THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS

by Emma Knight

For those of you who read and loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and can’t believe there is another new novel about octopi, you can rest easy because in The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, the octopus is a metaphor, not a character.  Emma Knight’s The Life Cycle is a brilliant coming-of-age novel about a young Canadian woman who sets off for the University of Edinburgh to complete her undergraduate study.  She chooses the college because she’s convinced her parents are hiding something from her about her father’s years at Edinburgh—something to do with a friend who has since become a famous writer in Scotland.

In what is her debut novel, Knight keeps the father’s secret until the book’s end.  Meanwhile, she develops a truly compelling story about Pen, the protagonist. Not only does she meet her father’s old friend, she becomes a regular guest at his Scottish mansion. She falls in love with his whole family, which is so different from her own: the glamorous wife, an independent daughter, an irresistible grand-baby and a son with whom she is smitten. Knight also weaves the theme of female friendships into the novel. She looks at what an important role they play in any coming-of-age story.  Pen’s journey is both poignant and relatable.

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus satisfies on so many levels.  Nothing is predictable or trite.  Knight writes beautifully and strikes just the right note between the story she tells and her ability to bring back the memories of our own coming of age and how beautiful yet challenging that time can be.  Please add The Life Cycle to your must-read booklist. (Liz)