FAMILIARIS is 975 pages long. Just looking at it made me hesitate to begin reading it. When I did, though, I didn't want it to end.

If you read and loved David Wroblewski's THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE (another long book), FAMILIARIS is its prequel. I didn't realize until I read FAMILIARIS that it's also THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE sequel.

FAMILIARIS is mostly the story of John and Mary Sawtelle (Edgar's parents eventually), who marry and raise the exceptional "Sawtelle dogs," more than 1000 of them altogether. Of course, they also raise two sons, Edgar and Claude, but their parents are the concentration of FAMILIARIS. It begins and ends with John.

If you've ever loved a pet, you'll love FAMILIARIS. Although it is a prequel/sequel to THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, read FAMILIARIS first if you want to. You'll love them either way.