Shelby Van Pelt interweaves multiple story lines in this lovely novel, which includes a mystery about how and why her son died at eighteen. Now widowed, Tova cleans at an aquarium in fictional Sowell Bay, Washington—not because she needs money, but because she needs to be busy. She greets the fish and befriends an octopus, Marcellus, who provides brief journal entries throughout the novel. Another plot line concerns a thirty-year-old man who has been sabotaging his own life and blaming his drug-addicted mother and unknown father, both of whom abandoned him. I would not have expected to enjoy a book about an octopus, nor to cry at the end. Do yourself a favor and read this debut novel, then watch for Van Pelt’s next one!
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What I’m ReadingI began working in libraries as a seventh grader, courtesy of scoliosis. My orthopedic surgeon wrote me a pass to miss gym class, so I began working in the school library to feed my love of reading. Even after my surgery to correct the curvature, I kept getting out of gym to work in my high school library and then in my college library (for pay, at last!).
So began my eventual career as a college reference librarian—after a detour into teaching high school English. Later I worked for an educational publisher before going back to libraries.
I have a reading and writing life now. I devour both fiction and nonfiction, and will tell you about some of my favorite reads, both old friends and new discoveries.
Here's some library-themed music to get you in the mood.
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