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 enlarge | Author: David Wroblewski
Publisher: Ecco
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $13.25
You Save: $12.70 (49%)
New (51) Used (24) Collectible (20) from $10.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  863 reviews
Sales Rank: 28
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 576
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 2
ISBN: 0061768065
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780061768064
ASIN: 0061768065
Publication Date: September 19, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Gripping and beautifully written, but strangely disappointed.... January 8, 2009
Well, I couldn't put this down, but was constantly nagged by inconsistencies and logic problems that made the story improbable from the get go....I kept telling myself to 'lighten up, its a story,' but great novels don't do this to me.
First of all, I have over 20 years of medical experience and have never met or heard of a patient with a congenital speech impediment, like Edgar's without having some sort of hearing problem. Its as if Edgar had congenital, bilateral vocal chord paralysis. Throughout the book I kept reflecting on how odd this situation is....then I thought 'well, its interesting symbolically, so just quit questioning.' Still, it nagged at me throughout the book.
Unless Edgar's mother had been portrayed like stereotypical, 'white trash' I can't conceive how she could behave the way she did in this story. It was annoying and, again my radar went up every time I read about another one of her insane choices. I mean, seriously, what mother would just sit by and wait, after her son ran away? There was no exploration of her loss. What reasonable woman would run into the arms of her husband's brother who she knew had multitudes of psychological and ethical problems? There might be some argument, but another 200 pages would be needed.
Finally, many talk about the 'bringing to life' of the 'dogs.' I felt they were, not developed enough. They didn't seem to demonstrate any mourning or change in behavior after various losses. Anyone who has dogs, knows that they express remorse and saddness. Amondine's confusion over Edgar's disappearance was the only exploration of this 'life of dogs.' But, I felt that she was almost a ghost in this story...I craved that she have a bigger role and I wanted to know her better. Essy and Tinder had roles that started to approach reality, but again, for a dogs so connected to the main character, they seemed strangely distant. 'Forte,' the mystery dog, however, was pretty cool and perfect.
With all these criticisms, I know that no work of art is perfect and must commend the author in creating a gripping and quite exciting story. I couldn't put the book down, although I was often annoyed. It is beautifully written and the imagery incredible. It will be interesting to see how this novel weathers over time. I've never been so frustrated with 'reality inconstancies in a novel but acknowledge the presence of a great, well-told adventure. Maybe I'm just getting old, but 'Hamlet,' 'East of Eden' and 'The World According to Garp' didn't get me questioning so much, even though they were all 'far fetched' too...
Perhaps some ENT specialist or Neurologist could set me straight on Edgar's medical condition? I'm miffed and my literature search was nil.
Dissapointing January 8, 2009
I agree with many of the previous reviews. The book had the wrong ending. The story is very detailed, well-written in that you get a true picture of the characters, their personalities, lives and situations, very clearly. This detail causes you to get emotionally invested and then the last chapter is like a complete let down. Your panting, wondering what is going to happen next only to be let down. The book starts out slow, having you wonder the point of all of these details and then picks up to where you can't put it down and then drops you. It's worth reading if you have some time, but not worth 25.00 like I paid.
 The Story of Edgar Sawtele: A Novel January 8, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was purchased as a gift. The person reading the book says that it is a very good story and is going to give it to me to read when she is done.
 Overcoming Barriers January 7, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a lovely story about animals and a disabled boy overcoming not only disability barriers but also general barriers in life that we all face. A good and entertaining lesson for us all.
 Also disappointed in Ky. January 7, 2009
Dittos to A. Kocher in Pa. review. Too many tangential episodes that do not tie into the thesis. Tragic events are not due to character flaws. N ot so much disappointed by the ending as by the lack of any particular lesson or theme.
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