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The Octopus and I

By Erin Hortle
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4.07 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,377 ratings, 212 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Octopus and I by Erin Hortle explores the intertwined lives of its human and marine characters on Tasmania’s Peninsula. The narrative centres around a woman’s recovery from breast cancer and her unexpected connection with an octopus. Through this unique bond, the book examines themes of healing, identity, and the profound links between humans and nature.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories that intricately weave themes of nature, healing, and self-discovery. It beautifully explores the connection between humans and the sea through the protagonist's journey and encounters with marine life along Tasmania's coast. The narrative's lyrical prose and insightful reflections on body and identity offer a unique and moving reading experience.

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A stunning debut novel set on the Tasmanian coast that lays bare the wild, beating heart at the intersection of human and animal, love and loss, and fear and hope.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Lucy and Jem live on the Tasman Peninsula near Eaglehawk Neck, where Lucy is recovering from major surgery. As she tries to navigate her new body through the world, she develops a deep fascination with the local octopuses, and in doing so finds herself drawn towards the friendship of an old woman and her son. As the story unfolds, the octopuses come to shape Lucy's body and her sense of self in ways even she can't quite understand.

The Octopus and I is a stunning debut novel that explores the wild, beating heart at the intersection of human and animal, love and loss, fear and hope.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Octopus and I has been praised for its vibrant storytelling and deeply engaging characters, capturing the essence of both the natural and human worlds in an Australian coastal setting. The narrative is lauded for its lyrical and evocative writing, offering both wisdom and emotional depth. Readers have highlighted the book's unique blend of reality and imagination, along with its exploration of complex themes such as identity and humanity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760875640

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 April 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 450g

Pages: 368

Collections

Erin Hortle Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Erin Hortle is a Tasmanian-based writer. Her short fiction and essays have been published in a range of Tasmanian and Australian publications. The majority of her academic and creative writing explores the ways in which experimental approaches to writing might facilitate new ways of imagining the human's relationship with the more than human world, with a distinctly feminist bent. Topics she writes about currently include ambergris, surfing and surf culture, pelagic birds and octopuses. When she's not writing, she can usually be found curled up with a book, or floating and drifting in the Tasman Sea or Southern Ocean. The Octopus and I is her debut novel.

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