back to the play and reacquaint themselves with it before writing this commentary. But I have not that scholarly intent. Hamlet is Edgar, Gertrude is Trudy, Claudius is Claude, Almondine is Ophelia (Edgar is 14 after all), Gar is the King Hamlet, etc. Edgar's litter of pups substitutes for the traveling players as Edgar reenacts the poisoning of his father by Claude, so do the players reenact the poisoning of the King by Claudius. We even have the vet, Doctor Papineau as Polonius and grave-diggers appear in both stories. Other of Shakespeare's classics are also brought in such as "King Lear," the Scottish play, "The Tempest" and I'm sure others.
The beauty of the book is in its range; its emotion, its language, its setting, the seasons, just the seeming simplicity of these humans and their brilliant dogs. It is, however, anything but simple. It is the communication between them all that is graceful and so incredibly sad. During Edgar's flight, though he never needed to go, he no doubt learned more than his parents combined and in that way lived a full life. He brought his children, his hand raised litter of pups with him so they might learn. They were wonderous students. At the end they were set free, and whether they returned to the "ordinary" Harry, or became their "own dogs" I'm not really sure, though I opt for the latter. What Edgar learned was that the dogs were taught to reason, that this was the true meaning of being a Sawtelle dog.
My quibble then has to do with the motivation of power which "Hamlet " contains and "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" does not. I feel that the tragedy of the Sawtelles is far greater. Their story is not about power, but envy which makes the tragedy all the more painful and harder to take. There was more at stake for Claudius killing the king and taking over the throne and a country than for Claude's murdering his brother Gar and taking over the kennel. Gar and his brother inherited the kennel which Claude willingly sold his share of to his brother. Of course in both stories, the bedding of the widow is key. Hamlet was about power-always a classic justification of murder in literature. In "Hamlet" Claudius is seen taking over the throne from the rightful heir Hamlet (and Claude interjecting himself into the running of the kennel instead of the too youthful Edgar.) However, the stakes were much less for Claude. Therefore the sin was all the greater for Claude in the killing of his brother (think pure evil) and of a 14 year old boy than the tragedy of Hamlet. The tragedy of the Sawtelles was far graver and less understandable, more reckless and almost trivial. Is it that we are so inured to death and killing in this age that the stakes need to be raised to make it equal to the 1600 death of a king versus the 1964 killing of a child to our insensitive psyches?
Quibbles asides, the language, the characters and their plight, and the dance of the words upon the mind act as an emotional coverlet that is hard to throw off. I watch a mind numbing television show so that I might escape the spell of this book's emotion over me, but it comes back to haunt, like the ghosts of the King Hamlet and Gar, I know it is there, and though it is not visible, its effect is too tangible. I am overly sensitive to the lives of our four-footed friends. Yes, I was traumatized at a young age by "Old Yeller" the cruelest movie passing itself off as family entertainment. Hurt, much less kill a cat or dog or just about any animal, and you have ruined the story for me. I managed to continue, though not happily, through the sad part of losing Almondine. There seems to be controversy if Almondine, like Ophelia, commited suicide, with the dog willingly walking into the traffic. However, I think Almondine was overcome with trying to find her "child" being Edgar, and in her one mindedness did not consider her own potential harm, she was ultimately the truly selfless one. How Wroblewski created these dogs' inner lives will live on with me as he gave them "thought." He has the dogs question, long for their humans as lesser authors can't usually express even for a human. It is painful and at the same time so moving. Almondine, trying to find Edgar as a car passes by, "She stood broadside in the gravel and turned her head and asked her questions. Asked if it had seen her boy. Her essence. Her soul. But if the traveler understood, it showed no sign." Having had some warning of this book, I might have classified it with "Old Yeller" without reading it. However, I am glad I had no forewarning. This book will have a lasting impact, and isn't that a truly amazing gift from an author to his reader?
First, if you have not read "THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE" by David Wroblewski and intend to, just bookmark this post, and stop reading, the whole post is a *SPOILER ALERT*! However, if you want to go blissfully along reading this book and not know a bit of what will happen, I advise you to not read any reviews much less the book jacket. Even the book jacket gives far too much information, rather like the current crop of movie trailers that reveal the entire movie before viewing it. Buy the book, read the book, then proceed to the book club analysis- in that order. Ok, if you've not read the book- stop here.
Welcome to the club of the Sawtelle fans. Amazing writing, right? I am in awe of the style of writing of this software designer (!). I read somewhere that it took him 10 years to write the book, and he went to school to learn how to write such a book after having the concept for the plot. Education paid off. I have a quibble with the basic premise, but let's get to the meat of the book.
Based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" the threads of the plot from the classic intertwine all the way through the book right until the end. A true scholar would go back to the play and reacquaint themselves with it before writing this commentary. But I have not that scholarly intent. Hamlet is Edgar, Gertrude is Trudy, Claudius is Claude, Almondine is Ophelia (Edgar is 14 after all), Gar is the King Hamlet, etc. Edgar's litter of pups substitutes for the traveling players as Edgar reenacts the poisoning of his father by Claude, so do the players reenact the poisoning of the King by Claudius. We even have the vet, Doctor Papineau as Polonius and grave-diggers appear in both stories. Other of Shakespeare's classics are also brought in such as "King Lear," the Scottish play, "The Tempest" and I'm sure others.
