Tova has been content in her position as the evening cleaner in her seaside town’s aquarium. She takes pride in her work, using her own formula of lemon and vinegar rather than the irritating industrial products provided by the aquarium, cotton instead of polyester to ensure no streaks on the sides of the glass tanks. And it keeps her busy and distracted from her grief, from the losses she’s endured in her life. For while she does have her friends – the Knit Wits as they call themselves – who’ve seen her through her many years, she still has her lonely moments. As she sees her friends moving on and planning for their futures as they age, she starts to try to envision what her future might look like, given she does not have a family who might look after her. She thinks she has a solid plan – that is, until she befriends the giant Pacific octopus who is looking out for her in ways she cannot even imagine.
This is also the story of Cameron, whose life narrative has been about failure in spite of his natural grace and intelligence. He is unable to overcome his low self-esteem because of his family situation and feels he is destined to continue on the path he’s been on his whole life. While he can quote Shakespeare and remember minutia about everything, he cannot remember to get to work on time or to complete paperwork when it matters, and sabotages his own ambitions. How many of us fall into that cycle, in both larger and smaller ways? How many of us get stuck, as it were, in patterns of self-destruction? Are we open to others’ suggestions? Are we open to change? This is an important theme here; one that we can all take a lesson from.
While there is a bit of an element of predictability here, this is a very sweet story that makes for a wonderful summer read. Tova, our protagonist is kind, quiet, and a bit of a perfectionist – but also a good listener and a good friend to those around her. She develops a beautiful bond with the octopus in her care, which evidently can actually happen. (These creatures are apparently able to recognize individual humans and distinguish between those they like and those they do not like and treat them accordingly. While they may not be as remarkably bright as the author has depicted the one here, they are brighter than I had ever imagined. ) When Cameron, comes to town to fill in for her when she’s been injured, she forms a very unlikely but also very endearing bond with him also. Their interactions will inevitably make you smile.
This is a lovely read -enjoyable to the end. Highly recommend it!
kindread spirits 