Steven Rowley’s debut novel Lily and the Octopus is about the bond between man and dog, between friends and also lovers. It follows frustrated writer and chronic first-dater Ted and his dog, best friend ever and constant companion and confidant Lily, a 12-year-old dachshund who develops a brain tumor.
“Lily and the Octopus is the dog book you must read this summer …. Reading this heart-wrenching but ultimately breathtaking novel was a very profound experience…. As Lily might say, ‘YOU!
Another popular inquiry is “What is the book Lily and the Octopus about?”.
I discovered booklist praised Lily and the Octopus as ” an exceedingly authentic, keenly insightful, and heartbreakingly poignant tribute to the purity of love between a pet and its human”.
This reading group guide for Lily and the Octopus includes discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Steven Rowley. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion.
What kind of animal is Lily the dachshund?
A 42-year-old writer finds that a small octopus has attached itself to the head of his aging dachshund, Lily. Rowley, a 43-year-old paralegal and screenwriter, had sold several unproduced screenplays before writing a short story about the death of his dachshund, Lily, to cope with his grief.
What has Sara Gruen said about Lily and the octopus?
Sara Gruen called Lily and the Octopus ” A quirky and deeply affecting charmer of a novel [that] is funny, wise, and utterly original in its exploration of what it means to love any mortal creature.”.
Will a peace lily hurt a dog?
The peace lily is somewhat poisonous to dogs. If your dog has eaten any part of your peace lily plant, the pup will likely experience some drooling, pain in the mouth and a lack of appetite, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. Your dog may also paw at its mouth because it’s in pain, experience diarrhea and begin to vomit due to an upset tummy.
Are peace lily plants safe for dogs?
When properly cared for, peace lilies can bloom up to twice a year with the flowers lasting several months at a time. Unfortunately, the peace lily is poisonous to both dogs and cats, especially the ‘Mauna Loa’ variety.
Are peace lilies pet friendy plants?
Peace lilies are not pet-friendly at all. You should keep these plants away from all kinds of pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, small animals like guinea pigs, and even birds. The toxicity level depends on the amount of peace lily your pets have consumed. It contains some substances that can be harmful to your pets.
Are peace lilies dangerous to dogs?
Yes, the peace lily plant is in fact toxic to dogs . Technically speaking, the peace lily plant is not poisonous to dogs, so that can mislead some to think that peace lilies are not dangerous. That is simply not the case, the peace lily and calla lily plant contain toxic compounds that are toxic to animals such as dogs and cats.
How long did it take Rowley to write Lily and the octopus?
Rowley wrote Lily and the Octopus in 100 days and submitted it to approximately 30 literary agents, who all declined to represent him. Rowley said of the manuscript, “I was proud of it as a piece of writing, but I never thought that this was going to change my life.”.