The beauty of the book is in its range; its emotion, its language, its setting, the seasons, just the seeming simplicity of these humans and their brilliant dogs. It is, however, anything but simple. It is the communication between them all that is graceful and so incredibly sad. During Edgar's flight, though he never needed to go, he no doubt learned more than his parents combined and in that way lived a full life. He brought his children, his hand raised litter of pups with him so they might learn. They were wonderous students. At the end they were set free, and whether they returned to the "ordinary" Harry, or became their "own dogs" I'm not really sure, though I opt for the latter. What Edgar learned was that the dogs were taught to reason, that this was the true meaning of being a Sawtelle dog.
My quibble then has to do with the motivation of power which "Hamlet " contains and "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" does not. I feel that the tragedy of the Sawtelles is far greater. Their story is not about power, but envy which makes the tragedy all the more painful and harder to take. There was more at stake for Claudius killing the king and taking over the throne and a country than for Claude's murdering his brother Gar and taking over the kennel. Gar and his brother inherited the kennel which Claude willingly sold his share of to his brother. Of course in both stories, the bedding of the widow is key. Hamlet was about power-always a classic justification of murder in literature. In "Hamlet" Claudius is seen taking over the throne from the rightful heir Hamlet (and Claude interjecting himself into the running of the kennel instead of the too youthful Edgar.) However, the stakes were much less for Claude. Therefore the sin was all the greater for Claude in the killing of his brother (think pure evil) and of a 14 year old boy than the tragedy of Hamlet. The tragedy of the Sawtelles was far graver and less understandable, more reckless and almost trivial. Is it that we are so inured to death and killing in this age that the stakes need to be raised to make it equal to the 1600 death of a king versus the 1964 killing of a child to our insensitive psyches?
Quibbles asides, the language, the characters and their plight, and the dance of the words upon the mind act as an emotional coverlet that is hard to throw off. I watch a mind numbing television show so that I might escape the spell of this book's emotion over me, but it comes back to haunt, like the ghosts of the King Hamlet and Gar, I know it is there, and though it is not visible, its effect is too tangible. I am overly sensitive to the lives of our four-footed friends. Yes, I was traumatized at a young age by "Old Yeller" the cruelest movie passing itself off as family entertainment. Hurt, much less kill a cat or dog or just about any animal, and you have ruined the story for me. I managed to continue, though not happily, through the sad part of losing Almondine. There seems to be controversy if Almondine, like Ophelia, commited suicide, with the dog willingly walking into the traffic. However, I think Almondine was overcome with trying to find her "child" being Edgar, and in her one mindedness did not consider her own potential harm, she was ultimately the truly selfless one. How Wroblewski created these dogs' inner lives will live on with me as he gave them "thought." He has the dogs question, long for their humans as lesser authors can't usually express even for a human. It is painful and at the same time so moving. Almondine, trying to find Edgar as a car passes by, "She stood broadside in the gravel and turned her head and asked her questions. Asked if it had seen her boy. Her essence. Her soul. But if the traveler understood, it showed no sign." Having had some warning of this book, I might have classified it with "Old Yeller" without reading it. However, I am glad I had no forewarning. This book will have a lasting impact, and isn't that a truly amazing gift from an author to his reader?
Purchase "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" on Amazon for less
Book Description:
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.
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.
Don't forget to look at Shilo's book
E-mails From Shilo
Shilo, a rescued golden retriever, has acquired years of personal experiences, observations & "issues." Befriended by a wise Basset, he discovers the lore of ancient wolves, history of the dog & the love of his human family. He shares his insights through humorous e-mails to his net pal, Max. Illustrated.
Oprah Book Club Discussion="The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
What they are saying on Oprah's website
Review from "O" magazine:(SPOILER ALERT)
"A CLASSSIC IN THE MAKING: Whether you read for the beauty of language or for the intricacies of plot, you will easily fall in love with David Wroblewski's generous, almost transcendentally lovely debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. This is a tale set in rural Wisconsin in the first half of the 20th century, on a farm where the Sawtelles raise a fictional breed of dog. The dogs function like spirits in Shakespeare, or the chorus in Greek tragedy: They color the text with larger meaning yet remain tangibly real, deeply believable as dogs. Edgar is the mute boy who raises them, a mesmerizing fictional hero, primitive and wise. There are passages of language here ("A pair of does sprang over the fence on the north side of the field-two leaps each, nonchalant, long-sustained, falling earthward only as an afterthought...") that make you pause and read again with luxuriant pleasure. Wroblewski's plot is dynamic - page by page compelling - and classical, evoking Hamlet, Antigone, Electra, and Orestes, as Edgar tries to avenge his father's death and his paternal uncle's new place in the affections of his mother. The scope of this book, its psychological insight and lyrical mastery, make it one of the best novels of the year, and a perfect, comforting joy of a book for summer."
- O Magazine, July 2008
This is the main information page with menus for topics related to the book:
General Information about Oprah's Book Club selection
Oprah's site has divided up the discussions into 5 parts, just as the book is divided.
