Okay......this was a tough book for a couple of reasons.  First, it was a biggie at 562 pages, so it took me a couple weeks to get through it.  And second, after reading all those pages when I finished it, I had mixed feelings.  I honestly wasn't sure if I liked it or not.

The writing was excellent, the parts about the Sawtelle dogs enjoyable and poignant. The relationship between Edgar and the dogs was heartwarming. 

Without giving any spoilers..........Edgar lives on a remote farm in Wisconsin with his parents, where for generations the Sawtelle family has raised a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally.  Edgar was born mute, speaking only in sign.

I think we've all had a "Sawtelle dog" in our life, that just instinctively seemed to know what we were saying and thinking.  A dog that seemed to have that extra bit of intelligence and empathy other dogs hadn't displayed.  For me, it was my Holly.  So I was immediately drawn into the story.

And the story was good in the beginning........Edgar's paternal uncle returns to the farm and creates turmoil in the Sawtelle home.  Something happens and Edgar is forced to flee into the wilderness beyond the farm.  By now, we're in the middle of the book and this is where I felt it really dragged.  As a matter of fact, I found myself scanning paragraphs and skipping pages to get on with it already.

The ending picked up a bit but left me very confused.  The entire novel is extremely literary.  And at the end, I felt disappointed.  I needed answers that weren't given.  So I went to Good Reads, which is a great place to find new books to read, discuss books, etc. (See my sidebar)  And it was there that somebody explained to me that this novel is really a modernized version of Hamlet.  Oh.  Okay.  But wait, I didn't read Hamlet in school.  So I researched it.  The gist is......Prince Hamlet's uncle Claudius kills Hamlet's father, the King, because he wants Hamlet's mother.  Well, at least now Edgar Sawtelle begins to make more sense for me.  As a matter of fact, I begin to see that the writing is brilliant.  The author took this story and wove a modern day one involving these wonderful, fictional, dogs.

I was advised to go to Oprah's site where the book was being discussed, which I did.  I read a bunch of answers the author had given in relation to questions from readers.  Guess I wasn't the only one confused.  And this helped also. 

So did I like the book?  I honestly don't know.  I loved, loved the parts about the dogs, but then, I'm a huge dog person.  The rest of the book?  The jury is still out on that one.  Just seems to me that when I close that final page, confusion shouldn't be one of the things I feel after investing the time to read the 562 pages.  Maybe it's just me.  I don't have to have everything all wrapped up and tied with a bow.  As a matter of fact, I love a book that keeps me thinking long after that final page is read.  That type of book resonates with me.  The type of book where the author sometimes lets the reader draw their own conclusions.  I like that.  But I'm afraid Edgar Sawtelle wasn't like that.  If the reader is confused, it's difficult to figure anything out.  As I said........maybe it's just me.  Because so many other people are raving about this book.

But join me here next time and I will share with you the book I just finished yesterday.  Now that book is going to be right up there with my all-time favorites.

See you then...............