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Etta and Otto and Russell and James
Etta and Otto and Russell and James | Emma Hooper
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 Saskatchewan to Halifax. Her husband Otto wakes to a note left on the kitchen table.I will try to remember to come back, Etta writes. Otto has seen the ocean, having crossed the Atlantic years ago to fight in a far-away war, so he understands. But with Etta gone, the memories come crowding in. The only way to keep them at bay is to keep his hands busy.Russell, raised as a brother to Otto, has loved Etta from afar for sixty years. He insists on finding Etta, wherever shes gone. Leaving his farm will be the first act of defiance in his whole life.As Etta walks toward the ocean - accompanied by a coyote named James - memory, illusion, and reality blur. Like the gentle undulation of waves, Etta and Otto and Russell and Jamesmoves from a past filled with hunger, war, passion, and hope to a present of quiet industry and peaceful communion; from trying to remember to trying to forget. A beautiful novel that reminds us that its never too late to see the things youve longed to see, or to say the things youve longed to say.
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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The #20in4 Readathon his at a challenging time. I have a bit of a Friendsgiving later tonight and a birthday get together tomorrow with my brother & his family. I'm keeping my goals simple. Finish Red Rabbit (about 30 pages left) and see how far I can get with this one. This one covers Canada for #foodandlit and the #52books Palindrome on cover prompt.
@Andrew65 andrew65

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, best of luck 😍 I look forward to hearing about the Emma Hooper book, it looks interesting and not a book I know. 4w
43 likes1 comment
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RaeLovesToRead
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Mehso-so

I really didn't get anything out of this one.

Uninteresting and indistinguishable characters behaving in inexplicable ways. You know a novel isn't grabbing your attention when your favourite thing about it is the amount of blank space on the pages.

It wasn't badly written and there were some interesting ideas, but it was lacking the key ingredients of believable characters and clarity of purpose.

Not for me.

⭐⭐

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suvata
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Mehso-so

Etta, a woman in her early 80s, rises early one morning on her farm in Canada‘s prairie province Saskatchewan, packs a few useful items in a bag, slings a rifle over her shoulder, and sets out on foot to see the ocean. When her husband, Otto, comes downstairs, some time later, he finds Etta‘s note – “I‘ve never seen the water, so I‘ve gone there” – and a pile of recipe cards so that he‘ll know how to feed himself while she is gone.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love your lamp!! 3y
suvata @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Me too. It was a total impulse buy from Facebook a year or so ago. 3y
56 likes2 comments
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rachaich
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Pickpick

Beautiful.
Poignant.
Really wonderfully flowing but with such interwoven parts.
Gutted as I thought it was longer than it was so felt I finished it too soon!

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rachaich
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Thoroughly enjoying this book.

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rachaich
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Really interested in starting this one.
It's for book club on Sunday but only just got a copy! 🙂🙂☺

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Kazzie
Pickpick

So charming. And quick read. Deals with dementia and love and duty

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Foragingfantasy
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Pickpick

This little book was charming. Full of letters, love, memories, and a coyote, named James.

35 likes1 stack add
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anniehartnett
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This book is so tender and sweet and whimsical I want to hug it. I made Willie hug it instead.

tammysue He‘s a sweetie! 6y
2BR02B What a gorgeous pup! 6y
CaitlinR Looks like you didn‘t need to twist his paw. 6y
JennyM So cute 6y
TNbookworm 6y
24 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Cheekymom3
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Pickpick

I got this book because I had an Uncle Otto and Ain‘t Etta... turned into a crazy adventure and love story. I liked it... I think?

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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

I loved this sweet story of an 80+ Canadian woman who decides to walk across Canada to see the ocean. She left a note for her husband, and he decides to let her go, since she wanted to do it by herself. It‘s her story and his, and that of a good friend of theirs. It‘s beautiful and strange, and a book I‘ll share with friends.

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Tex2Flo
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(How do I indicate spoilers here!??)
One of the most clever sections of the book is a spot where Otto doesn‘t know what has happened to Etta. This is just the way I worry—in various story lines.

3 likes1 stack add
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Pickpick

Pick! Odd story of an 80ish-year-old woman who goes walkabout in Canada, and the stories of those she leaves behind. Good use of magical realism, with an ending that was ambiguous enough to make me wonder what was real and what was magic.

britt_brooke Nice review! I liked this one a lot. 💚 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @britt_brooke Thanks! I thought I understood the ending, but after reading other interpretations I think maybe I got it all wrong! Gave me a lot to think about. 7y
50 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Libby1
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Panpan

This close up image from the cover shows how I felt when I finished this book.

I feel like a BIG OL‘ MEANY for Panning this book. There are some lovely elements to the characters and the story, but the ending (no spoilers) made this all seem hollow.

