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This is a magical, hilarious, heartbreaking autobiographical novel for anyone who has ever loved a dog, or any other pet, or indeed any other being! Gay author Steven Rowley has written an imaginative novel very much based on his own experience of living with, loving, and letting go of his own pet dachshund Lily, delivering an emotionally profound and transformative experience.
It was then that I noticed the puppy who became Lily gnawing on my shoelace. She clamped down and put herself in reverse until the lace had been gently untied.
'Hello, you adorable...' I crouched down and made my inspection. 'Girl.'
'That's the runt, that one there,' the lady replied, just this side of dismissively.
I picked up the runt and she snuggled under my chin, tail wagging like the pendulum of the smallest, most fragile grandfather clock.
'I'm Edward. People call me Ted,' I whispered into her ear before lowering my own ear to the top of her head. I heard her speak for the first time.
THIS. IS. MY. HOME. NOW!
And so it was.
'I choose this one,' I told the lady.
Ted Flask is a struggling writer who finds himself unable to open up to the possibility of love - except through the companionship of his dachshund Lily. The unexpected arrival of a small 'octopus' that affixes itself to Lily's head threatens the bond with his one true friend and throws his life into turmoil.
With beautifully evoked universal truths about loss and longing, a hilariously sardonic and not altogether reliable narrator, and one unforgettable hound whose simple passions and inspiring wisdom will break your heart and put it back together, ''Lily and the Octopus'' reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.
Praise for this book:
“Steven Rowley’s touching, fresh, energetic novel isn’t simply another ‘boy and his dog’ story. It is a profound exploration of grief — how we find ourselves lost, how we search for reason, how we sacrifice ourselves for our loved ones, all to avoid paying the octopus. But the octopus will be paid. And in settling that debt, in the magical, hopeful world of 'Lily and the Octopus', we will learn to live — and love — again. A wonderfully moving story.”
—Garth Stein, author of 'The Art of Racing in the Rain'
“A quirky and deeply affecting charmer of a novel, 'Lily and the Octopus' is funny, wise, and utterly original in its exploration of what it means to love any mortal creature.”
—Sara Gruen, author of 'Water for Elephants'
Paperback, 320 Pages, Published November 2017
Author: Steven Rowley