Publisher: HarperAudio
First Published: May 3, 2022
Main Genre: Literary Fiction
Time Length: 11 hours and 50 minutes
Format: Audio book
Source: Audible
PURCHASE AT:
Amazon / Barnes and Noble \ Thrift Books
Synopsis:
(From Goodreads)
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
I had seen the cover of this book numerous times. Yes, this is a book that I judged by its cover mostly. I kept being drawn to it. I had Amazon throw an ad at me somewhere, probably the Facebook, for 3 months of Audible for a dollar basically and so I was like maybe it is time to try audio books again. This instantly called out to me, so I allowed this book that I was like enamored with a cover to not even be a book haha instead it was an audio book journey. The first ever and I COMPLETED IT! I chose to do audio books because I have been having increased vision related issues and it felt like time to try them out to see how I could incorporate it into my reading experience. I am glad I did.
Main Thoughts:
This is a remarkable book, pun intended and un all at the same time. This book holds a lot of humanity within it. While I listened to it on audio book, the story is what is stunning here. There were moments I hated a certain character, but everything around that was just purely wonderful. I found myself sitting for HOURS listening. Just listening to these fake people’s lives moving forward. I couldn’t stop. Even after I guessed the twist early on, I couldn’t stop listening again for HOURS. Did I say HOURS? I listened to this in 5 days. It usually takes me to read a 300+ over a month to read. This took me five days by simply changing to listening to it. I was able to stay engaged and just found myself loving these characters. I really want another book by Van Pelt like yesterday.
FAVORITE ASPECT:
The little moments where Tova is with Marcellus and their friendship. It is simply the best part of the book because it is such a small but beautiful aspect to it all.
WORST ASPECT:
Sorry but it is the same as the worst character below. Cameron is probably the single most whiny character for the entire first part of this book. Every time he showed up I cringed a bit. By the end it was okay, but for such a large chunk I was eye rolling at this part of the book.
FAVORITE CHARACTER:
It is a tie for me. Yes, of course Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus is one of the two. No, sorry the second is not Tove, but she is definitely a favorite character, but just not tied with Marcellus. I enjoyed the character of Ethan Mack. The manager of the local store that is seen throughout the book. He was caring, loving, and drove parts of the story forward to me. I was always pleased when he showed up in the story because it was either going to be quirky, eccentric, revealing, or just a good part of the story. If you need me to say more about Marcellus, you need to just read the damn book because of course he is one of the best characters because HELLO! Nothing more needs to be said fool!
WORST CHARACTER:
See the WORST ASPECT above. Man, I could not stand Cameron for so much of this book, but it makes sense. He is supposed to not be a likable character for a large chunk of the book. Goodness though, there were so many times I was like “Cameron, please come to my house and to the top of a flight of stairs because BYE BYE down them you would go.” Yes, he annoyed me that much. Cameron needed to be a better person for way too long in this book.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This was seriously a good book. I can’t say enough good things about it. While it is not going to be my favorite book ever, I will say that I was pleased with this being my first audio book because I won’t soon forget that it was and I feel pleased that it was. It was a magical listening experience that let me know that books can be just as great when we listen to them instead of reading the words.
They are making the book into what? A MOVIE. Netflix has been making a movie starring SALLY FIELDS as Tova. I am here for it. I will definitely watch it when it is released. Maybe do a comparison, but I imagine I will love the book and movie equally because I can enjoy both, not one of those OMG The movie needs all the book elements types here. I look forward to see whatever they are able to do.
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