I was very much looking forward to another book by this author. It has been many years since his first book. I thought the story telling here was good with some interesting characters and relationships, but the book was way too long.

I had an opportunity via NetGalley to read Familiaris, the prequel to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I read Edgar 15 years ago when it was chosen as an Oprah book. That combined with the fact it was written by a local man about a boy and his dog taking place in Northern WI, made it an instant must read for me. I had read that author David Wroblewski was writing a companion book and have been literally waiting for it. It did not disappoint me.
I found the length of the book immediately intimidating. Familiaris is 960 pages long. Once I committed I luxuriated in some of the complicated words and atmospheric scenes. It lays the groundwork for the Story of Edgar Sawtelle as it begins with his grandfather, John Sawtelle, in early adulthood, the strays – both human and canine - he picks up along the way. It was whimsical at times. We often “hear” John thinking and while occasionally the story gets a little lost in the sauce, the side tales draw the story out and often, me in. They end up in Mellon, WI as John finds a farm there that appears to be empty and for sale. He doesn’t know why but he needs to buy it and puts in an offer without sharing that detail with his betrothed, Mary. Ultimately, through an interesting twist, they buy the property and begin to assemble a motley crew. Each character is likable and brings something to the greater story in their own right. Elbow is a good friend from childhood who is a talented wood maker, Frank is a veteran of the Great War who is sprung from the Veterans hospital and So Jack and his horse, Grandaddy, have their own unusual tale. I found myself rooting for everyone.
Separate from John Sawtelle and his gang, there is a story of Walter who comes upon baby Ida – found in the ash after the Peshtigo fire (I do love a bit of WI history, this fire happened the same night as the Chicago fire. It did not get as much press as a result and devastated the area, it is on record as the deadliest wild fire in the US). Walter and Ida’s story converges with Sawtelle as Walter opens a general store in Popcorn Corners just up a piece from Mellon. There is some magical realism in their story which I found compelling, a bit weird but also delightful.
The story and how it unfolds takes a village, and this is a village I can get behind. It reminds me of button soup, how everyone brings something different to add the broth and the result is glorious. We learn about the dogs, the foundation of all things. We learn how Mary and John shape and develop their unique the dog whelping/ training business. Separate from the dogs, it is as if each character finds their own success while also finding themselves on the farm. Each characters aspiration takes a unique direction and away from the farm but in the end they are friends who are also a chosen family. There is some darkness but I felt it was generally painless and selfless.
Late in the book, we, the reader, learn how Edgar’s dad, Gar, and his brother Claude enter the picture, and the fissure there that grows between them. This difficult relationship is a cornerstone of Edgar’s story. I re-read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle on the heels of Familiaris and I am so glad I did. The story is so much darker and heavier than I remembered, perhaps especially so following the gathering light of Familiaris. It is rather amazing how the Edgar story made sense standing alone but so much more sense and depth building upon the foundation of Familiaris. I marveled at the details now that I could see where the threads began. This book is a 5 star for me because I appreciate nostalgia, atmosphere and well told story, this book brought all of that and more for me. It was a pleasure to read.

Much as I love this author, his subject matter, and his writing style, this book was just too long. It felt as though he was just taking on too many characters and subjects...that this large tome could have been broken up into several stand-alone books. My favorite character by far was Frank. He started out as a surly pain killer addicted crank, who was saved by his friends John and Mary. He ended up wealthy and a softy for helping out his friends. Delightful. Everything and everyone was tied up, I felt, except for Claude. And only at the end do you learn the true author of the book, which makes total sense given the long-winded, adjective-riddled style, but still, too long. Definitely too long for our organization and most book clubs.

