I know everyone is ranting and raving about this book and then Oprah picked it for her bookclub. i bought it this summer before her announcement and I tried all aummer to get into the book--finally i skipped ahead about 50 pages and statrted reading.
Did anyone else but me think it wasn't that good and especially the ending was so disaapointing and I would also like to ask someone anyone who read it --when the dogs leave at the very end of the book when they meet Forte--is he a ghost dog?
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The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
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Almost Comfortable
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Hi. I'm new to this site. I joined specifically to see what others were saying about his book. Now, I have a 10-year-old dog, and I feel we communicate with glances. So that there's the context for my opinions.
The story pulled me along and I truly enjoyed the book ... until the end. I know we all love a Hollywood ending, and the author chose another route, but OMG. But when I reflect on why he concluded the way he did, it was obvious: It's a legend of the dogs, not about the family so much. What do you think?
Here's a question, though: Are *all* of Oprah's selections tragedies? I'll be in a funk until I start a new book that isn't such a downer.
The story pulled me along and I truly enjoyed the book ... until the end. I know we all love a Hollywood ending, and the author chose another route, but OMG. But when I reflect on why he concluded the way he did, it was obvious: It's a legend of the dogs, not about the family so much. What do you think?
Here's a question, though: Are *all* of Oprah's selections tragedies? I'll be in a funk until I start a new book that isn't such a downer.
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Official Newbie!
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Edgar Sawtelle
For a book with such detail throughout, I felt the end was deliberately unsettling. It was one of those books that was deliberately constructed to keep you wondering. I was fascinated by the world of dog rearing. Now when I look at a dog I wonder if it's a scatterbrained non-trained dog, as Edgar described, or one that holds your gaze and looks for direction. I am a cat person but was fascinated by the world of welping and whithers (still don't know what that is.) I enjoyed this book very much and kept running back to it to find out what happens next.
I liked The Story of Edgar Sawtelle VERY much. I had read a review on it in Bookmarks Magazine, so I knew that the story was based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, and that it would end as a tragedy. If I had not read the review, I probably would have been put off by the "ghost", and some of the other Shakespearean things. But knowing it was following the story of Hamlet, made it all the more intriguing for me.
My husband is reading it right now, and is having a hard time putting it down.
We haven't discussed it yet, but I can tell that he likes it by the time he has spent reading! [/b]
My husband is reading it right now, and is having a hard time putting it down.
We haven't discussed it yet, but I can tell that he likes it by the time he has spent reading! [/b]
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Getting Comfortable
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Re: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
I read this for a book club I'm involved with and must say I really enjoyed it. Some of the dog training information was above my head as I am not familiar with dog training. The ending was not at all what I expected, but I would definitely recommend this book.
Re: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Didn't enjoy the book from start to finish. I don't know why, but I've become a very "picky" reader lately, causing me to read less and less, out of fear of disappointment. Maybe I had preconceived ideas, maybe I just expected something totally different. I just felt afterwards like it was a waste of time. Any one with a similar experience?
- Suzanne
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- Book General
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Re: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Hello and welcome Erma!
I feel the same way about this novel. I also understand your frustration about picking up modern novels looking for a satisfying reading experience. I have found myself reading more and more classic novels that are tried and true. However, I still have hope that more modern writers will produce works of fiction that can rival those classics. Lots of luck to both of us!
FYI, a new fiction discussion will be starting soon. Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” is the front runner in votes for our Nov. /Dec. discussion. Cormac McCarthy is an excellent writer, he is an example of my hopefulness regarding modern fiction authors. I hope you will join us in our next fiction discussion.
I feel the same way about this novel. I also understand your frustration about picking up modern novels looking for a satisfying reading experience. I have found myself reading more and more classic novels that are tried and true. However, I still have hope that more modern writers will produce works of fiction that can rival those classics. Lots of luck to both of us!
FYI, a new fiction discussion will be starting soon. Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” is the front runner in votes for our Nov. /Dec. discussion. Cormac McCarthy is an excellent writer, he is an example of my hopefulness regarding modern fiction authors. I hope you will join us in our next fiction discussion.