A review by rainyamy
Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper

5.0

This was a very, very good book, an excellent book. This is a book written in the rhythmic and natural style I would love to be able to write in someday. The seemingly effortless way the words communicate thoughts and deep feelings, so smoothly and beautifully, is perfect. I loved the way the story wove through time and perspectives elegantly and seamlessly, even though I expected to dislike this format going in. The details and the cleverly complete descriptions made this book exactly right. I saw every inch of this story, and I was grateful for it. It was a love story, an adventure story, a war story, a wilderness survival story, a story of bravery, a story of patient perseverance, a story about finding yourself and loving others. It was whatever kind of story Forrest Gump was, but totally different at the same time. I didn’t like all the wilderness survival bits—eating animals in the woods isn’t something I enjoy reading about—but I loved this book. I knew, very early in, that this would make me cry, even though I couldn’t tell yet if this book would have a happy ending, a sad ending, or something bittersweet. I won’t tell you about the ending, but I will admit: I cried.