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The Octopus Man
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
5 posts | 2 read | 7 to read
'An exceptional work . . . A brilliant and necessary book' Douglas Stuart, author of the Booker Prize-winning SHUGGIE BAIN 'Funny. Disturbing. Brilliant' Lily Allen 'THE OCTOPUS MAN reminds us that behind the words "mental health" lies a universe of WILD CREATIVITY, HUMANITY and SPANKING BIG LIFE. Now is the time for this book.' DBC Pierre, author of the Booker Prize-winning VERNON GOD LITTLE Once an outstanding law student Tom is now lost in the machinery of the British mental health system, talking to a voice no one else can hear: the voice of Malamock, the Octopus God - sometimes loving, sometimes cruel, but always there to guide him through life. After a florid psychotic break, the pressure builds for Tom to take part in an experimental drugs trial that promises to silence the voice forever. But no one, least of all Tom, is prepared for what happens when the Octopus God is seriously threatened. Deeply moving and tragi-comic, THE OCTOPUS MAN takes us into the complex world of voice-hearing in a bravura literary performance that asks the fundamental questions about belief, meaning, and love.
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RaeLovesToRead
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
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#12booksof2022

My June pick is The Octopus Man: a well-observed look at mental illness and psychosis. Sometimes funny, sometimes desperately sad, we spend time in the mind of Tom, who believes his life is controlled by Malamock, the Octopus God.

This is both a blistering critique of our mental health services & a call to be more understanding of those who experience symptoms that alter their perception of reality.

Deserves a wider readership.

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RaeLovesToRead
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
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Pickpick

This is an incredible piece of writing.

The Octopus Man is a poignant critique of the British mental health system, benefits system and the way society views wellness in itself.

It's a moving and distressing description of what it's like to experience things that others don't, to be in thrall to these experiences and to be misunderstood.

Readers will come away with a more compassionate understanding of psychosis as a result.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars

64 likes3 stack adds
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RaeLovesToRead
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
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Cake, coffee and Octopodes 🍰☕🐙

Actually may have overdone things with the rainbow cake 🌈😵

I had some major problems with the last Jasper Gibson book I read, however, I got the impression that he's the sort of bloke that would have me in stitches if we went out for a beer together. I was frustrated, because I saw real potential in his writing.

When I found out he'd written a book about a man talking to an Octopus God, I grabbed it...

Vansa That rainbow cake looks amazing! 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Vansa It tasted amazing, but I have overdone the sugar and feel a bit nauseous! 😅 Gonna try and counteract it with some cheese... 😋 2y
Branwen RAINBOW CAKE! 😍🌈 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Branwen It was joyous!!! 😁🌈 2y
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RaeLovesToRead
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
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"Tess is driving, looking at me sideways trying to guess what I am thinking about though she has no idea what I'm thinking about but just in case she's right I start thinking about something else."

#firstlinefridays

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RaeLovesToRead
The Octopus Man | Jasper Gibson
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You know how I said a few days ago that I was going to operate a one-in-two-out system...

I can explain...

I meant I was going to start in JUNE 😌

So it was OK to have a last hurrah, right??

I blame TJR for writing a book that left me so emotional that I couldn't wait to pick up another ☺

Admire my stack... ❤😄

Yuki_Onna Admiring... 😁🤩 3y
Branwen YES! Go, you! 💕📚💕📚💕📚 Book buying bans are sad... it's MUCH more fun to collect stacks and stacks of books! 😉 Also, that is a nice looking stack! 3y
Liz_M Given the depth of this stack you may need to send 18 books out. 😆 (I'm looking at you Lonesome Dove!) 3y
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RaeLovesToRead @Yuki_Onna @Branwen I regret nothing!!!! 😀😁 I'm so excited about my new stack and I started reading The Octopus Man already 😇 I do need to get a better balance of in / out though... until I have my own spare room / library of course! 🥰💕 3y
RaeLovesToRead @Liz_M Hahaha, I'm going to have to do some serious penance aren't I?? 😄😅 I'll have to read some books I have low expectations of so I won't want to keep them 🤣 The last few I've read are keepers ❤📚 3y
BookDadGirlDad Lonesome Dove is fantastic. You don't have too many books....like that's a thing. 😁 3y
RaeLovesToRead @BookDadGirlDad You're right, I just have too little space 😄 I decided to get Lonesome Dove because I was recommended it by two completely separate people in the last couple of months... you make three! It must be good! 😊 3y
marleed Oh hey, did you know that the MC‘s Malibu Rising are the 1980‘s children of Mick Riva - one of Evelyn‘s Seven Husbands!? He even has a cameo in DJATS although I missed that one since DJATS was my first TJR! 3y
RaeLovesToRead @marleed I didn't until the lady at the till in Waterstones told me that he made an appearance in both books 😊 I love that her books are all set in the same fictional universe! 3y
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