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nicolelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.75
It took me a bit to get into this but once I did, I fell in love with the characters and ended up loving the book. Such a wonderful story of unconnected threads connecting and getting all tied up. Marcellus’ POV was a delight and I loved seeing the other characters’ growth and development over the course of the book. Audio was the way to go for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Addiction
sdvora's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Suicide attempt and Addiction
teetasse's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Grief
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Lovely read. The audiobook is narrated beautifully, I would highly recommend it. My only complaint is that the author doesn't seem to have written anything else since and I've badly fallen in love for her writing. Alas...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Abandonment, and Grief
marippe's review against another edition
3.75
“Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Child death, and Grief
sangsmiles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Abandonment
risemini's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Death
alastaire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Very heavy, death focused.
I loved each of the characters but thought the general message of the book was a bit off. More info on that in spoiler:
I thought they were setting up a found family story but then it didn't matter to the characters (as in they didn't form a closer familial type bond with each other) until they discovered that they were actually related by blood.
I loved each of the characters but thought the general message of the book was a bit off. More info on that in spoiler:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, Addiction, and Cancer
Minor: Confinement, Suicide attempt, and Animal death
moond4ncer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Suicide
nikimorr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow! This book is incredible. I was a little skeptical starting - a book from the viewpoint of an octopus? Having finished - I wish there had been more chapters from the viewpoint of Marcellus the octopus.
This book follows the viewpoint of 3 main characters - Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus. Tova is an elderly woman who is a bit wound tight. Tova has lost her husband in their later years and lost her son many decades prior in a dark mystery. Cameron can only be described as a complete mess - a man dealt a difficult life with no known father and a mother who abandoned him as a child. He is the kind of character you both want to hug and shake some sense into. And Marcellus, last but definitely not least, is a brilliant octopus in captivity at the local aquarium nearing the end of his life. How do this characters connect? It all becomes apparent very readily to the reader but not to the characters.
There is nothing in this book that comes as a surprise. The foreshadowing is intense, and I figured out the ending early on. This book is about the ride, not the destination. The only reason i did not give this book 5 stars was because of the length of time it took for communication and resolution. It was almost torturous for a period of time - the reader knows the information, and the characters get close constantly to learning the truth, but somehow something happens and the characters elude learning the information that would resolve so many issues.
Many of the themes of this book are very sad, but, in many ways, it speaks to the reality of many people’s lives. And, the lives of animals held in captivity. But, as is eloquently put, it is no one’s fault what cards you are dealt, but you control the way you play.
In very large part, this story speaks to the power of moving on and letting go, even with baggage and even with no answers. I believe just about any reader can relate to this sentiment whether on a large or small scale.
And then, on a side note, the reader is educated on marine life. And it is literally impossible not to come away from this book with curiosity and fascination for the giant pacific octopus.
The end is chef’s kiss. I had hoped from the very beginning that Marcellus would be released into the sea by Tova. I’m so happy it happened but would have understood if it had not - it would have been more realistic for Marcellus to have died in his tank/prison. I also seriously appreciated that, besides the biological relationship, there was no big reveals. We never learn what happened to Erik (although we get enough just to satisfy) and we never learn a large amount about Daphne, what happened, where she is, etc. (although, again we get an idea). It was more about the characters learning to let go and move forward. And realistically, we don’t always get all the answers neatly wrapped at the end.
Such a brilliant book that is worth the read for any reader.
This book follows the viewpoint of 3 main characters - Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus. Tova is an elderly woman who is a bit wound tight. Tova has lost her husband in their later years and lost her son many decades prior in a dark mystery. Cameron can only be described as a complete mess - a man dealt a difficult life with no known father and a mother who abandoned him as a child. He is the kind of character you both want to hug and shake some sense into. And Marcellus, last but definitely not least, is a brilliant octopus in captivity at the local aquarium nearing the end of his life. How do this characters connect? It all becomes apparent very readily to the reader but not to the characters.
There is nothing in this book that comes as a surprise. The foreshadowing is intense, and I figured out the ending early on. This book is about the ride, not the destination. The only reason i did not give this book 5 stars was because of the length of time it took for communication and resolution. It was almost torturous for a period of time - the reader knows the information, and the characters get close constantly to learning the truth, but somehow something happens and the characters elude learning the information that would resolve so many issues.
Many of the themes of this book are very sad, but, in many ways, it speaks to the reality of many people’s lives. And, the lives of animals held in captivity. But, as is eloquently put, it is no one’s fault what cards you are dealt, but you control the way you play.
In very large part, this story speaks to the power of moving on and letting go, even with baggage and even with no answers. I believe just about any reader can relate to this sentiment whether on a large or small scale.
And then, on a side note, the reader is educated on marine life. And it is literally impossible not to come away from this book with curiosity and fascination for the giant pacific octopus.
The end is chef’s kiss.
Such a brilliant book that is worth the read for any reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, and Addiction