"A CLASSSIC IN THE MAKING: Whether you read for the beauty of language or for the intricacies of plot, you will easily fall in love with David Wroblewski's generous, almost transcendentally lovely debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. This is a tale set in rural Wisconsin in the first half of the 20th century, on a farm where the Sawtelles raise a fictional breed of dog. The dogs function like spirits in Shakespeare, or the chorus in Greek tragedy: They color the text with larger meaning yet remain tangibly real, deeply believable as dogs. Edgar is the mute boy who raises them, a mesmerizing fictional hero, primitive and wise. There are passages of language here ("A pair of does sprang over the fence on the north side of the field-two leaps each, nonchalant, long-sustained, falling earthward only as an afterthought...") that make you pause and read again with luxuriant pleasure. Wroblewski's plot is dynamic - page by page compelling - and classical, evoking Hamlet, Antigone, Electra, and Orestes, as Edgar tries to avenge his father's death and his paternal uncle's new place in the affections of his mother. The scope of this book, its psychological insight and lyrical mastery, make it one of the best novels of the year, and a perfect, comforting joy of a book for summer."
- O Magazine, July 2008
This is the main information page with menus for topics related to the book:
General Information about Oprah's Book Club selection
Oprah's site has divided up the discussions into 5 parts, just as the book is divided.
- "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski-General Discussion
- Let's Discuss Part 1 of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Let's Discuss Part 2 of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Let's Discuss Part 3 of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Let's Discuss Part 4 of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
- Let's Discuss Part 5 of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"-mostly about the book's ending
Barnes & Noble Discussion with the author
David Wroblewski on his book
B&N-The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" Discussion Board This is the first page of the series of discussions that the author, David Wroblewski took part in August, 2008.
Amazon Discussion of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
Many topics examined, the ending, the characters, and of course what it all means, etc.
This is a very lively discussion over at Amazon:
Discussions of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" on Amazon
Topics:
Discussions of "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" on Amazon
Topics:
- Little girl at the diner
- The ending
- Posted reviews/commentaries of this book
- Edgar's "real father" ?
- Did anyone else LOVE this book?
- The Ending.. and parts in the middle
- What will the dogs do?
- Is Anyone Willing to Answer Some Questions About the Book?
- For someone who has read this: can you answer question please?
- Alternate reading
- Has anybody else read Frank Nappi's Mickey Tussler?
- I can't believe she picked such a crappy book!
- I don't trust Oprah's judgement in books anymore anyway.
- Should I read this if I hate animal literature?
- What about other books like this?
- The Sawtelle dogs' bloodlines
- Any ideas on the symbolism of Henry's Garage?
- Memorable scenes / moments / quotes
- Hamlet Summary looking for symbolism in book
- Why the mystery about how Edgar's parents Met & why did Henry say he couldn't be trusted?
- Sorry, but the book was too long and aimless
- Crossword puzzles
- What's in a name?
Visit our other Lenses!
Dog Writes Book & BlogThis lens has a bit of everything. Shilo takes the role of answer-dog and replies to questions submitted by other dogs. Great information on seat restraints, puppy farms, and of course, all about Shilo's autobiography, "E-mails From Shilo."
Dog Writes Book
E-Book 411 and Links
Are E-books replacing the paper version? Here is the 411 on all the major ebook equipment and software.
Here you will learn about all the different e-book formats, where you can purchase ebook hardware and where you can buy and download the actual ebooks. We explain what ebook software goes with what ebook hardware. Some ebook hardware just takes one kind of software, some three different kinds... we clear up the confusion!
Reviews from publications on "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"
Author, David Wroblewski's website
Squidoo Lens with published reviews
Comments & Discussions on the book
Add your two cents-what did this book mean to you?
Don't be shy, tell us what you thought of the book, what it meant, and oh, that ending!!!!
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Tara
Feb 18, 2009 @ 10:51 pm | delete
- The ending just made me want to cry. Not that I expected it to end differently but one can always hope right? You come to feel as though you really KNOW Edgar, that he's real and the ending really crushed me.
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Gail
Oct 21, 2008 @ 8:33 am | delete
- I absolutely, positively LOVED this book! Yes, the ending was tragic, but I see no other way that it could have turned out.
The Northern Wisconsin location is a large part of the reason why I love it so much. My Grandparents had a farm near Gilman, Wisconsin, not far from where this takes place. When I was a kid, I visited there at least once or twice a year. My Grandparents have passed on, and I haven't been in that area since 1992. So this brought back lots of memories for me! I read the first 3/4 of the book at a snail's pace, because I was constantly seeing stuff that I remembered and would have to stop every page or two and think about it. I now live in Texas, but I go home to see my Dad in Illinois every so often. The next time I'm up north, I'm definitely making a side trip to Northern Wisconsin and taking my copy of Edgar Sawtelle along with me!
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New_Englander
Oct 11, 2008 @ 6:46 pm | delete
- Hi Shilo,
Thanks for all the links-big help!
Why do so many people have a problem with the ending? How could it have ended differently if you were following Hamlet?
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by Shilo-GR
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