I loved this book... until I didn't. And the didn't happened about 2/3 of the way through. This book might have the WORST ending of any book I've ever read.
The book takes place on a farm with a dog kennel in rural Wisconsin in the 1970s. The interactions with the family and the dogs as they are breeding and training them are wonderful. The relationships are sweet and believable. The writing and description of every scene is beautiful. This author is quite the wordsmith. The author sets up all kinds of interesting mysteries and character traits that leave you wanting to learn more.
But you never get more. You know what they say about there being a gun on the wall in the first act? There were about a dozen guns on the wall in this book that never get spoken of again, let alone fired. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I'm going to point out a few: what's the truth behind the original Forte story? Edgar is certain that what he's told isn't true, but then the story never returns. Where does the new Forte ever go? He keeps popping up, and you think he has a purpose, but, then..... nothing. Why was Claude in prison? What's the backstory of the brothers? We're told that someday Edgar will learn the story of his parents - what a lie that is! What about the voluminous number of pages dealing with the history of the breeding and the ancestors' debates? Were those just little stories that didn't actually have ANYTHING to do with the book? I guess so.
I don't require a particular type of ending to love a book. Happy, sad, ambiguous... all are fine with me if it is the right ending for that book. This was not. This talented author butchered an otherwise lovely book. What a shame.
P.s. I'm told that this book is modeled after Shakespeare. I wouldn't know, being an avid Shakespeare hater. But, if this author was being Shakespearean, it reinforces my hatred of said author.
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Perhaps, this wasn't the best recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI read this book when my father-in-law was very ill, a time period it is still pretty much a blur for me. I'd like to address some of your questions more specifically, but I just don't remember it that well.
I would say that I enjoyed the book purely on the basis of the beauty of the prose and the believability of the relationship of the boy and the dogs. For those reasons alone, I couldn't put it down. It provided the escapism that I needed during that period in my life.
That being said, I do remember being disappointed with the lack of development/resolution of certain plot lines. I suppose that the book is titled The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, rather than The Mystery of Edgar Sawtelle for good reason. I do remember thinking that there were several good mysteries afoot that would all be tied up in a nice, neat package at the end. This was not the case. (And, for a girl who DOES love a good Sherlock Holmes-ish mystery, this did provide a level of disappointment.)
Perhaps it was designed to make your imagination work. Suppose it was a vehicle for daydreaming. A palette of paint, but the resulting canvas belonged to the reader. I don't know. I certainly can't speak to the author's intentions. For me, the imagery was so vivid, it was like it was being played out before my very eyes. And, there is something to be said for that kind of writing.
Would I like this book as much if I were reading it now? I don't know. And, maybe, like isn't even the correct term. In my case, it was the "right" writing at the "right" time.
This response very likely provides more questions than answers.
P.S. And, as for Shakespeare, I don't have a clue. I don't read that crap, either.