A wonderful, heartfelt sequel to the first novel. An author that writes with authentic feeling and soul

This might be the hardest book review I write in 2024.
…..I’m reminded of the childhood ‘Daisy-Flower-petal’ saying….
“she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me”.
……ultimately….after all my thoughts, feelings, whining, and sometimes exhaustion, by the end of this novel, I felt deep appreciation, love, and personal growth.
This story highlights the best and worst moments in life, the disgraces, failures, disappointments…..but it also highlights triumphs, gratefulness and love.
And….as only the best books do…..it’s heartbreaking, hilarious, and brilliant ….with extraordinary depth, and beauty.

I’ll begin with the *good stuff*:
….Fifteen years ago David Wroblewski, from North Woods Wisconsin, wrote the most a fabulous debut, “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” …. a retelling of Hamlet….. but focused on a thirteen mute boy living on a dog farm.
‘A-dog-people-heaven-read’!!!!
I never wanted to put the book down.
Some readers felt 576 pages, was too long. I found it so page-turning enjoyable and remarkable, with breathtaking-meaningful descriptions, that I was never aware of the books length.

*Less good stuff*
(I’ll come back to more ‘good stuff’ later).
….In Wroblewski’s new book, “Familiaris”, ….the follow-up to “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”, 980 pages ‘does’ feel too long.
Those beautiful breathtaking descriptions from the first novel were less breathtaking this time around, with some scenes feeling nonsensical and irrelevant to the totality of the story.

…. Another *less good*….
….Much of the overall storytelling simply was not ‘as’ special as the first book …..ha, but my goodness the last section was incredibly special….sooooo heartfelt!
[yet….for much of the story, the first half at least, there is much less storytelling about dogs. We were told about the dog’s personalities, but it took much longer to experience them ourselves]. I wanted more doggy feelings sooner. We did learn a little about out three main furry friends:
“Each dog had a style”.
….”Vi, the experienced runaway, approached hunting as a vocation”.
….”Needles, was a born assassin. He considered hunting a pure sport”.
….”Gus adopted a philosophical middle ground: unless an animal ran directly in front of him, he preferred contemplating wildlife to hunting it”.

Another *Less Good*.
…. I could name at least a half dozen 900-1200 page books that I’ve read. I have no problem with doorstoppers when I’m thoroughly enjoying it, and not battling my inner critical chatter.
But my fault-finder ‘did’ creep in. However… it quieted down the further I got on — especially the last half of the book.
I didn’t enjoy judging scenes, then judging myself for judging.
Boy, the brain is a tricky mechanism.

A little content about “Familiaris”:
….In the spring of 1919, we meet John Sawtelle and his wife Mary, their three dogs: Viv, Needles, and Gus, and John’s best friend, Elbow. (later his love interest, Audie).
We follow John, Mary, and Elbow throughout….as well as other memorable characters….Frank Eckling, (loves his Harley Davidson motorcycle….but has physical challenges/prosthesis and grumpy frustration issues),
We meet Walter Paine (owner of Popcorn Corners grocery store), and his daughter,Ida……(awesome, bright, unique daughter).
….We meet ‘dozens’ of more people, as well as dogs.
….The novel is divided into six parts…..ending in the year 1961.
….Chapter I begins in a factory.
[The Kissel Motar Car Company - an American automotive truck manufacturer — was founded in 1906 in Hartford, Wisconsin].
I have a now forever appreciation for the old cars … and even more so for the Wisconsin north woods and my new friends who live in my head …. part of my memory DNA forever!
John Sawtelle work for Louis Kissel. He had this to say:
“A job was a job, nothing more—not a family, not worth loyalty, much less love. Yet at the same time, a factory truly, was like the world. It contained friendship and grace and catastrophe and victory and striving and romance and laughter and betrayal—if you knew to watch for those things. If you knew how to see those things, which everyone did”.
“The factory is also like the world because it contains murder”.
….During the beginning chapters - about the first 20%…we begin to meet many of the characters….as well as we get thrown into some heavy drama right away. [note….looking back now, I could have been a more patient reader…could have trusted Wroblewski and myself more]….
……in actuality, it ‘wasn’t’ as hard to remember every character …major and minor as I feared.

