I enjoyed this book.
How can you not when it starts of with a sarcastic octopus, who ultimately has the best lines in the entire book? And I promise – no spoilers.
First, we meet Marcellus– on day 1299 of his captivity. He is a giant Pacific octopus, exceptionally bright, bored, and aware his life span is coming to an end.
Next, we meet Tova, a 70-year-old widow, who works evenings cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium each night where Marcellus lives. She has been working there since the death of her husband a few years earlier. She has been keeping herself busy, however, since the mysterious death of her 18-year-old son decades before. Being busy helps her move forward in life.
Last, we meet Cameron. A 30-year-old man that acts like a teenage boy. He has never taken responsibility or life too seriously and can never catch a break to get ahead. Unemployed, Cameron awaits his friend while collecting the belongings that were thrown off a balcony while he was being thrown out of his girlfriend’s apartment.
These three beings will leave imprints on each other’s lives that will be remarkable.
As Tova and Marcellus are beginning to face the realities of where they are in life, they begin to
have empathy toward each other. A simple act of kindness from Tova, who found Marcellus
on the floor in the breakroom tangled in electrical cords, saved Marcellus’ life by getting him free. They become connected by this act, both physically and emotionally. Tova’s hand was entwined in the tentacles when freeing the cords. Suction marks remained after as proof of her being touched by someone or something else.
When Cameron receives a box of belongings from the mother that abandoned him when he was 9, Cameron believes he has found the identity of his unknown father. He leaves to find him and collect on 30 years of child support. When his luggage goes missing it is as if everything that tied him to what he was also went away.
Through a series of bad decisions, followed up by the genuine kindness of strangers, Cameron buys a crappy camper, makes some friends, and gets a job at the aquarium. As the lives and
tales of the people he meets calm him, Cameron takes responsibilities seriously, and is even taught by Tova that every job you do is a job that is worth being done well.
As the end draws near for Marcellus – typical lifespan is 3-5 years or 1095 – 1825 days, both Tova and Cameron learn from Marcellus how to take care of oneself and one’s friends as that time draws near. It is with Marcellus’ help that Tova and Cameron learn lifechanging information, and why Tova made sure that Marcellus’ end was not in captivity.
As each person meets their next steps in life, it is the strength they received from each other that
helps them move forward.
The Source 4 Books 