Benjamin Jones
Oprah Winfrey announced her latest Book Club pick, “Familiaris,” by New York Times bestselling author David Wroblewski. Published by Blackstone Publishing, the book is a sequel to Wroblewski’s acclaimed novel, “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.”
“David takes us on an extraordinary journey that brilliantly intertwines history, philosophy, adventure and mysticism to explore the meaning of love, friendship and living your life’s true purpose,” Winfrey told “CBS Mornings.”
“Familiaris” follows Edgar Sawtelle’s grandfather, John Sawtelle, his new wife, Mary, and their friends and dogs as they begin a life together in the Northwoods, Wisconsin.
Fans may recall that Winfrey selected “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” as one of her picks in 2008, highlighting her longtime admiration for Wroblewski’s work.
Wroblewski said he did not expect to be chosen a second time, saying he was shocked in 2008 when he was chosen, but shocked to be chosen a second time, comparing it to being struck twice by “the best kind of lightning.”
“I just didn’t expect it to happen twice. What a privilege,” he said.
While writing “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle,” Wroblewski discovered that the character of Edgar’s grandfather required a larger role, which led him to write “Familiaris” 15 years later. The new book delves into the character’s history and life, exploring themes of love, adventure and the bonds between people and their best canine friends.
Wroblewski said his experiences growing up on a farm in Wisconsin influenced his writing. He used his family farm as the setting for the novel, although he relocated it 100 miles north and exaggerated its qualities to suit the story.
“The barn in this story and Edgar’s barn are the same. That’s the barn I remember crawling through when I was a kid. And the house is a variant of the house I grew up in,” Wroblewski said.
“Familiaris” is structured around what Wroblewski calls the “five great missions” of John Sawtelle’s life, covering 40 years in no strict chronological order.
A central theme of “Familiaris” is love and the title reflects this dual focus on family and dogs. The word “Familiaris” comes from the Latin name for dog – canis familiaris – and also embodies the concept of family.
When asked what the Sawtelle dogs look like, Wroblewski said he prefers to leave it to the readers’ imagination.
“I want readers to be able to imagine what dogs look like,” he said.
Find questions, discussion topics, and other materials to enhance your group’s conversation about David Wroblewski’s “Familiaris” in this discussion guide.
Read an excerpt from Chapter 2, entitled “Under the wheels of the train of error”, here.
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