The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Have you ever read a book that captured you? You felt like the story was pulling you into its world. Trying to go about your day is almost impossible, you feel torn between two worlds. Your world, and the book's. Oh this is one of those books. When I sat down to read I felt as if I had stepped into the book and was walking around, looking at the scenery, and watching the characters play out their story. The prologue starts out in Pusan, South Korea, 1952. What happens there will become relevant much later in the story. I found myself going back to it several time through the book. Then we track back to the year 1919 and learn a little about Edgar's Grandfather, who begins a special dog breed, called Sawtelle dogs. When we are introduced to Edgar, he and his parents live together on a farm where they breed, train and place these dogs. Edgar was born mute, but not deaf. He has learned to communicate very well with the dogs through sign language. Edgar's parents are a mystery, they had been through a lot to get Edgar, but I suspected some serious family secrets. I was not disappointed. The whole story line is an unravelling of surprises and secrets. The book started out slow for me, but really picks up in the middle. The writing is very descriptive, it reminded me of Dickens... he takes pages to describe scenery, what the characters are thinking and doing.... it's very poetic writing. Pick up this book if you are looking for an involved story, and great literature. But it's not the fastest read. It takes time to get through but if you pick it up I believe it will not disappoint!