A review by 5teverin0
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-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

5.0

I felt like crying, practically from the first page, and loved every second of it. I think that even those who are not "dog people" will be able to relate in some way to the character of Ted, and his struggles with career and relationships.

Even though it's pretty clear from the outset that the outcome will not be positive for Lily, the journey that she, and especially Ted, take to get to that inevitable conclusion is worth taking with them. Already likable and relatable, Ted grows in ways that leave you wanting to cheer for him, even as you grieve for Lily.

As he learns to cope with life through dealing with the "octopus", Ted grapples with the concepts of mortality, gratitude, self-image and family in ways that touch on Zen and classical Stoic philosophy. But don't think that this is a dense, overly-philosophical novel. The ideas are presented in an easy to digest fashion that is peripheral to an enjoyment of the book