But beneath that storyline is 82 years of history and experiences that drive Etta towards this dream. On a superficial level, the book is about an old woman, Etta, who decides to pack her bags and leave her husband Otto behind in Saskatchewan to go on a journey to see the water on the East coast of Canada (via foot, no less). It has layers upon layers just waiting to be dissected and enjoyed. Well, that’s how I felt when trying to write my review of Etta and Otto and Russell and James.Įtta and Otto and Russell and James is like an onion. As we all know, love is an untangible thing that is sometimes hard to describe. Sometimes a book will grip me with its strong message sometimes, it affects me so much emotionally that the review just flows effortlessly from my heart to the (web)page and then there are books that are written so beautifully and with such loveable characters that you become enamored with everything embodied in the text. Watch our website for more information about what we have planned.I’ve been reviewing books on this blog for almost a year now and the review-writing process is always an interesting experience for me. Our own “One Book: One Community” book was recently announced, and is Amy Jones’ “We’re all in this together”. She is definitely a writer to watch! This book was chosen as Edmonton Public Library’s “One Book: One Community” book last Fall. This is Emma Hooper’s first book and it has been translated into 18 languages, which attests to its universal appeal. Otto, the husband Etta leaves behind, comforts himself by baking his way through Etta’s recipe box. Etta’s memories paint a picture of how the war years deeply impacted daily life on the prairies - both the lives of communities and the lives of individuals.

An interesting twist is that James, a fox, joins Etta early in her walk and becomes her advisor and protector. Like Forrest Gump, she never asks for help on her walk, but folks are happy to provide it. She becomes a reluctant celebrity as her journey is observed, documented and celebrated by people along the way. Etta reflects on her life as she walks, revealing how she happened into a job at a dusty one room school house, fell in love with a boy who was sent off to war, and ended up marrying another. As with many literary journeys, hers is both physical and spiritual. She leaves a note for her husband Otto asking him not to follow her, and sets off one morning. This quirky book focusses on Etta, a retired prairie school teacher who decides to fulfill a lifelong dream to see the Atlantic Ocean.

Emma hooper books