Book Review: Lily and the Octopus

Recently, I decided to look for a new author. I've had so much fun over the years with Steve Alten's novels, and wanted to see if lightning could strike again.

Browsing through the "new authors" section at Barnes & Noble, I came across the first novel by Steven Rowley, Lily and the Octopus.

So, why did I choose this particular book? Was it previously recommended by a friend? - Nope.

There is a dog on the front (and let's face it - dog books are super 'in' at the moment)? - Nah.

The word OCTOPUS is in the TITLE.

That's it. 

That was my main reason.

I am immediately attracted to anything related to the ocean or aquatic life (fresh or salty gladly accepted). I'm still considering reading Saving Fish from Drowning for this exact same reason.

Don't get me wrong - I like dogs. But mostly, I was looking for a good summer read - and to jump ahead I will share that I found one in this book. It is incredibly well-written.

SPOILER ALERT:

The octopus in this book is NOT real. It is a metaphor for a tumor plaguing the beloved dachshund of a young man dealing with the horror of losing his best friend (who happens to be the dog).

There is a nice balance of drama and the main character certainly is relatable to anyone who has ever been through a breakup, struggled to mesh with their parents, or loved a pet so dearly they cannot imagine life without said creature of comfort.

Many different critics note the hilarity within the story. The main character - Ted - talks to his dog. They talk about boys, and play board games. But, I don't find those parts of the book comical. I find it completely realistic and admit to crying before the book's end.

Then... it happened.

SPOILER ALERT - PART TWO:

I was okay with Ted talking to the 'octopus' and Lily. I completely accepted how both the dog and 'octopus' spoke back.

I was not okay with him going octopus hunting in the PELAGIC zone. Yeah, out in the open ocean. The main character has the audacity to claim "I've done my research"! No, sir - you have NOT.

Octopus typically live in areas where they can hide - like reefs. While some are found in the ocean depths, a simple Google search will pop up with coastal and shallow areas.

Here is proof, courtesy of National Geographic Kids:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/octopus/

You, my dear author, were more likely hunting squid.

Which makes sense, as squid have much nastier temperaments than octopuses.

I shall make the assumption a title of Lily and the Squid was less appealing (although I totally would still have purchased a novel with squid in the title) to the masses, and it was suggested you change it.

Just goes to show how those of us who are emphatically passionate about all things ocean have our pet peeves too. Had it not been so well written, I would have tossed the book in the recycling bin for this very reason.

Perhaps the greatest irony is that I certainly found I had octopus on the brain after reading this book, and chose to express that through the various colorings included in this post.

You KNOW you've read something good when it stays on your mind for weeks, returning now and again as new thoughts churn up.

Now, the Washington Post (according to the book jacket) claims "YOU! MUST! READ! THIS! BOOK!" - and while the style of this sentence makes me smile due to the direct reference of a character mentioned in the very title (not the octopus), you don't HAVE to read it.

But I think you'd enjoy it. Just had to warn you about the pelagic error first. I cannot in good conscience recommend a book and let that slide - sorry.

I also expect to see it as a film within the next 5 years. The paperback published in 2017, so I took a quick jaunt over to IMDB and sure enough - "in development" so HA! Read the book first. Then you can be one of those super cool people who has a copy of the book before the movie poster graced the cover. 

Goodbye, Summer.
Hello, Hurricane Season.

Take care!
- Callie

Sea Tails - Vol. 2

Volume #2 in the Sea Tails series is Knot's New Home (2007); it is written by Sheriee Dardis, illustrated by Sean Kelly, designed by Tim Dardis, and created by all three. Keeping to a long format for a children's book, this one is 90 pages long. Sloop, the sleepy clam, is still there at natural stopping points in the story, but I definitely would not leave this book to be read by a child on their own. It is meant for adult and child to read together, and that shows in the writing and tone of the story.
Point blank, this is not Dardis' best work. Volume 2 picks up immediately after Volume 1, although there is a spoiler update on the first page to bring you up to speed or at least clue you in on what happened in the first book. Comic books do this all the time... but reading things in the order which they were written is still the best way to enjoy a series if you ask me. If you choose to explore this series, be sure to start with Vol. 1.
Knot's New Home starts out by introducing you to new "students" that will be Porthole the little loggerhead's friends at Sea School. Do not expect any character development, lest you be sorely disappointed. Tack, the red coral crab, is perhaps the most annoying character I've ever encountered in a children's book. Just giving you a heads up. I think she is meant to be comic relief, but is about as successful as Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars series. Besides... should a kid's book actually NEED comic relief? The first half of the book is a rush of meeting new animals with speedy introductions and Knot, the octopus (and also in the title), is barely in the story until the end. There isn't much of a story until the end, either.
I think the creators really want to put a moral in each story and teach kids practical lessons about respecting the oceans, I just hope they find a way to do that and still tell a good story in subsequent books. This time around, there is a snippet about boat wariness, and more regarding the dumping of trash in the oceans. I don't really know how to blend these concepts together for you, because the story itself was choppy. There is great promise in the Sea Tails series, but for Vol. 2 perhaps Dardis should either make this one smaller and focus on one thing or make the book 120 pages instead, go all out, and give the story better meaning and development. I was also a bit put off by the OCD behaviors of several characters (i.e. Tack's speech issues going back and forth as she walks back and forth, Knot's locking/unlocking of jars and windows and his constant tying/untying of tentacles like the wringing of hands).
I said not to let your little one read this alone because there are random large words used by the characters and I think this is meant to build vocabulary... but, since they never define those words outright, a grown up will need to be nearby to help the child understand what they are reading. But do not despair, Kelley still keeps the illustrations light and interesting.

RATING: ~~~ (3 out of 5 waves) worth reading... at least once

The Sea Tails creators have included a Sea Tails coloring book (2006), which features individual pictures of all the characters (many not yet introduced in the early stories) and a little factoid at the bottom of each page. Some of the different species are hard to distinguish, mostly from lack of color, but I think that would not be an issue in the story books. The pictures are fun and it seems a shame to color them only once!

RATING: ~~~~ (4 out of 5 waves) highly recommended for little kids

I'll conclude today with one of my favorite quote/summaries. Since it came from Archimedes, there is some argument as to the exact wording in English...

"Give me a staff and a place to stand and I can move the world" - Archimedes

Feel free to put THAT on your wall!
-Callie