Lily and the Octopus

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This thread is to discuss Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley.

Pages: 307 pages

Length: 1 month (May)

Participants: SarahKat, Rebecca, Patricia, Michelle1

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

[Michelle E]

I am waiting for this book from another library, so I will join you toward the latter part of the month.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I have 2 versions of this on hold so I'm not sure when I'll be starting yet

[Beth]

I'm joining. Still need to get a copy.

[Patricia]

I already have my copy of this book now and I will start reading it in advance.

[Beth]

Started this today... I AM IN LOVE! Lily is absolutely adorable, and while (view spoiler)[I foresee that disaster is on the horizon (hide spoiler)], I am so happy I am reading this book. I am using the audiobook, and it's absolutely enchanting.

[Beth]

Finished this the other day but forgot to come back here to comment.

I have recommended this book to so many people. It's a love letter to pets and the people who love them. It's poignant, moving, and bittersweet. Great read... thanks to whoever suggested this!

[Rebecca]

I plan on starting this one Wednesday or Thursday, and I'm glad to hear you liked it, Beth. I'm a little nervous because dog books always make me bring out the tissues, but I've been wanting to try one of Rowley's books for a while.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I started the audio today. Definitely going to need to guard my heart for this I think. I agree Beth the audio is wonderful so far!

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Through "Sunday", 42%: (view spoiler)[Yep very concerned about the outcome of the octopus situation. I LOVE the audio narrator's voice for Lily. It's adorable. Ted is a very sad and anxious person and I feel like I have a lot in common with him anxiety-wise. The way he acts and interacts with others right after noticing the octopus is something I do. I am almost positive Lily will end up passing. I just hope Ted can find some peace and comfort with his life before that and will get through it. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle E]

I just finished the book.

(view spoiler)[

The end of the book was brought close to home. A few months ago, we had to put our elderly cat to sleep, so the scene where Lily is being put to sleep rang true to me.

I didn't think Lily was going to make it, and I wondered how Ted was going to handle it.

(hide spoiler)]

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I finished too

Here's my review

[Rebecca]

I'm still fairly early in the book, but tbh (view spoiler)[ at first I wondered if Ted was sick and was hallucinating an octopus. Then, I wondered why the author chose an octopus to visualize a tumor rather than the traditional crab. I'd love to know how he made that choice. (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm still fairly early in the book, but tbh [spoilers removed]"

Interesting! (view spoiler)[I didn’t even think about a crab. I thought the octopus was on the mark because of it having a central mass with long tentacles that can spread in multiple directions. Also, some cancers are described as putting out “tentacles.” Whether that was in the author’s thoughts, I don’t know. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I had put this one down for a few days because I'm struggling just a little bit with the magical realism, but I'm about 40% of the way through now and I (view spoiler)[ just finished the Thanksgiving dinner in June and the panic attack Ted has the day after while shopping, and I'm really worried about Ted. He doesn't seem to have a lot in his life other than Lily, and I'm worried about how he's dealing with what's happening to her. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

The magical realism in this was why I rated it 3 stars instead of 5. It was just too ridiculous sometimes.

[Michelle E]

SarahKat, I agree about the magical realism!