I finished this feeling very disappointed in a wasted opportunity.

britt_brooke Ah, bummer. I enjoyed this one, but I always appreciate honest reviews. 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I jist finished it today and I think I liked it. The ending was so ambiguous but I really liked the magical realism, even if I was never sure what was exactly magic and what was exactly real. 7y
drokka I gave it a so-so, but it's leaning against the pan. I struggled so much with this book. Took me two years on and off to finish it. 7y
65 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Libby1
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This cover. 💛

Kalalalatja 😍😍 7y
mrp27 😍😍 7y
87 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Libby1
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“It took them longer, a week or so, to notice the hole in their language this new word had made. To grasp that there was no term for a parent without a child, a sister without a sister.”

Grief leaves a hole in our language. 💔

SauerPatch This is so heartbreaking and so beautiful at the same time. 💔 7y
72 likes1 comment
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Libby1
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britt_brooke I loved this book! My endpapers were different, but pretty as well. 7y
Libby1 Glad you liked it, @britt_brooke ! I just finished a really frustrating book (tagged), so I need something enjoyable. 🙂 7y
81 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
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Christmas spirit with my Christmas spirit. And a good book.

HotMessJess Oh my goodness, love you so much!!! I have a training this morning, but expect an email this afternoon!! 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @HotMessJess Ha! Right back atcha! Good luck with training!! 7y
51 likes2 comments
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KarenUK
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#day21 #anditsaugust
I 💗💗💗 #seniorcitizens narrators ... Leo Gursky from 'The History of Love' being my absolute favorite....
Lillian and Etta are both on my TBR and I can't wait to read them both... I hear great things about both of these octogenarian ladies! 😊👍

Lindy Three wonderful novels! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Lindy This one was an Edmonton all-city read a few years back: (edited) 7y
Caryl I loved The History of Love. Etta et al was wonderful, too. 7y
See All 7 Comments
KarenUK @lindy @caryl Definitely moving Etta up the TBR on your recommendations 👍💕 7y
britt_brooke Ditto @Lindy and @Caryl - Etta and Otto and Russell and James is a delightful read. 💚 When @Liberty did personal recommendations several months ago, this is what she chose for me. 😊 7y
Caryl @britt_brooke - What a great pick for you from @Liberty ! 😎 7y
52 likes7 comments
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Frymcdonald
Bailedbailed

Ugh. Couldn't wait to be done bc it was just too stream of consciousness. It didn't go anywhere. It felt like the author just picked a day, wrote, and did the same thing with no set end point.

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huntersmom1977
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I recently got into my creativity side and decided, every book I read from now on, I shall personally draw a picture pertaining to the book....
#ettaandottoandrussellandjames
#drawing #hobbies

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huntersmom1977
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review
huntersmom1977
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Pickpick

What an amazing read! Fell in love with the elderly couple. A story of love, war and a creative imagination. 🇨🇦PROUD TO BE A CANADIAN 🇨🇦

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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

A review of a book that I finished a couple of weeks ago on vacation but forgot to review... I loved this quiet, intense book. It was deeper than I expected and less sweet, more bittersweet. Easy to read, but still so much depth to it. I can see revisiting this one later in life.

britt_brooke Such a great read! 7y
58 likes1 comment
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candority
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This book is by a Canadian author but it is #redwhiteandblue! Happy #4thofJuly to all my American friends. #jubilantjuly

30 likes1 stack add
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christineandbooks
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My reading for the month of June...a rather slow month but still a few good books. Also, it seems that I am just about exactly halfway through my challenge reads for this year... 50/101!

JoeStalksBeck 👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️‼️📚📖🤘🏻🎶 7y
47 likes2 comments
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christineandbooks
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Had a bit of time to read in this lovely spot on an island off coast of Portland Maine while my kids built fairy houses. What a wonderful way to spend some vacation time. 😊🌻

britt_brooke I loved this book!! 8y
christineandbooks @britt_brooke I am really loving it so far! 8y
LiteraryinPA Wow, the description is intriguing! 8y
61 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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christineandbooks
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Got a little reading in on the ferry ride home from Monhegan Island. Gorgeous day out on the ocean and exploring the island.

MaureenMc I love Monhegan Island! 8y
Jennick2004 Wow beautiful!! 8y
68 likes1 stack add2 comments
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drokka
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I'm a little surprised at how many books about elder persons I own, and most are quite humorous. I hope they feel they are. Wing well represented. #goldenyears #junetunz

Cinfhen I've heard such good things about the tagged book!!! Hope to get to it #somanybookssolittletime 8y
erzascarletbookgasm I hope to get to the tagged book too! On my TBR 8y
58 likes2 comments
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thereadingwomen
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Our interview with Heather O'Neill got us searching for more books from Canadian authors. The amazing LitCounsellor was kind enough to write a guest blog post with a list of her favorites. Give it a read and then be sure to follow her for even more great recommendations.
https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/4/24/female-canadian-authors

