The Octopus Man

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Pub Date 21 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 21 Jan 2021

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Description

'An exceptional work . . . A brilliant and necessary book' Douglas Stuart, author of the Booker Prize-winning SHUGGIE BAIN

'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

'Funny. Disturbing. Brilliant' Lily Allen

'A joy to read' Johnny Flynn

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.

'An exceptional work . . . A brilliant and necessary book' Douglas Stuart, author of the Booker Prize-winning SHUGGIE BAIN

'THE OCTOPUS MAN reminds us that behind the words "mental health" lies a...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781474616072
PRICE £14.99 (GBP)
PAGES 288

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Average rating from 29 members


Featured Reviews

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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My thanks to the Orion Publishing Group/W&N for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Octopus Man’ by Jasper Gibson in exchange for an honest review.

I have a fascination with octopuses, not only in terms of natural history but their mythic manifestations such as Cthulhu, so a novel about a man convinced that he is communicating with the Octopus God naturally drew my interest.

Twenty years ago Tom had been an outstanding law student. However, his overindulgence in mushrooms triggered a major psychotic break that resulted in Tom becoming lost in the British mental health system, talking to a voice that no one else can hear: the voice of Malamock, the Octopus God - sometimes loving, sometimes cruel, but always there to guide him through life.

Following his latest florid psychotic break, Tom is pressured to take part in an experimental drugs trial that promises to silence the voice forever. Yet will this prove the answer for Tom or cripple him in a different manner? Are his experiences with Malamock a symptom of madness or a spiritual connection?

‘The Octopus Man’ is a powerful work of literary fiction that seeks to provide insight into the inner life of someone experiencing schizophrenia as well as highlighting the inadequacies of aspects of the mental health system. In his Author’s Note Gibson advises that the novel was inspired by and dedicated to the life of his cousin, who had struggled with a schizophrenic diagnosis for twenty years.

‘The Octopus Man’ is a tragicomedy that like Ken Kesey’s seminal novel before it explores both the camaraderie that occurs between patients in mental health wards along with the abuses that sadly are found in some.

The novel also focuses upon the relationship between Tom and his sister, Tess, and how his condition deeply distresses her. There were some quite harrowing scenes between them as Tom seems to be unable to appreciate the pain his behaviour continues to cause her. I came to care very much about Tom, Tess, and his quirky fellow patient, Missy.

There is also pushback against the over reliance upon powerful anti-psychotic medications that can induce a kind of chemical lobotomy. This is a subject of special interest for me as years ago I was quite involved with transpersonal psychology where advocates such as Stanislav Grof questioned the nature of psychosis and suggested alternative approaches to treatment. Indeed, Tom’s initial experience with Malamock appeared to have resonances with what is known as Kundalini syndrome.

This proved a fascinating, raw work though admittedly it was at times challenging. I am glad that I read it and I expect that it will remain with me for a long time. I would hope that it might also serve to open up further dialogue about various mental health issues.

Given the quality of writing and its themes I wouldn’t be surprised if it is among the novels featured in the running for the 2021 Booker Prize.

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