Reviews

The Octopus Man by Jasper Gibson

harrietmarydean's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dnvrdnvr's review against another edition

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dark funny informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

paulataua's review

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3.0

Tom has lived with schizophrenia for nineteen years communicating in private with this octopus god, but then is hospitalized when his condition is triggered. One solution is for him to take part in a clinical trial of a new drug, an option that is being pushed upon him by his well-meaning family and the not so concerned doctors. I found the whole thing quite unconvincing. I found the main character, and virtually every character in the hospital, to be a shallow sketch, and the conversations there seemed quite unrealistic. I was also irritated when his beautifully poetic descriptive powers endured in the face of heavy medication. I really did struggle to get to the end. Having said that, the message of the novel was good and the last few pages almost, and I stress the ‘almost’, made it worth reading. Not my favorite critique of psychiatry, but at least a critique!

kyuteepie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

eviemaee's review

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challenging funny informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amy_isobel02's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

gemimasheila's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

katywills's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

hayleyyyreads's review

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4.0

a bit funny and a lot sad, this was a very hard hitting story that I’m still thinking about nearly a month after I read it. The author has done an incredible job of giving the reader a very intimate view into Tom’s psyche, but still allowing for some very poignant twists and turns.

moozyxox's review

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0