A review by thebakerbookworm
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
You can probably guess where this story ends up, and if you’ve ever loved a pet, tears are a guarantee, but the journey to get there was truly unique. It’s fairly obvious what the octopus actually is, but this book uses a fantastical story to show how Ted grapples with a reality that he doesn’t want to accept. His growth throughout was real and felt earned because you as the reader also don’t want to accept this reality—I wanted Ted to find a way to defeat the octopus just as much as he did.
Ted and Lily are both charming and quirky characters (Lily does have a voice here that, of course, only Ted can hear), and short chapters keep the book moving even though there’s not really a ton of plot.
This book *will* make you immediately want to cuddle your dog and hold them tight, and if you don’t have a dog, it’ll make you want to get one so you can experience all the lessons that dogs teach us. Don’t read this book until you’re ready for those emotions!
Read if you like: magical realism, books that explore grief, talking animals, Moby-Dick.
Ted and Lily are both charming and quirky characters (Lily does have a voice here that, of course, only Ted can hear), and short chapters keep the book moving even though there’s not really a ton of plot.
This book *will* make you immediately want to cuddle your dog and hold them tight, and if you don’t have a dog, it’ll make you want to get one so you can experience all the lessons that dogs teach us. Don’t read this book until you’re ready for those emotions!
Read if you like: magical realism, books that explore grief, talking animals, Moby-Dick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Medical content, and Grief