Play Book Tag discussion

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper - 4* - My Review

Eighty-three-year-old Etta leaves her home in Saskatchewan to walk over 3000 kilometers to see the Atlantic Ocean, leaving her husband Otto at home. Without telling her, their friend Russell follows her at a distance. As she walks, she meets a talking coyote named James (who may be a product of her imagination). During her journey, she flashes back to the past, and we learn about their families, how Etta met Otto and Russell, their school days, Otto’s service in World War II (told through their exchange of letters), and Russell’s unrequited love for Etta. She also becomes somewhat of a celebrity and people begin following her progress in the newspapers.

This is a quirky tale with a melancholy tone. It is told from several perspectives. I felt fully engaged and I admire the creativity. It seems to me to be about how people make the best of life, even if not ideal, and that life can still be fulfilling even if everything does not go quite as planned. It also leaves room for wondering “what if?” It is not for anyone who needs all the loose ends tied up. This is my second book by Emma Hooper and my favorite so far.

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "walking" x7:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

PBT July BWF Extra E - tagged "debut" x8:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

I loved this book when I read it - the characters, creativity, and the author's lyrical writing. So glad you enjoyed it.

Here is a musical video inspired by Russell, a character in the book. The musicians are a husband and wife team who write songs pertaining to books. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFFhC...

Thanks for the great review Joy. Holly actually suggested this one to me and so it is on my TBR.

I loved this book and believe that it made my best of the year I read it.

Thanks, Holly for the music. So sweet that they do this.

Holly R W wrote: "I loved this book when I read it - the characters, creativity, and the author's lyrical writing. So glad you enjoyed it.

Here is a musical video inspired by Russell, a character in the book. The m..."

I am pretty sure I put it on my list after seeing that you enjoyed it. Thanks for the music video. The pace seems like someone walking. I find that I often enjoy these books about walking journeys, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Joanne wrote: "Thanks for the great review Joy. Holly actually suggested this one to me and so it is on my TBR."

Thanks JoAnne. I think you would enjoy it. It's a "gentle" book, not a lot of action but a poignant story of life.

I wanted to like it, but it didn't quite work for me.

I enjoyed this one. I started a mental list of elderly characters who wandered off on walking adventures. There seemed to be a lot of them out there.