Books & Audiobooks
When I first picked up this book, I thought it was going to carry on the newly-minted fascination with literary octopuses. Publishers like to grab onto a successful theme and run it until we are all crying ‘uncle.’ However, I was pleasantly mistaken. In this case, the octopus reference doesn’t come up until the end of the book and is only used metaphorically. This book is a debut novel for Canadian author Emma Knight and if The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is any indication, we will be seeing more great work coming from this author.
It has been a long time since I have read a book that I didn’t want to end. I loved all of the characters in the story and was rooting for each and every one, whether young adults or grown-ups with more years of learning under their belts. There is no flashy plot with underlying suspense that is so popular today. Rather, it is a story of young people in their first year of university, trying to figure themselves out within the context of an ever-changing landscape. Pen, Alicia and Jo are the gal pals and Fergus, Charlie and Hugo are their male counterparts with ancillary players, young and old, rounding out the story. Together, they bring to life the joys and the angst, the successes and the pitfalls that young people face when emerging from their parental cocoon. The concept of self and how one fits in the world is a predominant theme and it was at times heart-breaking to watch these young adults wrestle with who they were and who could be trusted with the intimacy of that understanding.
It’s a universal story of love, loss, longing, forgiveness and courage. It is a story of growing up and letting go, regardless of one’s chronological age.