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| Emma Hooper |
One of the most charming debut novels of 2015 will surely be Emma Hooper's "Etta and Otto and Russell and James," out this week from Simon & Schuster. You've probably heard the story line by now.
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 (about 2,000 miles) from her farm in rural Canada eastward to Halifax in Nova Scotia. She leaves husband Otto a note on the kitchen table: I will try to remember to come back. Otto understands. But with Etta gone, the memories come crowding in, and he struggles to keep them at bay.
Russell is the couple's friend and a one-time rival for Etta's love. In fact, he's spent his whole life loving Etta from afar, and he insists on finding her, wherever she’s gone.
As Etta walks farther toward the ocean, accompanied by a coyote named James, the lines among memory, illusion, and reality blur as dementia sets in. Rocking back and forth with the pull of the waves, Etta and Otto and Russell and James move from the present of a quiet Canadian farm to a dusty burnt past of hunger, war, passion, and hope; from trying to remember to trying to forget.
In interviews, Hooper, a musician in her mid-30s who lives in England, says the characters Etta and Otto are loosely based on the maternal grandparents she visited as a child on their small farm in Sasketchewan. Her grandmother, like Etta, taught in a tiny school, and her grandfather did come from a farm family of 15 children.
With starred reviews in both Kirkus and Library Journal and named as People Magazine's Book of the Week, critics are lauding this novel about leaving and being left, about the need to remember and the need to forget and about following your dreams, no matter your age.
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto
are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually
teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow
up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he
was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting
my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to
play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke?
What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if,
instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took
the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the
characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
What inspired Etta and Otto and Russell and James?
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
Emma Hooper: Well, the characters of Etta and Otto are loosely based on my maternal grandparents. My grandma did actually teach in a one-room schoolhouse in Saskatchewan, and my grandpa did grow up in a farm family of 15 kids (and his hair did all go white when he was overseas for the war). So, I suppose, a mixture of that and letting my slightly absurdist imagination take over from time to time. I like to play little “what if” games with myself. “What if fish skulls spoke? What language would it be in? What would they say? Why?” Or, “What if, instead of taking the fastest, easiest way to get somewhere, you took the slowest? Why?” I put that kind of thinking together with the characters who help direct it, and, ta-da, a sort of story appears.
- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-debut-author-qa-emma-hooper#sthash.QkgI5BMg.dpuf
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