Quotes from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“We're all scared most of the time. Life would be lifeless if we weren't. Be scared, and then jump into that fear. Again and again. Just remember to hold on to yourself while you do it.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“You told me, once, to just remember to breathe. As long as you can do that, you're doing something good.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“We have good days and bad days. You told me, once, to just remember to breathe. As long as you can do that, you’re doing something Good, you said. Getting rid of the old, and letting in the new. And, therefore, moving forward. Making progress. That’s all you have to do to move forward, sometimes, you said, just breathe. So don’t worry, Etta, if nothing else, I am still breathing.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Go do whatever, wherever. Go do it alone, and now, because you want to and you're allowed to and you can.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“I have made you some things, for when you get back. I understand now, all the baking you sent me, stale and crumbled in brown paper and rough twine. Now you’re away and I am here. So I will make and make until you get back to remind you, and myself: there are reasons to come home.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“I am drawing a dotted line across our globe, starting from home here, out along what I imagine is your path.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“We're all scared most of the time. Life would be lifeless if we weren't.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“If we’re doing we’re living and if we’re living we’re winning, right?”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“In that night’s dream Etta was swimming or dancing, she couldn’t decide which, but it didn’t matter because they were, really, the same thing, only in swimming the water was your partner, all around, ready, following, light and easy and heavy and comforting and there in your arms and you in its arms and if you opened your mouth to sing along to the music it would rush in and tell you its secrets and taste like wine.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“I keep your photo in the pocket on the side without the gun. For balance.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“It took them longer, a week or so, to notice the hole in their language that this new word had made. To grasp that there was no term for a parent without a child, a sister without a sister.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“You can never stop being a mother. Never, never, never.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“The pain bursts through Etta like caffeine,”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Toxemia. A word that starts so harsh and ends so gently.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“The students whipped their heads back to look at her; a blaspheming teacher was as exciting as a fight.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“People could say things about Owen. They could. But they don’t. We don’t. Words are strong. The strongest. Worse than bruises on”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“The radio was a beautiful thing. It was hodgepodge and patched up on the outside, but on the inside it was filled with voices, filled with people and music and ideas from away, from far away. Otto took a breath and turned it on.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“P.S. I know you have gone to see the water, and you should see it, Etta, you should, but, in case there are other reasons you’ve left, in case there are things you have discovered or undiscovered that you didn’t want to tell me in person, in that case, you can always tell me here. Tell me here and we can never mention it outside of paper and ink (or pencil).”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Etta, it could be everything, it could be nothing, what you’re making up. You shouldn’t let that bother you.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“you’re doing something Good, you said. Getting rid of the old and letting in the new. And, therefore, moving forward. Making progress. That’s all you have to do to move forward, sometimes, you said, just breathe. So don’t worry, Etta, if nothing else, I am still breathing. You”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Kneading, Otto thought as he moved his hands up and down in the dough, was the best part. It was the connection point, between you and the food.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Otto's train was due in seven minutes. Etta stood on the platform and waited for the wind it would bring.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“Chickens, children, they're all the same.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“go do whatever, wherever. Go do it alone, and now, because you want to and you’re allowed to and you can.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

“He put his hands on her arms, above the elbow, held them in, and kissed her mouth and kissed her and kissed so that neither of them could breathe and neither of them wanted to.”
― Emma Hooper, quote from Etta and Otto and Russell and James

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About BookQuoters

BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.