Familiaris by David Wroblewski: Book Review and Craft Tips
Part of my ongoing series Reading as a Writer to study what resonates with me as a reader and what craft tips I learn as a writer—and how debut authors like me can hopefully position their work for book club success!
Miss Gracie highly approves of Mr. Wroblewski’s work as reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle directly led me to adopt her predecessor, Charlie.
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David Wroblewski's Familiaris is a nearly 1,000-page novel that serves as both prequel and companion to his debut novel (and also Oprah Book Club pick!) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. They are meant to be stand-alone books but if you have the time and inclination, I highly recommend reading them on a loop to fully appreciate the breadth of this author’s genius. On a personal note, reading Edgar back in 2008 inspired me to adopt my first dog, a decision that changed my life forever for the better. For anyone who's ever loved a dog, these two novels capture something true and magical about that bond.
Release Date: June 11, 2024 (Hardcover); August 5, 2025 (Paperback)
Picked By: Oprah, baby - Summer 2024
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Sagas
The Premise
Set on a farm in northern Wisconsin, this sweeping work follows Edgar’s grandparents, John Sawtelle and his wife Mary, as they build their lives around an extraordinary relationship with dogs. But Familiaris is far more than a simple origin story—it's simultaneously a love story between humans and canines, a meditation on craftsmanship and purpose, a celebration of rural Wisconsin life, a romance, a tale of male friendship, and a surprisingly magical exploration of connection.
The novel is structured around five quests in John Sawtelle's life. The story weaves between timelines and includes characters who also appear in Edgar, like Ida Paine, Edgar’s father Gar and his uncle, Claude. It also features a cast of distinctive male friends including Frank, a war veteran struggling with addiction and disability, the nearly silent Elbow who loves crafting furniture, and So Jack who loves his horse, Grandaddy.
At its heart, this is a book about love and communication—the profound, wordless language between humans and dogs, built on gesture, body language, and an almost mystical understanding that transcends speech.
What This Book Teaches Writers
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle became an Oprah's Book Club selection in 2008, catapulting the first-time novelist to bestseller status. The 16-year gap between Edgar Sawtelle and Familiaris (published in 2024) is well-worth the wait and no big deal but Oprah picked it for her book club, too. Here are some things I learned reading as a writer:
Assume Your Readers Are Smart
The novel demonstrates the power of assuming readers are intelligent. Wroblewski doesn't label his five-quest structure or spell out chronology—he trusts us to discover the patterns and meaning ourselves. Nor does he necessarily remind the reader which characters also appear in Edgar, though if you read them in a loop (as I have been doing all summer!) the layers of foreshadowing and character deepening become apparent. This respect for reader intelligence creates a more engaging, immersive experience.
Magical Realism
Wroblewski describes Edgar Sawtelle as "a supernatural Hamlet-like science fiction Victorian era piece of literature," exploring themes of ghosts, poison, and the residue we leave in the world after death. Familiaris, while sharing the same universe and canine obsessions, feels more grounded in the magical realism of daily rural life and the profound connections between species. That said, there is some crazy magic sh*t going on in this book. Delightfully so!
The Magic of Human-Animal Connection
What sets both Edgar and Familiaris apart are its deep exploration of interspecies communication. Wroblewski captures something true and mysterious about our relationships with dogs—how every gesture, glance, bark, sigh, and pant becomes a form of dialogue. This wordless conversation between humans and canines becomes the novel's true magic, even beyond the more fantastical elements involving Ida Paine.
Celebration of Craftsmanship
The book is also a celebration of craftsmanship in all its forms: building furniture, preparing food, training horses (Jack and his horse Granddaddy provide some of the novel's sweetest moments), caring for dogs, and ultimately, crafting a novel itself. All the characters are united by their deep investment in their work and sense of purpose. I love reading about people who love their work, what a gift.
Physical Space Influences Creativity
Perhaps most importantly for writers, Familiaris shows how space and environment influence creativity. The character Mary is interested in how the physical space where you live and work reflects your life and soul, and Wroblewski has spoken how, as a writer, he constantly rearranges his furniture (even putting it on casters for easy movement). This made me feel validated for the billion times I've asked my family to help me rearrange my office furniture (and clearly I should invest in some casters)!
Author Spotlight: David Wroblewski
Born in 1959 and raised in rural Wisconsin, Wroblewski worked as a computer software engineer while developing his writing craft since the mid-1990s and earning his MFA from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers. He has said he brings a methodical "butt in the chair" work ethic to writing that translates his technical discipline into literary arts. As a former BigLaw partner turned book writer, I love learning about other nontraditional paths to publication and how leveraging skills from a prior career is actually a superpower.
Wroblewski was around 48 when his debut novel, Edgar Sawtelle became a bestseller and he became a full-time writer. Wroblewski has shared in interviews that despite being a full-time writer, he only has 2-3 hours of real focus for writing each day—a revelation that made this aspiring novelist feel infinitely better about my own creative stamina.
His approach to craft mirrors the book's themes of patience and dedication. Familiaris took him 15-16 years to complete, and he's described his process as writing it, rewriting it, and "writing all around it." He says he never felt truly finished, which resonates deeply with anyone who's wrestled with the endless revision process.
Why This Matters Now
In an era of increasing disconnection and digital overwhelm, Familiaris offers something radical: a vision of life built around patience, craft, and authentic relationships with both humans and animals. For readers feeling disconnected from purpose or place, the novel's celebration of optimism, friendship, hard work, and the healing power of animal companionship feels particularly resonant. It's also refreshing to read about a functional, healthy marriage (John and Mary Sawtelle) in contemporary literature, where dysfunction often dominates.
Final Thoughts
I love big books and I cannot lie. At nearly 1,000 pages, it's a commitment—but one that pays off in emotional depth and literary satisfaction. Reading it sent me immediately back to reread The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and I lived in a happy loop between these two magnificent books for the past several weeks. I also am planning a Wisconsin road trip this Fall to see the farm where the stories are based, tour the towns of Mellen and Hartford, check out the forest and the coast of Lake Superior. The last book I read that inspired me to go on an actual journey was Out of Africa (also about a farm and connection with a dash of magic).
Rating: ★★★★★
