Etta and Otto and Russell and James

A Novel

De: Emma Hooper

Narrado por: Robert G. Slade

A gorgeous literary debut about an elderly woman's last great adventure walking across Canada. A beautiful novel of pilgrimage, of fulfilling lifelong promises, of a talking coyote called James, of unlikely heroes and hundreds of papier-mâché animals...

Eighty-two-year-old Etta has never seen the ocean. So early one morning she takes a rifle, some chocolate, and her best boots, and begins walking the 3,232 kilometers from rural Canada eastward to the coast.

Her husband Otto wakes to a note left on the kitchen table. "I will try to remember to come back," Etta writes to him. Otto has seen the ocean, having crossed the Atlantic years ago to fight in a far-away war. He understands. But with Etta gone, the memories come crowding in and Otto struggles to keep them at bay.

Russell has spent his whole life trying to keep up with Otto and loving Etta from afar. Russell insists on finding Etta, wherever she's gone. Leaving his own farm will be the first act of defiance in his life.

As Etta walks further toward the ocean, accompanied by a coyote named James, the lines among memory, illusion, and reality blur.

Rocking back and forth with the pull of the waves, Etta and Otto and Russell and James moves from the hot and dry present of a quiet Canadian farm to a dusty burnt past of hunger, war, passion, and hope; from trying to remember to trying to forget; and inspires each of its characters to visit the sites they've longed to see and say the things they've longed to say. This is dazzling literary fiction about the rediscovery and care of the soul, and the idea it's never too late for a great adventure.

©2015 Emma Hooper, Ltd. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon and Schuster

It's not a book for everyone

I loved the narrator and I loved the story too. As the jacket mentions, the characters are in their 80's and that's why I say it's not for everyone. It is not a fast-paced story but it is a very dear one. I know nothing about the farm life described and lived yet could picture all of it and all of the people in it. Some reviews relate it to the Harold Fry book but that comparison never struck me at all. I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite character so I'll name both James and Otto. As soon as I finished, I had questions so I started to listen again but I decided after a few chapters to take a break instead.

Reads like poetry

Lovely story and intriguing characters! I felt a little sad but so good to read. I wanted it to go on for another chapter at least, maybe two!
The characters are so warm and interesting that it would be nice to sit and have a cup of coffee and cinnamon roll with them, ask them questions about their lives. Looking forward to another book by this author!

What is life? Really

I really enjoyed the story. I looked forward to what would happen next. Not sure the story ended like I had hoped.

I wanted it never to end

I loved everything about this book - the story, the writing, the narrator - everything. I rarely listen to an audiobook more than once but this will definitely be an exception

An odd little story

A strange little story. I almost gave up on it several times, but the characters kept pulling me back. My favorite " character " ? James the (maybe) coyote. Loved the voice the narrator used for James. Not a mainstream book, but one for readers who like something a bit different..

Cute

Great book. Cute characters. Am going to have to think about it for awhile to try to understand it more

Ending in question

If you want a story with a real ending and not an ambiguous one, this may not be for you. It really isn't fair because you're looking forward to how this is going to play out and then you're left wondering as to what just happened. And after reading an interview with the author, she doesn't really care what you think about the ending. 😳

A rare treasure in the end

I loved the characters and the magical realism. Like a great scene from "Prairie Home Companion" plus flax flowers . Depth in simplicity. I'm left speechless at the ending.

Enjoyed it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story moved slowly and captured my attention heard.

What about Robert G. Slade’s performance did you like?

His voice and characters were natural and so i was able to listen to the story and not him.

Lovely story

Sweet and Tender story
Love Robert Slade as narrator. Emma Hooper did a beautiful job!!