This was a really difficult read for several reasons. It caught my eye initially because I have experience of schizophrenia in my family history and I hoped it would give me a better understanding of what is to me, a frightening illness.
After laughing out loud after just a few pages, I knew it was going to be special. Tom was a wonderful character, who I laughed at and with, and my heart ached for him throughout.
The dealing with schizophrenia was heartbreaking for me but it opened my eyes to how sufferers cope with it on a daily basis, and also epitomised the feelings of a sufferer's family, watching someone they love manage their life with the condition.
This was so moving and poignant and will stay with me long after reading the final page.
Stunning.

Tom has had a diagnosis of schizophrenia for 19 years, possibly caused by the copious amounts of drugs he imbibed as a young man. A brilliant student, his life is now small and almost wholly controlled by Malamock, The Octopus God. At times loving, at times, punishing, his aim is to reach a higher level of consciousness achieved by doing good deeds, and abstaining from alcohol, meat and sex. His sister Tess has spent the last 19 years caring for Tom, but this has put an incredible strain on her own life. When Tom is again admitted to a psychiatric hospital, she pleads with him to take part in a trial of a new drug that has had positive results for those suffering from psychosis.

It is a success in that Malamock disappears and he is able to live without the psychotic breaks that have been so painful to experience. But the side effects are such that Tom is unable to concentrate on anything and is constantly exhausted. And his life feels meaningless without Malamock. So he flushes his meds and the voice returns.

A searingly honest depiction of mental ill health, and a system that is under resourced and under funded and that keeps people trapped in the system. What does it mean to live a meaningful life and is it possible to be accepted without being medicated into a zombie like state?

Thought provoking, darkly humorous and poignant.

Tom, living with a long-term diagnosis of schizophrenia, is in communication with Malamock, the Octopus God. Should Tom please those who care for him, and relinquish his belief, or follow his own trajectory?

From the off, the reader is propelled into the mind of a person labelled schizophrenic at sea in the mental health system. Through Tom’s eyes, we are acutely observant of the outside world, and feel its constraints on those whose behaviour and belief systems don’t conform to what is deemed ‘normal’.

Gibson maintains the voice of his character throughout. His writing combines all the turmoil, horror and humour of the mind.

Deeply affecting.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.

An interesting concept and description of mental health and the spiralling effect someone mental illness can affect not only the person hut everyone around them...an interesting metaphor maybe or magical realism? I dont think this is a book that was for me but I can understand the appeal.

What a read, full of all the emotions, being thrown into the dark mind of a person, being embedded into their thoughts. At times heartbreaking yet hilarious it is one to remember.

The Octopus Man is an intense and visceral novel, written from the point of view of a young English man called Tom. After a period of extreme drug use at university, Tom starts to hear the voice of an octopus god called Malamock, who controls and tortures him. The novel is the story of how Tom and his sister deal with Tom’s fluctuating mental health and the steps and setbacks on the way to regaining some sort of normal life.

The novel is in turns heartbreaking and hilarious. There is no let up as the reader is with Tom every step of the way, experiencing his highs and lows. I found the book very absorbing, but needed to be aware of my own mental health and take breaks from Tom’s head when it got too much.

A recommended read for those who want to gain a better understanding of schizophrenia.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

How can you describe this book? Funny, confusing, moving and emotional.
Following Tom who has been living with the Octopus god Malamok. The Octopus controls everything Tom does and as his life breaks down around him, Malamok and his sister Tess are all he has.
This book highlights just how complicated mental illness is, especially as Tom describes that because he worships Malamok people think he is ill, but what if he were to worship a conventional God as fervently. What would the difference be if he spent his time in Church? It also highlights how once you are in the mental health system, how do you get out? Especially when treatment seems to rely on being medicated and pacified.
This book shows the complex nature of both living with and treating mental illness. Tom resists treatment for so long because what is he life without the comfort of the Octopus God who controls everything he does.
This book gets more chaotic as it goes on, it’s difficult to follow Tom as he spirals more into the depths of schizophrenia. It highlights just how difficult it is to live with mental illness in a family member and the toll on all of your lives.

The Octopus Man is out on January 21st, this was another @netgalley special with an ARC from Orion publishing.

A difficult and important subject, handled with humour and kindness. Well researched and carefully thought through, this book is a lot more accessible than it might seem. We talk a lot about mental health these days. It is so refreshing that this doesn't just skirt around the subject but instead takes us right to the heart of an experience that throws up a lot of questions, about our health care system and our view of health and normality in general.

3.5 stars


I felt like I was thrown head first into this book,and wasnt quite sure where I was going.
Soon charmed by Tom though.
This book is funny,but darkly so.
I felt bad at times finding it funny.
On the more serious side,it was a look at mental health issues,and how they effect not just the patient,but those around them.
Interesting stuff.