CBR14 Bingo: New square (BINGO! Minds to New)
(New book: published 2022. New author: debut novel)
When my son was young, we visited friends in Seattle and went to the aquarium when we were there. It was the first and only time that I have seen a Giant Pacific Octopus. Swimming around in its own little glass tank, I remember thinking how strange it was that such a small space could encompass such a strange creature. The movement of its tentacles was like an alien dance. Shortly after we were there, I remember hearing that it briefly escaped its tank. I was reminded of that when I read this book. At its core, this is a book that encourages escape.
Tova, in her 70s, lives alone having previously lost both her husband and only son. More to keep herself occupied than to earn a paycheck, she is the cleaner at a Pacific Northwest aquarium. She has a group of friends whose “knitting circle” has just become a regular get-together over the years and a friendly relationship with the chatty local grocer. While quietly mourning the loss of her family, Tova carries on.
Cameron is a smart young guy but stumbles through life. He has trouble holding on to jobs and girlfriends but manages to hold onto his close friends from high school and the aunt who raised him. He coasts but doesn’t thrive. On a quest to find his biological father, Cameron finds himself in Tova’s small town eventually taking over as cleaner at the aquarium after Tova injures herself.
Marcellus is a Giant Pacific Octopus at the aquarium who watches their stories unfold.
Van Pelt’s book is mostly about people not understanding their value to their community, their close friends, and their family. Without that understanding, happiness is something that escapes them. Cameron constantly chases it while Tova had it but lost it long ago.
The octopus is a vehicle here but a damn good one. At first, I thought it was going to be ridiculous but it turns out that there was a need for a non-human character to see through all of the human bullshit.
