Published 3 May 2022
Marcellus lives in the Sowell Bay Aquarium where a widow named Tova works. Tova is entering late life and dealing with some challenges to her health. She is also spending a lot of time reviewing her life and wrestling with some regret. She does not have a lot of social connection; however, she meets a shopkeeper from Scotland and conducts some awkward low-level flirting with him.
Tova's story alternates with Cameron, a man leaving his twenties without having a solid job or strong social connections. His mother abandoned him, and he has had trouble dealing with his mother's shortcomings so that he can progress with his own life.
I admit that I was more interested in the octopus and in Tova than I was with Cameron initially. I feel as though I have observed a lot of young people who are drifting and lost. However, I finally found a way to connect with Cameron and care about his well being. This happened when he (mild spoiler alert) got a job at the aquarium where Tova works and Marcellus lives.
It's a gentle read that deals with some heavy themes: love, loss, family, aging, purpose, regret, forgiveness and more. It's 300 plus pages, but it was still a quick, engaging read.
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