More *GOOD STUFF* ….
….soon the book settles us in. We’re part of the family. We’re experiencing the farm lifestyles, community-living. (drama is never too far away).
….Sooo much more to say:
‘magnum opus’, tour de force’, ‘a grand achievement’…..
….a colorful cast,
… situations that leave you shaking your head, (a couple of scenes I ‘was’ judgmental thinking ‘this is ridiculous’)……but then I punished my inner critic for being such a party-pooper.
….l laughed plenty. I was moved to tears occasionally.
….I got a craving for pancakes even though I haven’t had any in thirty years. I also got a craving for Home Fries and Fish Sticks. (note, this is not a diet book…some yummy cakes present themselves too)….as well as eggs and plenty of coffee.
…..The dialogue is great…. Absurdity is great. Th dogs are great…..
But….its a LONG book that feels long….
…..yet the ending……[sooo moving ….sooo touching]
…..I got teary-eyed wishing to see family that I love and miss terribly.

Short tidbits….
…..expect to visit a hospital, interact with a school teacher, police, read about a murder, meet neighbors, and other farmers, learn family history, be reminded of the influenza that killed so many, meet an attorney by the name John Adamski, visit dreams (molasses in your bed anyone?), take long drives in John’s Kissel, meet Granddaddy (a horse and other horses, Pat being another), and more dogs….(Tomato, Hoppy, Molly, and others), rain, fire, smoke, horrible injuries, a baby who survived a fire, and the inspiring story of the man who saved her — and how ‘she’ in turn saved him, learn about the classic books and Agriculture book John Sawtelle liked to read….
and many touching moments about Mary….from helping her friend who was losing her battle to cancer….to everything else about Mary. (a remarkable woman….the type of woman — all of us wish to be friends with).

I really took to cranky-Frank. (understandably cranky)….
Often he felt powerless, trapped in his body and on a farm….but his growth inspires!!!
Frank’s prosthetic leg was a surprisingly sophisticated piece of equipment …..and in time we see how Frank sophisticatedly gets emotionally stronger.

I loved Elbow. (fun name). He reminded me a little of my own husband. A can do fix and build anything man.
“Elbow’s newest project was building the kitchen table they needed, along with two sitting benches. John’s duties involved, fetching whatever tools were needed, fetching, steadying, and otherwise watching as Elbow chiseled papery curls of wood out of mortise slots, excavated tapered peg holes, and trimmed the pegs to be malleted into those holes”.

I hope others - forgive me (again) for this long review.
It’s not easy writing a review for a 980 page book - avoiding spoilers - trying to give a little flavor - and share my experience truthfully.
But I’m thankful and moved.
Glad to have finished it — more than satisfied with the many takeaways.
The rewards paid off …and even meeting characters from the first book like Almondine, etc….added warmth.

I didn’t always have an easy-breezy ride….but I’ll remember this books value for many years.
If you loved “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”….and it has stayed with you these past fifteen years….then to ‘not’ read this book is crazy.

Kudos to David Wroblewski. I can’t even imagine what he went through in writing this follow-up-prequel story…..
Truly magnificent. I wish to thank him. Thank you, David!!!

I hope the 980 pages won’t scare readers away. (not everyone needs to take extra time writing pages of note)….
Haha…. then not know what the heck to do with them.
I suggest - unless you plan to write a lengthy review… just keep reading —for enjoyment… (taking notes only slows you way down). lol

As we examine in “Familiaris”….
Life is messy. People are shattered, sad, disappointed, confused, hopeless, yet also resilient…..eager to experience joy, and pride.
We witness many curveballs while journeying through ‘Familiaris’. Our own life experiences expand as we deepen our compassion for generational values: beliefs, respect, loyalty, discipline, diversity, shifts in society, attitudes and culture.
And . . .
…..Wroblewski never forgets what’s most important…. love & friendships…with a passion for our canine-bow-wow buddies.

4.5 rating