Familiaris

Wroblewski’s second novel, a prequel to 2008’s The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and an Oprah’s Book Club pick, focuses on the story of Edgar’s grandfather, John Sawtelle. Stage actor Richard Poe, an Audie finalist for his narration of The History of Edgar Sawtelle, again establishes an atmospheric presence that immediately draws listeners into Wroblewski’s gracefully described world. The story winds its way through the past in the forests of Wisconsin. As characters come onto the stage, Wroblewski delves into their backstories, beginning in 1919 as John and Mary start their adult lives together, breeding and training their remarkable dogs and shaping them into magically intuitive companions. The couple follow up yearly on each pup they place in a home, going so far as to steal back dogs whose owners chain them up outside or mistreat them. Over the years, the dogs and John and Mary’s two sons bring challenges and charm to the story.

[CORRECTION NOTICE: We found an editorial error in the original review; this online version has been corrected.]