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saurahsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This is such a beautiful story, that I’m going to cherish for a very long time. As an animal lover, it gave me an even deeper appreciation and understanding for octopuses. I smiled, pondered, laughed, and cried in turns throughout this book. It balanced exploring serious subjects, such as grief and abandonment, with celebrating life—both human and animal—and love in its many forms—familial, platonic, and romantic.
The reflections that I came away with will stay with me for some time. I can already see myself revisiting this beautiful story later in life, as its message is timeless. Respect all life forms, embrace love, and hug your loved ones tight while you can.
The reflections that I came away with will stay with me for some time. I can already see myself revisiting this beautiful story later in life, as its message is timeless. Respect all life forms, embrace love, and hug your loved ones tight while you can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Grief, Death, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Suicide, Animal death, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Dementia
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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:
The mystery element was so easy to guess I'm fairly certain it wasn't actually supposed to be a mystery. It was obvious as soon as the years matched up. I think this did bring down the rating for me slightly as I was hoping for there still to be a bit of mystery to be revealed.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
throwback682's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A book hasn’t made me cry in a long time. Beautiful story.
The actors who performed the audiobook did an incredible job, especially the woman who did the heavy lifting of narrating the story as well as voicing all the characters except Marcellus the Octopus. She’s incredibly talented. She made each character come alive, especially Tova, Ethan, and Cameron. At times I’d be fully engrossed and forget that it was one person reading. I really heard all the different voices.
When Cameron was first introduced, I wondered what the hell he could possibly have to do with Tova and Marcellus’s story(s). But soon little fibers started to weave together and bit by bit the tapestry became clear.
I don’t even know what else to say. It was just such an excellent story and the ending was so emotional. I highly recommend.
The actors who performed the audiobook did an incredible job, especially the woman who did the heavy lifting of narrating the story as well as voicing all the characters except Marcellus the Octopus. She’s incredibly talented. She made each character come alive, especially Tova, Ethan, and Cameron. At times I’d be fully engrossed and forget that it was one person reading. I really heard all the different voices.
When Cameron was first introduced,
I don’t even know what else to say. It was just such an excellent story and the ending was so emotional. I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Addiction, Cancer, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Grief
ciciyo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
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
sjanke2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Animal death, and Child death
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