Familiaris

A couple's quest for purpose leads to unexpected dangers and alliances in the mysterious northwoods.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 9,082 ratings

979 pages

$34.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1919, John and Mary Sawtelle seek a fresh start in Wisconsin's northwoods with friends and dogs. Their journey unfolds into a perilous adventure, testing their ingenuity and forging unexpected alliances. As they navigate strange lands, they confront the mysteries of love, friendship, and the ancient bond between humans and dogs. Will they find the life they dream of, or will the challenges prove too great? Familiaris invites readers into a world where the past and present collide, revealing the true meaning of family and the enduring quest for something beautiful and lasting.

From the publisher

The follow-up to the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling modern classic The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Familiaris is the stirring origin story of the Sawtelle family and the remarkable dogs that carry the Sawtelle name.It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle’s imagination has gotten him into trouble … again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin’s northwoods, where they hope to make a fresh start–and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends–human, animal, and otherworldly–to realize their dreams.By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, mysterious and enchanting, Familiaris takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the halls of a small-town automobile factory, through an epic midwestern firestorm and an ambitious WWII dog-training program, and far back into mankind’s ancient past, examining the dynamics of love and friendship, the vexing nature of families, the universal desire to create something lasting and beautiful, and of course, the species-long partnership between Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris.

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