What readers think of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, plus links to write your own review.

I picked average because some of it is exceptionally good but the ending took points away. It took about 250 pages until it really started to take off and then I couldn’t put the book down. I just finished it and was not expecting the ending to completely bottom out my heart.
It was quite descriptive and liked the way he writes. Obviously he put a lot of research into this book concerning dog training.
But the ending was just such a let down because I wanted to see some justification and have all the lies be out in the open so someone would know exactly what took place. Though Trudy has an inkling, she never knows the real truth. And I can deal with unexpected endings that don’t go as I might want, this one was just so empty and unsatisfying in every sense for me. To the point I wished I hadn’t of read the book. My life would of been just fine without it.

The ending left me the feeling the author was tired of writing.

I was ready to recommend this book to my book club until it ended. All that reading to
be so disappointed in the end. I felt the author just wanted to end it, not caring what
the reader would feel.

I am not a dog person but I learned so much about dogs and humans. This book was wonderful in language altho "melange" was used too much but what the heck happened to the plot? I could not believe the ending. HUH? [edited to remove plot spoilers]. I heard this as an audiobook. I grew up in Des Moines IA and the descriptions of rural life were gorgeous. But the ending ruined 5 stars from me.

Before I read The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, big books really weren't my thing. I picked it up because my Aunt was reading it, and once I did I rarely put it down - not during school, on the bus, or at home. Edgar taught me that just because you feel useless, doesn't mean you are. He taught me that being alone can be better for you than not. He taught me that one's self is not always the most important thing, and that letting go is a good thing - but only after you've taken care of everything that needs to be. I passed the book on, so the copy of my Aunt's has been read by people in Maryland, Mexico, Georgia, and New York. If that's not a good book, what is?

I thought this was one of the strangest book I have ever read. At first the concept seemed plausible to some extent, but frankly I thought the ending was awful. It made no sense, and left a great deal of information out.

Perhaps there is a sequel in the works, but I doubt I will read anything else this author writes.

The book held so much for the reader but in the end I felt robbed. The evolution of Trudy was disturbing and somewhat insulting. She came across as savvy, together, and understanding/sharing of her husband's family dynamic. It didn't make sense for her to be so desperate and void of character after Gar died to latch onto Claude for anything other than help.

The ending felt so forced and didn't flow with the rest of the book. It ruined the book for me. Even the sacrifice of Claude wasn't enough to make up for a book that started off so well and literally imploded. I won't read the author again and felt I wasted 567 pages.

I love a great novel - the longer the better. I had no trouble getting into the story and finishing this almost 600 pg book in less than a week. One has such high hopes for the characters, especially Edgar and his mother. Maybe it's still the optimist in me that expected more in the ending of this novel. Even without the "shiny happy people" ending, you do expect some resolution to unanswered questions. But the author appears to have left his readers and his characters high and dry. Overall, engaging and riveting, despite the let down at the end.