Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Pages: 360
Date Started: 1 March 2023
Date Finished: 5 March 2023
This book came highly recommended, and its allure was further fueled by the promise of an octopus in the story—a unique and intriguing premise. The narrative begins with Tova Sullivan, who, after her husband's death, finds solace in working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Her coping mechanism for life's tragedies has been to stay busy, a trait she honed after her son Erik's mysterious disappearance over thirty years ago on a boat in Puget Sound. The introduction of the curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium, sets the stage for an unexpected and extraordinary friendship. Marcellus, a remarkable and intuitive character, proves to be the story's linchpin, using his unique perspective to uncover the truth about Erik's disappearance. The story had a strong start, with a gripping premise that immediately drew me in. However, as it progressed, I felt the narrative's grip loosening. The characters of Tova and Marcellus were exceptionally well-crafted and brought depth to the story. Unfortunately, the same depth wasn't consistently achieved with the other characters, and Cameron, in particular, came across as somewhat immature. While his behavior could be attributed to the trauma of growing up without a father and his mother leaving him at a young age, it did detract from the overall reading experience. In sum, this book is undoubtedly a good read, offering a unique and captivating premise. It falls a bit short of the high expectations set at the beginning, but it remains an enjoyable story overall.
Favorite lines from the book:
I was brought here as a juvenile. I shall die here, in this tank. At the very most, one hundred and sixty days remain until my sentence is complete.
That wasn't Will's norm, But then, nothing is normal when you lose a child.
Conscience does make cowards of us all.
Entering someone's home is always an intimate act.
You don't recover. Not all the way. But you do move on. You have to.
I would trust Tova with my life. I did trust her with my life, more than once. Just as I trusted her with my death.
Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.
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