Familiaris

By: David Wroblewski

Narrated by: Richard Poe

Oprah’s Book Club Pick for Summer 2024

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 northwoods, 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 listeners 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.

©2024 David Wroblewski (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

Long but worth it

At first, I was a bit confused how this book could be so long but as the story progressed, it did a great job of interweaving all the characters stories and backgrounds. Their individual journeys and passions revealed with each chapter. The end part of the book showed the development of the characters, Their hearts and their painful and happy journeys and bound them together. It brought tears to my eyes, and I felt the deep connection and pain of their loss. I yearned actually for those kind of connections with friends and family, and I really felt the development of their personalitiesand connections. I highly recommend recommended for the thoughtfulness and the emotional connection.

Twists

The performance was excellent and the plot unusual. I like the story being told from the psychics view and that of the other characters and how they are joined. At the beginning I was hesitant but I got sucked in and could not stop listening

Stellar in every way

An engrossing story, touching, funny, and beautifully written with indelible characters. Haven’t read The Story of Edgar Sawtell yet, but going there next. Great reader who set the perfect tone to match the period, the people and the flow of events. I miss them already!

Refreshing

Liked all: the beautiful turn of a word, the deep and complicated character development, the sweet and wholesome intertwined story lines, the inherent acceptance of and even celebration of, differences. And the dogs. I’d very much like to meet a Sawtell Dog.

Long - like a family visit

This story was like a visit with family. Visit a bit then go your own way and come back for another visit, sometimes during a long road trip and sometimes while quietly sewing.