Lily and the Octopus cover art

Lily and the Octopus

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Lily and the Octopus

By: Steven Rowley
Narrated by: Michael Urie
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About this listen

 A national bestseller combining the emotional depth of The Art of Racing in the Rain with the magical spirit of The Life of Pi, “Lily and the Octopus is the dog book you must read this summer” (The Washington Post).

Ted—a gay, single, struggling writer is stuck: unable to open himself up to intimacy except through the steadfast companionship of Lily, his elderly dachshund. When Lily’s health is compromised, Ted vows to save her by any means necessary. By turns hilarious and poignant, an adventure with spins into magic realism and beautifully evoked truths of loss and longing, 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.

Introducing a dazzling and completely original new voice in fiction and an unforgettable hound that will break your heart—and put it back together again. Remember the last book you told someone they had to read? Lily and the Octopus is the next one. “Startlingly imaginative...this love story is sure to assert its place in the canine lit pack...Be prepared for outright laughs and searing or silly moments of canine and human recognition. And grab a tissue: “THERE! WILL! BE! EYE! RAIN!” (New York Newsday). Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magic Magical Realism Romantic Comedy Romance Comedy Heartfelt

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All stars
Most relevant
This book was not what I thought it would be. Rather than being a cutesie bootsk about a man with his dog, it tells A much more emotional and deep story with real humour and laugh-out-loud bits. The pace of the book kept going right the way to the end and the narration was well-paced and exceptional.

Much 'bigger' book than I'd expected -brilliant!

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J.M. Barrie

I loved this book, it felt personal and real, made of true love for someone that is not consider a someone but an it, it expressed the love some of us have for our pets and how much they affect our lives with theirs.
Beautifully written this was a real find that made me happy and sad but left me a big lump of love.
An awfully big adventure.

To die will be an awfully big adventure.

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3 stars because too much about the octopus, dog and man were sufficient by themselves

sweet story

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This book is strange but enjoyable. It tells the story of Ted, a gay guy from Los Angeles and his one true love, his dog, Lily!

Lily and the Octopus

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The story of Lily is one everyone should hear! I sobbed and ugly cried so hard and held my pugs whilst listening to this beautiful story. It reminds us that every day is a blessing when we have dogs in our lives and we would go to the ends of the earth to keep them safe. The book works through grief and love and all the other red balls life throws at us!

This story has a new place in my heart and I will recommend it to everyone.

The performance was also immaculate and I actually found this book from the voice actors other book “Remarkably bright creatures” where he voices an octopus.

Such a beautiful book

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