Some books you find for book club by perusing through book jackets at your local book store. Others are recommended from friends or family, and some become almost “must reads,” through word of mouth, intensive advertising or Oprah. “Edgar Sawtelle,” falls in all these categories. I had the book in my hand three different times, but put it back because I knew that it was a long book and difficult for my follow book clubbers to get through in a month. Finally, I purchased it right before the holidays and decided to make it February’s book – giving everyone two months to read it (with a small book in January). At the checkout the cashier, a matronly woman with intense eyes, looked right at me and said, “Edgar Sawtell was the most profound book I have ever read.” Well, that clinched it, long or not – this was February’s pick for book club.

We are all moved profoundly by different things, and I was moved by this book, but it was not the most profound book I’ve ever read. Edgar Sawtelle is a superb read and I highly recommend it for book club. It is powerful and beautifully written. The author, David Wroblewski, ultimately creates a haunting story. The story begins in the bowels of a rain-soaked town in Korea where an unidentified person purchases a lethal poison, a foreshadowing of events to come. We then travel to Wisconsin and to the story of an ordinary American family living a contented life. The family, the Sawtelles, has overcome some misfortunes (miscarriages and the muteness of their son Edgar), but they are presented as a happy and cohesive family that works well together breeding, training, and placing their Sawtelle dogs.

The book can be a little tedious going through the dogs’ voluminous paper work, training, and the correspondence that circulated between Edgar’s grandfather and Alvin Brooks (original breeder on the Fortunate Fields project). Nevertheless, Wroblewski’s foundation gives the reader an excellent opportunity to see the harmony of the family in their home and work.

Wroblewski’s story revitalized Hamlet’s plot and set it in rural Wisconsin. Gar and Trudy Sawtelle take on the roles of the King, Queen and Edgar – Hamlet. So, into this idyllic family some evil must descend, and there is no mistaking the similarity of the brothers, even the names, Claude and Claudius. Hamlet and Edgar both suffer from their indecisiveness, and their harbored feelings about their mothers.

Wroblewski’s first novel not only takes on Hamlet, but also multiple personal narratives, which enable the reader to understand different characters’ through their own eyes and their experiences. All the characters have chapters, even Almondine. The Sawtelle dogs play prominent roles in the story. Edgar’s grandfather wanted to breed dogs not just to be smart, but to actually think for themselves and make decisions. However, even with detailed records you can not control everything in genetics and some things just slip in, look at the differences in Gar and Claude.

Genetics may be responsible for Edgar’s muteness, but it didn’t stop him from learning language. Edgar always knew the word needed to complete a crossword puzzle. He transcended his diability by learing everything he could in his environment, which included studying the dictionary for hours to find the perfect names for the puppies. He was young, idealistic and very brave, a truly remarkable teenager even with his genetic flaw, and he certaintly made his own decisions.

The novel generates numerous discussions for book clubs. The story plot compared to Hamlet is a logical place to start discussion. Then move to Edgar and what he did and didn’t do, and do the same with Trudy. Why does Edgar decide to return home after the episode with the tornado at the lake? How the book moved you, if it did. Is it sad or enlightening or both? What is the importance of the ghosts, to Edgar and to you?

This story will remain with you, as will the questions that keep popping into your mind – it is worth the time.

Rating: 8.5