Now Read This: 'Etta and Otto and Russell and James' by Emma Hooper

Recently while tuned into my favorite local NPR station, I heard an interview with Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl. As a regular commentator about books on NPR's "Morning Edition," Nancy Pearl shares unique book treasures about which you might not otherwise hear. I've been known to pull over to the side of the road to write down her recommendations, which, now that I think about it, is silly because the NPR website has transcriptions of her interviews.

One of the books she talked about this time was "Etta and Otto and Russell and James" by Emma Hooper. Etta is an 83-year-old woman who embarks on a 3,200-kilometer journey walking from Saskatchewan to Halifax to see the ocean for the first time. The morning she sets out, she simply leaves a note for her husband, Otto, along with her favorite recipe cards. While she's gone, Otto spends time writing her letters he never mails, learning to cook from those recipe cards and creating paper mache animal sculptures.

Their lifelong friend and neighbor, Russell, decides to go after her, and ends up on his own journey. James is a character I'll let you discover on your own.

Each of the first three characters carries heavy memories: tragic pregnancies, the horrors of World War II, a broken heart, an injured limb. The book dips in and out of reality and travels between the past and the present. Once again, this is one of my favorite types of books, with unique characters and a well-written story.

It reminded me a lot of another book I reviewed months ago, "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce. I found it at the top of the list of read-alikes on NoveList, so I guess I was right on the nose!

If you like this particular recommendation of Nancy Pearl's, you may want to check out her book called "Book Lust," which is her fun guide to the best adult reading, new and old. She has a similar book for kids and teens, called "Book Crush." The library owns copies of both of these books. Oh, and if you're interested in seeing the Nancy Pearl action figure, come visit me in my office. I'll let you try out her shushing arm!

Happy readings!

Betty Martin

About Betty

Betty Martin is director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library.