This book is rich with many layers. It is a coming of age novel. It explores how our past defines us, and how our relationships with others (including animals) affect us. It is part thriller and part ghost story. It is a story of redemption, and a story of bravery. I can say many things about this story, but in the end, the only thing that really needs to be said, is that it is a good story.

It is one of those books that stays with you after you have finished reading it.

Bringing to the monthly meeting of local bookcrossers at our official bookcrossing zone at the Park Theatre Movie Cafe. If none of the members attending this evening take it home, it will be left on the shelf for someone else to take and enjoy.


Hello lucky reader.

You are holding a special book. A book that wants to be read by many different readers, and wants it previous readers to know where it has been. Please consider making a journal entry – you can remain anonymous if you like, and it costs nothing.

I hope you will consider joining this global book club, and if you do, I hope you will list me – teenie-k, as your referring member. Basic membership is free, and bookcrossing is a lot of fun.

You may do what you like with this book, but I hope you will consider passing it on, to a friend, co-worker, family, or just leave it somewhere new for someone else to find. If you have become a member, you might get to read about this book’s future adventures!

Happy Reading,
teenie-k
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Teenie-k brought this book to our June meet-up. I had promised myself I would not be persuaded to bring any books home because Mount TBR is so huge. But teenie-k gave it such a good review and then said there were dogs in it. Well, that did it for me. It came home with me and I'm sure that I will like it because teenie-k has never steered me wrong. Thanks.

Edgar Sawtelle was born mute, not deaf-mute, just mute. He could hear just fine but he couldn't make a sound. Somewhat surprisingly he managed to communicate quite well. At first his dog, Almondine, assisted him in making his wants known. Almondine was not just any dog, she was a Sawtelle dog. Edgar's grandfather had started the breed, picking dogs because they showed unusual intelligence. He kept meticulous breeding records as did Edgar's father Gar. Edgar's father and mother made their living by breeding and training dogs so it was natural that from the time he was able to do so Edgar started caring for and training the dogs.

When Edgar was about 13 his uncle, Carl, came to live with them. Carl had sold his interest in the breeding operation to Gar when their father died but he'd fallen on tough times and Gar brought him home. Big mistake! Gar and Carl did not get along and one day after a big fight Carl took off. But he stayed in the vicinity, working at odd jobs, one of which was helping the local vet in his practise. Carl was good with animals and he could settle any frightened or injured animal. Shortly after Carl left the farm Gar falls down in the barn while Trudy, his wife, is away from the farm. Edgar is upstairs in the hay mow and runs to his father's aid but he can't do anything to help. Because of his disability he can't phone for help and there is no-one near to run to. Edgar stays with his father while he dies.

Both Edgar and Trudy are plunged into depression by this sudden death. They are barely able to do all the necessary chores and then Trudy gets pneumonia. Edgar tries to cover the basics while Trudy stays in bed but he can't manage. He persuades Trudy to call Carl. Soon Carl is living at the house and sleeping with Trudy. Edgar is confused and unhappy and soon he has reason to believe Carl killed his father.

Throughout the story we learn details about the dogs and their training. Shortly before his father's death Edgar was given one of the litters to train on his own. About the only thing that makes life worth living is being with those dogs and Almondine. Some people who haven't spent much time with dogs might doubt the details of the relationship Edgar has with the dogs.
Now Almondine occupied his thoughts. He hadn't seen her for two months or more and suddenly it felt like he'd been severed from some fundament of his being. At the end of the next day or the day after that, they would be joined again. Perhaps she would have forgotten his crimes, for which he wanted more than anything to atone. Everything that had happened to him since he'd left made him think of her. Others dreamed of finding a person in the world whose soul was made in their mirror image, but she and Edgar had been conceived nearly togehter, grown up together, and however strange it might be, she was his other.
As a person who has been lucky enough to spend almost 15 years with a special dog I completely understand that. Some dogs just connect with your soul and you'll never be the same after that.

The ending of this story is indescribably sad and when so many books tie everything up neatly and supposedly everyone lives happily ever after, that is unusual. But it makes the book stronger. I suspect I might dream about Edgar and Almondine and Essay and Tinder and Forte and all the rest.

I think I'll take this book back to the next meeting of BookCrossers and see if I can't find someone to take it home.

I'll take this book to the meet-up and if no-one wants to take it home you can find it on the OBCZ shelves.

This book is currently sitting on the Winnipeg Official Bookcrossing Zone bookshelf in the loft of The Park Theatre & Movie Café, 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg MB.

It is waiting there for a new reader to take home, read, and release back into the wild!

Winnipeg bookcrossers meet at my location on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm to chat about books, swap great reads, and release on the OBCZ shelves. Please join us! We love to see new faces! You will enjoy the comfy atmosphere, the fabulous coffees and teas, and the yummy treats!

This book has left the OBCZ shelves. Hope to hear from it soon.