Oprah Winfrey has selected David Wroblewski’s Familiaris as the latest pick for her popular book club.
Wroblewski’s 992-page novel, published Tuesday by Blackstone, follows newlyweds John and Mary Sawtelle, who travel to northern Wisconsin to start new lives with their two best friends and three dogs in tow. It is a prequel to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Wroblewski’s 2008 bestseller, which was also an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote of Familiaris, “Already having drawn comparisons to Russo, Irving, Strout, McCarthy, and Gilbert, with García Márquez added here, Wroblewski earns them all, amply rewarding readers who have been waiting impatiently for 15 years. For all the eons it may take to read it, this colossus of a book will own you.”
Winfrey announced the novel’s selection on Instagram, writing, “This riveting family saga takes us on an extraordinary journey that brilliantly interweaves history, philosophy, adventure, and mysticism to explore the meaning of love, friendship and living your life’s true purpose. You don’t have to read David’s first book before starting this one but I’m sure you’ll pick it up after finishing.”
Wroblewski appeared on CBS Mornings, where he recounted his reaction to learning his latest book had been selected for the club, 16 years after his debut novel earned the distinction.
“I think I expected it even less now than I did then,” he said. “I was floored back in 2008, and I was just completely dumbfounded at this point, because I just didn’t expect this to happen twice. What a privilege.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
