[dfn8tly]

Hey, Boomer;

I just finished the Story of Edgar Sawtelle and was thinking about how to explain this by email to a close friend in Houston. We both read a lot and know each other's taste pretty well.

I have a pretty extensive vocabulary and am seldom at any loss for words. However, I'm having difficulty trying to explain this work. First, it is about a young boy and dogs. If you really hate dogs --- don't know anyone in this category --- then you won't like the book. But, it's much more than that. The kennel information is really incidental. I liked this book despite it's length, over 550 pgs. I usually get bored with long, wordy novels. This kept my interest. Perhaps, it's that I found the writing style to be so clean (not referring to profanity although I don't remember any), crisp and new. At times the descriptions are so vivid I felt as if I was reading poetry. Clearly the author spent a great deal of time writing this story and put much of himself into the work. It's a first book and only time will tell if he has another in him. I almost hope he doesn't as it would be a shame for him to prostitute his talent to today's mass merchandising producers.

What a long way for me to simply say, "Buy the book. I think you'll like it". When you're into it drop me a note and let me know your impressions. I'd be delighted to hear.

Richard