Familiaris
by David Wroblewski
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Pub Date Jun 11 2024 | Archive Date Sep 05 2024
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Description
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 readers 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.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“Tender, ambitious, fierce, deeply human, and of course wonderfully canine, David Wroblewski’s second novel is an American tour de force. There were moments when reading that I thought of Russo, Irving, Strout, McCarthy, Gilbert, and then just Wroblewski himself. A story spun out over generations, to be read for generations, this is a big brave book that is old fashioned in the very best sense of the word."
Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon and Let the Great World Spin
“‘Suppose you could do one impossible thing,’ John Sawtelle says in David Wroblewski’s stunning new novel Familiaris. What would you do? Clearly, what the author would do and has done is write this impossibly wise, impossibly ambitious, impossibly beautiful book.”
Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize winner, author of the North Bath trilogy (Nobody’s Fool, Everybody’s Fool, and Somebody’s Fool)
Marketing Plan
- The long-awaited prequel to #1 New York Times bestselling modern classic The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
- National and regional print and online reviews
- Author interviews and features
- Major digital and print advertising campaign
- Extensive outreach to coming-of-age, family interest, and dog/animal media
- Book club campaign
- Influencer outreach
- Bookseller and library trade show marketing
- Major social media campaign
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9798212194297 |
| PRICE | $34.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 980 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Librarian 166886
Thank you David Wroblewski for “doing the one impossible thing” sharing with us the back story of the Sawtelle family. It was well worth the wait. Readers will fall in love with the characters and the endearing story of the Sawtelle dogs - however, be ready to shed a tear at the end! Thank you for the advanced read!!
Laura H, Reviewer
What a beautiful read! Although exceptionally long, it is time well spent on this remarkable story of the years before The Story of Edgar Sawtelle’. ’Familiaris’ begins slowly with details about John Sawtelle in the early years before his marriage when both were young and full of hope for the future. When John falls in love with a rundown farm for sale and decides to take the financial risk to purchase it, he does so with the unwavering belief that this is the place to call home—the place where he and his wife and their children will flourish.
There is plenty to love about this story, from the many fascinating characters who become family to the exceptional dogs that come into their lives. Wroblewski does a masterful job telling this story of hard work and dedication to one’s purpose in life. Coupled with the love and losses along the way, he creates a heartfelt journey one will be glad to have taken.
Stephanie T, Reviewer
This is a colossally brilliant book — Following the life of John Sawtelle, his family and friends from the early to Mid 1900s . You will laugh, you will cry , you will become deeply attached to this family and the dogs they raise-- as you follow them through their lifetime of hard work, love, loss, and memories. — I didn’t want this story to end. This book will be a modern classic with its phenomenal writing in league with the greats and reminiscent of Steinbeck. This is one of the best book for all time.
Cathy O, Reviewer
When I saw that Familiaris was available to preview on Netgalley, I jumped at the opportunity. The story of Edgar Sawtelle, this author’s 2008 novel, has remained in my top ten favorite books. I am glad I didn’t even notice the intimidating 980 page length of Familiaris. The length of this novel makes it a truly immersive experience. You feel like you are living the lives of John and Mary Sawtelle right along with them. Familiaris is a prequel to Wroblewski’s previous novel and it establishes my favorite part of both books, the breeding of the unique, intuitive, compassionate, Sawtelle dogs.
At its heart, Familiaris is a love story, the story of John and Mary and the amazing relationship they have. It is also a story of the love they have for their friends and the strong bonds they carry throughout their lives. The author takes us on a few lengthy side stories to establish other characters, they are equally enjoyable, although I was always happy to get back to John and Mary.
The Sawtelle dogs are my favorite part of the world that Wroblewski has imagined and I would have welcomed even more descriptions of the dogs and their training as the breed is established.
I will be recommending this book to my friends who enjoy dogs and are not scared off by the time commitment of this novel. I am very glad I was given the chance to preview this novel, I enjoyed living in the Sawtelle world once again.
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