#CanLit

bookaholic1 I read SO MUCH LOVE (a goodreads win, my first win) and it was so good 8y
82 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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mcctrish
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This is the book that the city I live in has pledged to read #LondonOntario I thought we could use this as a jumping off place to meet up London Litsy peeps

jpease89 Hollaaaa!!! 8y
mcctrish Hi @jpease89 Jess, I thought we should get off that post we over ran 8y
Jenshootsweddings Count me in! 8y
See All 11 Comments
mcctrish @Jenshootsweddings are you back from holidays? 8y
drokka Don't forget @StellaDz And I've read this one, so I'm totally in. 8y
drokka Oh. And we missed the author, she was at LPL this past Monday (or maybe it was last week). 8y
StellaDz I'm in! I'm so behind in the comments but my phone is old and I only log in once or twice. @mcctrish can keep me posted if I miss anything! 😉 8y
brilliantglow I'm in. Haven't read this one yet but I can pick it up. 😃 @drokka @StellaDz @jpease89 @mcctrish @Jenshootsweddings 8y
mcctrish I have read it ( a while back) I just used as a prompt but I totally recommend it 8y
17 likes2 stack adds11 comments
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Moonpa
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This month's book club pick for tonight's meeting and I haven't read it. I started it on Friday but it didn't grab me and unfortunately I didn't get much farther this weekend. I'll see what I can squeeze in during the day!

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Devyn
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Pup mug and a lovely new book to start what'll be a busy day 🐶📖

review
RinaBrahmbhattBarot
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Pickpick

Happy #RedNoseDay . Wanna win this #mysterybooks #redcover. Share your #RedCover book and tag me :)
PS: Ninja nose is a bonus prize ☺️

RinaBrahmbhattBarot @Kalalalatja is the lucky winner :) 8y
Kalalalatja Yay! 🎉🎉 8y
RinaBrahmbhattBarot @Kalalalatja your book is on its way :) 8y
59 likes3 comments
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Jessica_Jean
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Why??!! Why?? Did I finish the whole book? Don't do it! Drop it, do not turn another page. #dud #whydidntistop #nowimmad #whatthehell

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Jessica_Jean
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Cabin reading

1 stack add
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ooodiga
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Wieder einige schöne Stellen im Buch gefunden! Das Zimtschneckenrezept muss ich definitiv mal ausprobieren 🤓

1 like1 stack add
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ooodiga
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Sunday afternoon: tea, book, balcony.
#lifeisgood #readingissexy #booklove #books #bookworm

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Eridau
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And next up on the reading agenda is...Etta, Otto, Russel and James.

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Leigh0906
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I'm using my middle name, Etta, for Day 9 of #riotgrams #samename

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britt_brooke
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149 likes2 stack adds
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Nute
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If you have food, you should eat it, said James.

Beckys_Books Love your photo!! 8y
Nute Thanks. I actually like making this a part of the reading experience, and it's all because of Litsy.😜 8y
7 likes2 comments
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Sharpeipup
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Readers gotta read. #readeveryday

8 likes2 stack adds
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britt_brooke
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Today, I'm recommending one of my favorite reads of 2016. It was hand-picked for me by @Liberty, so you know it's good. 😉 #recommendsday

MrBook 😁👏🏻 I listened to this on audio. Very good book 😊! 8y
drokka I've been reading this one on-and-off all year. I'm still undecided. 8y
britt_brooke @drokka It's very different. I loved the quirky characters. 8y
See All 9 Comments
britt_brooke @MrBook Delightfully quirky. 💕 8y
christineandbooks I've seen this one a bunch of times and thought it sounded great, but somehow it never made it onto my actual TBR list... thanks for the reminder! 8y
britt_brooke @christineandbooks 👍🏻👍🏻 8y
Suet624 Jeepers. I read it and liked it but now I can't remember a thing about it. That's too bad. 😩 8y
britt_brooke @Suet624 I'm glad I'm not the only one this happens to! Some books I just completely brain dump. I don't know why. Frustrating! 8y
whatsjennareading This is such a wonderful book!! 8y
122 likes16 stack adds9 comments
review
Joanneds
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Pickpick

This is a gentle, poetic read, which means I think some will love it, and some will find it a slog. I however found it endearing and a little sad.

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AshleyS
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Pickpick

What a beautiful book. It's quiet and slow and quirky, and just wonderful. ❤️

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AshleyS
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#booktober #debutnovels I'm taking the easy way out on this one, this is the book I am currently reading. I'm only on page 36 but am really enjoying it so far, and the cover is amazing.

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AshleyS
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These are the book marks I have now. I really like using the page clips, but have a tendency to lose them. I will also use anything I have on hand for a book mark. (Currently reading Etta and Otto and Russell and James, otherwise unrelated to this post.) #booktober #bookmarks

moranadatter Those magnetic fox bookmarks are adorable! 8y
AshleyS @kmdartist those are from target and are really cheap! 8y
22 likes2 comments