"The plaque states other facts: my size, preferred diet, and where I might live were I not a prisoner here. It mentions my intellectual prowess and penchant for cleverness, which for some reason seems a surprise to humans: Octopuses are remarkably bright creatures, it says." -Marcellus, from the novel
Have you ever read a story narrated partly by an octopus? Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus and a remarkably bright creature for sure!
When a friend recommended this novel and said it involved a relationship between an octopus and an older woman who does after-hours cleaning at an aquarium, it sounded pretty unbelievable. It took a while to get it from the library but I'm so glad I gave it a shot.
Still grieving the loss of her husband and son, seventy-year-old Tova Sullivan keeps busy with her housekeeping job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She is particularly drawn to the octopus named Marcellus and realizes that he is a Houdini when it comes to getting out of his tank after closing time and then back in. She knows he is smart, but it takes a while for her to know just how smart and perceptive.
When a young man named Cameron, down on his luck, comes to town and takes Tova's job while she recovers from an accident, the two find a mutual respect and affection. Cameron who had been abandoned by his mother as a child had never known his father. When he finds a ring and photo among some keepsakes, he thinks he's identified his father and sets out to find him. What he discovers is not what he expects but leads into a nice ending. (No spoiler here!) It is fascinating how Marcellus aids in Cameron's revelation.
This is the debut novel for this author. Someone described it as a charming story and I totally agree. A page-turner, too! Five is my rating. I hope Ms. Van Pelt keeps up the good work.
No comments:
Post a Comment