Scan barcode
katiemichellereads's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free review copy of this book through Netgalley.
My reviews can also be found on my blog, Kittens and Books.
4.5 stars
This is the story of three people, each around eighty, who have spent the majority of their lives together. When Otto and Russell were in school, their old teacher was replaced with Etta, who was around the same age as themselves. From there, the lives of these three are mixed together, blended, it seems, almost into one.
The book itself intertwines the past and the present. In the past there are war memories, the story of Etta and Russell's brief romance, and school and dancing and songs. In the present there is Etta, walking to the ocean, Otto, making papier-mâché animals, Russell, in search of Etta, and James, a talking coyote who follows Etta around.
At first, the story felt pretty cohesive, but further in things get more scrambled. I found myself reading parts over again, to be sure I read them right. We are mostly following Etta's journey in this book, and she is not completely in touch with reality - sometimes, her memories are clear. Other times, she is confused. She keeps a note in her pocket to remind her of herself, and that lists her family members.
While the book lacked clarity, this did seem intentional, and I actually really liked the writing style. I liked getting further into the story and feeling just a little bit more lost on every page. This resembled the characters and the situation very well. It added to the book, rather than took away from it.
The characters themselves were great as well. I loved reading their pasts, although sometimes I did want to just jump ahead to what was happening currently. I did expect to see more of Russell in the present, as I really enjoyed his character - if he had a story of his own, I would read it. If there was one more thing I could ask for in this book, it would be more Russell. His present scenes were so short, and so far apart. Still, I loved reading about Etta and Otto. I enjoyed the parts with James as well, especially early on in the book.
I do have to say that this book won't be for everybody. The style is different, and some readers won't appreciate that. If you like a straightforward story, I would recommend reading something else. However, this is a sweet story of love and friendship and adventure, and it's perfect for readers who don't mind being a bit confused, It all felt very real, very heartfelt and touching, and - given the right reader - so, so much can be taken from this story.
My reviews can also be found on my blog, Kittens and Books.
4.5 stars
This is the story of three people, each around eighty, who have spent the majority of their lives together. When Otto and Russell were in school, their old teacher was replaced with Etta, who was around the same age as themselves. From there, the lives of these three are mixed together, blended, it seems, almost into one.
The book itself intertwines the past and the present. In the past there are war memories, the story of Etta and Russell's brief romance, and school and dancing and songs. In the present there is Etta, walking to the ocean, Otto, making papier-mâché animals, Russell, in search of Etta, and James, a talking coyote who follows Etta around.
At first, the story felt pretty cohesive, but further in things get more scrambled. I found myself reading parts over again, to be sure I read them right. We are mostly following Etta's journey in this book, and she is not completely in touch with reality - sometimes, her memories are clear. Other times, she is confused. She keeps a note in her pocket to remind her of herself, and that lists her family members.
While the book lacked clarity, this did seem intentional, and I actually really liked the writing style. I liked getting further into the story and feeling just a little bit more lost on every page. This resembled the characters and the situation very well. It added to the book, rather than took away from it.
The characters themselves were great as well. I loved reading their pasts, although sometimes I did want to just jump ahead to what was happening currently. I did expect to see more of Russell in the present, as I really enjoyed his character - if he had a story of his own, I would read it. If there was one more thing I could ask for in this book, it would be more Russell. His present scenes were so short, and so far apart. Still, I loved reading about Etta and Otto. I enjoyed the parts with James as well, especially early on in the book.
I do have to say that this book won't be for everybody. The style is different, and some readers won't appreciate that. If you like a straightforward story, I would recommend reading something else. However, this is a sweet story of love and friendship and adventure, and it's perfect for readers who don't mind being a bit confused, It all felt very real, very heartfelt and touching, and - given the right reader - so, so much can be taken from this story.
craftygoat's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book's characters, their hopes, their journeys. I loved the things we learned about them & the things we didn't. Beautiful.
mmk4725's review against another edition
Boring. I didn't care about any of the characters
cisetten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
j_olip's review against another edition
5.0
This book is like being in a dream. You follow along with the story and the narrative without really being able to get a full sense of the characters or where it's heading. It was magical. One of the descriptions for the book on the inside page was that it was similar to Wes Anderson's stylized dream worlds, and I would have to agree with that.
bmpicc's review against another edition
2.0
I am a bit torn about this one. For each piece that I found intriguing/enjoyable, I found something else equally frustrating/confusing! Most notably, I love the back and forth between past and present. I liked seeing where they came from and how their lives were intertwined. What bugged me the most was the lack of quotation marks! I had moments where I had to reread sections because I was unsure if someone said something, thought something or if it was simply narration! This book is definitely an interesting look into aging and dementia.
I think as an author, Hooper has something to say. I also think she has the voice and imagination to do so. I just hope next time she had manages to say it in a less confusing manner!
I think as an author, Hooper has something to say. I also think she has the voice and imagination to do so. I just hope next time she had manages to say it in a less confusing manner!
stefnoble's review against another edition
3.0
This was a gentle story, toeing the line between reality and not-quite-reality. I appreciated the choice made for the traveler to be the woman and the one at home to be the man, opening up nuances.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
Liked the characters and the story but the end was kind of disappointing. Could see it as a really good movie.
hatrireads's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful story. I am still in awe of it. I will write more after I complete my book club review ... loved this and recommend to all.