• The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

  • By: David Wroblewski
  • Narrated by: Richard Poe
  • Length: 21 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (719 ratings)

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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle  By  cover art

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

By: David Wroblewski
Narrated by: Richard Poe
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Publisher's summary

The extraordinary debut novel that became a 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 remarkable gift for companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally.

Edgar seems poised to carry on his family's traditions, but when catastrophe strikes, he finds his once-peaceful home engulfed in turmoil.

Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the Sawtelle farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who accompany him, until the day he is forced to choose between leaving forever or returning home to confront the mysteries he has left unsolved.

Filled with breathtaking scenes, the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a meditation on the limits of language and what lies beyond, a brilliantly inventive retelling of an ancient story, and an epic tale of devotion, betrayal, and courage in the American heartland.

©2008 David Wroblewski (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

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What listeners say about The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Devastatingly Dark Story

I gave up on this one when it became clear that poor Edgar and his mama couldn't get a break. Wroblewski is a powerful writer, but his imagination is dark and mythic in a way that got just too heavy for my somewhat fragile psyche during a hugely snowy Maine winter. I got the book out of the library, power-read through what I *thought* would be the dark part, and then discovered that Wroblewski was going to make the rest of the book dark. . . . so I let myself off the hook. It's a hugely sprawling book with lots of echoes and overtones of myths, archetypes, Dante, etc. etc., but it's way too devastating for my daily commute. Wroblewski cuts no one a break in this story--no one, including any reader foolish enough to become connected to any of his characters.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Incomplete

Why bother writing a story if you can't put a plausible ending on it? Weak, weak ending. Almost a waste of time. Lots of potential but fell WAY short

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Worth Every Penny!

In a nutshell....this is a book you have to experience to gain a unique perspective on the trials and triumphs of a very special boy. Edgar's life was was extraordinary as was that of his furry friends, most notably Almondine, and the author did a great job of painting a verbal picture of their worlds. The narrator also gets a big shout out for bringing all of the characters to life in their own distinctive ways. Great book, great narrator....well worth the cost and time spent listening to it.

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14 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • KM
  • 12-25-19

American gothic

I'm sorry, I know this was a lauded novel when it came out. And it is "literature," or at least, it tries to be literature and succeeds maybe 70% of the time. Until the end. I was SO MAD when the story ended, couldn't believe it. Being dumped in the dirt after spending so much time (21 hours! it's a big book) is a shock. I can handle a gothic tragedy, and I can even, after 50 years, respect a nihilistic vision, even if I don't like it. But if an author is going to take up my precious time and end in tragedy, they have an obligation to make a point! Moby Dick this aint. It is overthought and shallow, ultimately, while leaving the reader in a terrible emotional state. I don't recommend it to anyone.

I read a book like this and I feel ever more alienated from the literary establishment - it's so hard to find a good story in print anymore and it seems like our best books these days are all non-fiction. Is it because what's labeled as "good" by literary critics, literature professors, and the rest of the literary establishment is just... dry and missing the juice, the connection that makes a good story? And so the good storytellers go write screenplays? Ha!

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11 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Like a Bad Dream

Any additional comments?

Wow, I really wanted to like this book. There were some very interesting segments, but every time something hopeful seemed about to occur, the writer beat me up. The final storyline was incredibly disappointing and depressing. Maybe I'm missing something here about what the writer was trying to say, but I think not. I suppose he just likes dogs and believes all men are evil. The narrator could not save this book.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The ending

I enjoyed this book, hating to get out of the car and stop listening, until the end. The ending was the worst I have read (listened to) in decades.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • CS
  • 09-30-15

Great story, horrible ending.

This book was a great read. I absolutely loved the story, but the issue came with the ending. I thought the ending was a illogical ending. It doesn't give any closure, just ends. Very abrupt. The only positive is that you have absolutely no idea what is to come until 10 pages left in the book. All in all I would recommend this book, just expect a poor ending.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Double the stars heck triple them

This is one of the finest pieces of modern literature I've had the honor of reading / listening. Poignant captivating mesmerizing important meaningful depressing moving enhancing painful. Astute observer of human behavior and a velvety profound understanding of canine perception and loyalty. It hurt to read it but I am a better person for it. Astounding prose. Thank you Mr Wroblewski. Don't overlook this masterpiece.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Horrible ending

The narration is great, the story was good all the way through. Could not have been more disappointed with the ending. Like climbing a mountain to nowhere.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific story, performance and prose

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Richard Poe gives a wonderful performance of this incredibly well written tale

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle?

Edgar's journey when he leaves home

What does Richard Poe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pacing and nuanced expressions of the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It will make you laugh and cry

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4 people found this helpful