AND CONSIDER THIS:
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by David Wroblewski, ©2008
Published by Harper Collins, Hardcover; 562 pp
My suspicious nature caused me to put off reading or reviewing this well-publicized best-seller (an “Oprah’s Book Club” choice). In the end, I decided that anything that has engendered so many strong opinions pro and con is worth experiencing myself, so last week I gave in and read it. Apparently, the early reviews referring to it as “An American Hamlet” brought Shakespeare enthusiasts rushing to read it. Their responses seem to be either praise or vociferous outrage. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground, here.
For what it’s worth, Wroblewski has done what story tellers have done since the dawn of time, i.e. adapt older tales to suit themselves and/or their cultures. Shakespeare himself did it wholesale, including the subject matter and characters in his Hamlet, which he adapted from earlier published works (the earliest we’re sure of came from the 1200’s), and those in turn came from early Scandinavian legends.
Anyone who loves dogs, or loves brilliant descriptive writing, or doesn’t believe that every good novel must have a happy ending, will find something rewarding in this book. I loved it.
— JS
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