Come, Thou Tortoise

In Canadian author Jessica Grant’s debut novel, Come, Thou Tortoise (2009), the comical yet poignant narrative tells the story of Audrey Flowers and her pet tortoise, Winnifred. When Audrey learns that her father is in a coma back in Newfoundland, she uproots herself from her carefully curated life in Portland, Oregon, leaves Winnifred with friends ill-equipped to care for her, and journeys home. Audrey and Winnifred soon find themselves involved in a life-changing mystery. The tale—told through the voices of both Audrey and Winnifred—often reaches surreal heights, especially given the fact that Audrey sees life differently, and that, well, Winnifred is an anthropomorphized tortoise. Despite the oddball humor (Audrey herself is called “Oddly” by friends and family), the novel addresses themes of love, affection, family, loss, identity, and the concept of home.

Audrey “Oddly” Flowers lives in Portland, Oregon with her pet tortoise Winnifred. Winnifred has had a number of previous owners, and no one really knows how old she is. Winnifred’s last owner is Audrey’s ex-boyfriend. He leaves Winnifred when he moves out (he wants to go climb mountains and can’t bring Winnifred on such trips). Though Winnifred and Audrey get along, Audrey, too, must leave Winnifred one day when she learns heartbreaking news: her father is in the hospital after being hit by a Christmas tree. The tree was tied onto a nearby car and came undone. Her father is now in a coma, and Audrey determines to go back to St. John’s, Newfoundland to visit him.

Audrey must leave Winnifred with friends, though it is clear that her friends are not equipped to take care of Winnifred. The reader glimpses much of this through Winnifred’s own storyline, as the author uses Winnifred as one of the main characters. As such, Winnifred is capable of human understanding throughout the narrative. The tortoise muses on her transfer to different owners, contemplates life as she moves from one end of the tank to the other, and shows an active fear of getting cold. She also notes her infrequent heartbeats, and the anxiety she feels between them.



Audrey soon finds herself overcoming her fear of flying with comical effect. This is also one of the key giveaways that underscore just how differently Audrey views the world. While en route to Newfoundland, she mistakes an air marshal for a terrorist and actually manages to take his gun away from him before locking herself in the bathroom. Though Audrey finally arrives back home, she eventually comes to realize that the concept of home isn’t fixed. Moreover, Audrey eventually discovers that, despite her childhood memories, she doesn’t quite understand the people she considers close. This understanding sends Audrey on a comical journey of self-discovery, as both she and Winnifred are embroiled in a life-changing mystery; as well, Audrey attempts to reunite with Winnifred.

Some critics cite the humor in the narrative as a plot device that often hampers the overall story. From Winnifred’s world-weary anthropomorphizing to Audrey’s sometimes over-the-top language and actions, the colorful bits of the story can feel like a marketing ploy. Moreover, there are some threads in the narrative that could offer depth to the characters but aren’t explored enough, such as the fact that Audrey’s father is gay, and that her Uncle Thoby—who helped raise her—isn’t her father’s brother but his lover. A critic from The Guardian also notes that everyone in the novel is too sweet. “Curiosity about what will happen next is duly aroused. The trouble is, everybody’s so nice.” From Audrey’s ex to her father’s archenemy, everyone ends up meaning well, thus giving no substance, or real conflict, to anyone. Despite this, the narrative is also viewed as a heartwarming tale with quirky, comical language that allows readers to see life in a different way.