Reviews - Rendezvous mit einem Oktopus: Extrem schlau und unglaublich empfindsam: Das erstaunliche Seelenleben der Kraken

I was interested to read this book after hearing a interview with the author on Fresh Air. And it turns out that's all I needed to hear. The first chapter starts off interestingly, but immediately devolves into a memoir about the author's friends at the aquarium, what goes on in other tanks, and the author's foray into scuba diving with very little science about octopuses.

Hearing about how Ms. Montgomery's hands got cold because she's constantly got her hands in an octopus tank or what the fish looks like as it travels along the suckers to the octopus' mouth is not telling me anything about the consciousness of octopuses. In fact, the descriptions of Kali constantly attempting to get out of the tiny, biting barrel/prison and finally being tired of playing with her prisoners was sad. If this animal has as much intelligence and consciousness as the author suggests, why was captive treatment with little stimuli other than people sticking their hands all over you at all okay? Is it any surprise that Kali appears to commit suicide (sources of water were nearby and the staff couldn't understand why she ended up on the floor)?

So, if you're looking for a memoir about an author that likes going to an aquarium, this is the book for you. The writing is okay, I suppose, but so far off topic that it didn't matter.

ellomumsy's review against another edition

5.0

informative reflective medium-paced

I loved this book. I listened to it, read by the author. It describes her feelings, experiences, and the knowledge she gains about octopuses and I’m glad I heard it with the inflections of her voice, to get the full experience. You will fall in love with the characters in this book, all real, and especially the octopuses.

fornaxxy's review against another edition

3.0

inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Very light read for when you want something that won't occupy your mind too much.

It doesn't offer much valuable insight on the "soul of the octopus", though—more on people's perception of it and how we discover ourselves by interacting with nature.

kay919's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

abbyg611's review against another edition

4.5

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Just a sweet easy nonfiction read. The octopus is such a crazy thing to exist that truly it almost feels like fiction that this thing exists and she truly paints each octopus as such a distinct character it’s hard to sometimes remember they were all real. I definitely came away with some fun facts that I hope to drop at a dinner party (octopuses can grow limbs back, have a dominant eye, don’t live very long experience same hormones as us) and just generally feel more at ease with my anxiety surrounding the ocean and all who inhabit it. Like yes while she made scuba diving sound so magical, I’m more scared of rockfish now. But I do want to go to an aquarium soon!

hai_baird's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

i love the little creatures that make up our world.

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