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grunbean's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I am not the most eloquent when describing what I like about the work of certain writers, but I really enjoyed every part of this book. It is written beautifully, and I fell in love with the characters and their lives very quickly. It is very hard not to root for them and towards the end I was turning the pages with anticipation with my fingers crossed that things would unfold how I wanted.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Addiction, Abandonment, and Suicide attempt
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, and Child death
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Pregnancy, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
vedpears's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Murder
honeybeewitched87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Cancer, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Tova is in her 70's and works as a cleaner in the aquarium, where she befriends Marcellus, the resident Giant Pacific Octopus. Her husband died a few years ago, and their son died 30 years ago due to a presumed accident at sea. Tova is fairly lonely but tries to keep herself occupied. We also have Cameron who has arrived in town in search of his dad, whom he has never met.
There are a lot of things I really liked about this book, and a handful of things I didn't.
The writing style is really good, with great prose and realistic-feeling dialogue. The octopus's POV was excellent, I really loved him and I like how his personality really shone through. The characters were a bit tropey but that is part of its charm.
Our main character Tova in particular was great, I'd love to be her friend. She is exactly the kind of "old person character" I enjoy, realistically confused with technology and not some kind of larger-than-life super-granny. She actually feels fragile and old, unlike some elder characters who are shimming up trees at 80 (*cough* Beth O'Leary).
One of the main reasons this book gave me mixed feelings is our character Cameron. He is the most whiney, entitled, childish 30-year-old I have ever seen written in a book. He's not even really redeemed but the narrative seems to think we are going to like him by the end. Nope, he was intolerable and some of his sections really ruined bits for me.
Some spoiler-y plot thoughts:
However, it's about the friends we make along the way, and the characters' own journeys made for a largely heartwarming book about grief, small towns, growing old, and forming new connections with people.
I recommend for fans of character-driven contemporary fiction and octopus lovers!
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
ciciyo's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Abandonment, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
mysterymom40's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Grief and Cancer
Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Grief, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, and Drug use
Minor: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
marioosa517's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Cursing, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Drug abuse, Cancer, Animal death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
kibbles15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Drug use