March Book Club: The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Written by Bailey Kennedy
Welcome back to Read the North, your favourite Canadian book club.
Inside you’ll find:
A book recommendation
A hosting guide complete with food and beverages
Discussion questions to dive deep into the intricacies of the novel; like the characters, motives and plot lines.
Introducing an exciting romp across the pond as we launch into springtime.
This month we are shifting gears and escaping to the Scottish countryside alongside our narrator, Pen. The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus is the debut novel of author Emma Knight and will have you feeling like you’ve transported yourself across the ocean and into a cozy century home estate in the hills of Scotland.
Emma Knight is a Canadian author and while this is her debut novel, it is not the first book she has published. Emma is an author, journalist and entrepreneur. Emma co-founded a now multi-award-winning organic beverage company called Greenhouse and before she penned her novel, she was the author of two bestselling cookbooks, How to Eat with One Hand (2021) and The Greenhouse Cookbook (2017).
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus
Rating: Five Stars
Overview:
Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time . . .
As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.
Review:
Emma Knight's debut novel The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus surprised me in the best way. It was a coming-of-age novel that explored all of the awkwardness of morphing from young adult to newly self-reliant adult in the world. I felt a deep resonance with Pen, the protagonist, who yearned to find a part of herself far away from her parents, determined to find answers no one would tell her back home. Set during her time at the University of Edinburgh the contrast of a Canadian abroad enmeshed with the Scots was amusing and felt cozy.
Discussion Questions:
Do you think Pen overstepped by reaching out to Lord Lenox?
Do you think all parents are forgiving of their children, regardless of how badly they embarrass them?
What do you think is a quintessential rite of passage to experience at university
What was your favourite part of the setting?
Your beverage pairing to set the mood for your book club this March
A themed night for this book could swing one of two ways. Option one is to serve haggis scotch pies and shortbread; traditional Scottish fare paired with a fine Canadian Scotch. If you choose to go this warm and winter route, sitting cozy by the fire with your haggle of literary companions, our recommendation is Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Whiskey.
Now, if your group is participating in a fresh start to the year, or you have sober companions, option two would be to imbibe with elixirs from the author's other life as co-founder of Greenhouse Juice Co. you could indulge in a juice tasting. Greenhouse juice co offered a long line up of fresh, healthy and tasty drinks, every colour of the rainbow.
Let us know what you pick!