Turtle Diary (novel)

Turtle Diary is a 1975 British book by author Russell Hoban.

Set in London, the novel concerns two lonely middle-aged people who unexpectedly form a connection over captive green turtles.

In 1985 the book was adapted into a film of the same name.

The novel was later reissued by NYRB Classics and Penguin Modern Classics in the U.S. and the U.K. respectively.

Summary

William G. is a divorced book seller who is estranged from his two daughters. Wandering into the London Zoo aquarium he is drawn to a set of green turtles and begins to learn about them. At the same time, popular children's author Neara H. is similarly drawn to the green turtles. Independently each befriends the turtle keeper, George Fairburn, and asks about freeing the turtles. Surprisingly Fairburn is amenable to the idea.

William and Neara meet when Neara goes to William's bookshop. Each recognizes in the other a kindred spirit and though neither is seeking to make a connection they reluctantly decide to collaborate to help Fairburn free the turtles.

On the appointed day, William and Neara rent a truck and travel to Polperro where Neara had suggested launching the turtles, unaware that the town is the one William was born in. Their mission is a success and they are both briefly elated, though returning to London both drop their connection.

Each feels that despite their initial euphoria the turtles have not changed them in any substantial way. However Neara begins a relationship with George while William ends one he had with his coworker, Harriet, and physically fights Sandor, one of the fellow boarders at his rooming house.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews praised the novel as "Immensely entertaining." Ed Park, who wrote the introduction to the NYRB Classics 2013 reprint, called it "The Lost Great Novel of Middle Age". Bookforum called the novel "a quiet masterpiece".