This author must be one unhappy puppy. Please don't read this book.September 27, 2008 24 out of 32 found this review helpful
I bought this book after reading gleaming reviews on Amazon. Then I heard that Oprah chose it and I lost a little faith in my judgement. I used to read her books but found them so sad and traumatic. However, I love dogs, loved the idea of creating an ultimate canine companion, and wanted to read the book. That part did not disappoint me, and I even recommended the book to others about half way through, cautioning that it was a long way in until you even smiled. The last half of the book was good, and I was really expecting an incredible ending, full of redemption and reunion, love, hope, etc. All the pieces were lining up. But the ending was total devastation. I mean, this book did not end well for anyone, dog or human. The author had no problem killing off very likeable characters. There was no justice for Edgar. I felt like I had wasted a great deal of time.
I was baffled that such a story could have ever ended up in print. What were the editors thinking? Who read this and said, "yeah. good idea to kill the faithful dog AND the hero. let's get it printed for the masses." No, people who pick up this book hoping to read about the blessed union of man and dog will NOT be happy with this book. It is a tradegy, but a comparison to Hamlet? Nah. It's just a tragedy.
Deeply moving.September 26, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was the most fantastic piece of literature I have come across in a very long time. I was barely able to put the book down until it was finished, and now that it is I am all ready eager to reread it. The sene of loss in the novel, especially as felt and "described" by Almondine, filled me with a sense of melancholy that is not easily shaken. Beautifully written, this book isn't just a must read, it is a must own.
Reads like something from Animal Liberation FrontSeptember 26, 2008 7 out of 11 found this review helpful
I was really enjoying this book til the end. Without ruining the ending (actually it already was ruined), the human characters are unneeded and the kennel raised dogs are better on their own as if they could figure out how to survive after being cared for their whole life.
The inferior retelling of Hamlet set in MinnesotaSeptember 26, 2008 17 out of 25 found this review helpful
I just heard that the Oprah Book Club recently selected this mind-numbingly boring, long winded, and canine obsessed Hamlet reiteration. So I implore everyone - whether you are in favor of Oprah's club or repulsed by it - to please ignore this pretentious, overhyped piece of work and instead read the other, far superior modernized retelling of Hamlet set in Minnesota: Undiscovered Country by Lin Enger.
Unlike The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Enger's Undiscovered Country successfully captures the melancholy and dramatic atmosphere of Hamlet, yet the plot is fast paced with characters that are both interesting and human. The novel is so well written that it would be just as compelling even with no allusions to the Bard's tale and more importantly, I didn't feel like I had been robbed of precious time as I did when I read Edgar Sawtelle.
Not your usual pickSeptember 26, 2008 7 out of 8 found this review helpful
First, I will say that I enjoyed the book. Though, I can relate to why others didn't. As a representation of Hamlet on a farm, you have to really know the story to see the clever connections the author made. Now, this isn't for everyone, and I'm guessing some saw the connections and still didn't like it. So, you have to ask yourself if you like to study the intricacies of the author's writing versus just getting lost in a good story cause this one isn't quite the latter option (at least in a typical sense as you find with books like I Know This Much Is True: A Novel (P.S.) or The Road (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage International)).
