If I had to nominate the animal most different from humans, the octopus gets my vote. This distance makes the connection between a cancer survivor and a pregnant octopus in The Octopus and I unlikely. But then, the connection between unlikely things is what makes this small-town drama so wonderful.

Melbourne-born Lucy lives near Eaglehawke Neck in Tasmania. She is adjusting to life with implants after cancer has left her breastless and infertile. Lucy decided to get implants larger than her biological size, but is wracked with complicated feelings of guilt and objectification as her new implants draw unwanted attention, from both greasy pot-bellied locals and her boyfriend, Jem.

Themes of feminism, the body, aging, desire and the clash between the artificial and the organic elevate this off-beat, partly romantic novel into something more sophisticated. Most thrillingly, Hortle climbs into the brains of the creatures of Eaglehawke Neck. In interlocking the lives of her human characters with those of animals, Hortle achieves a stunning act of empathy towards our natural world without leaning too heavily into anthropomorphising her animal subjects.

The Octopus and I is a gorgeous, funny and fascinating novel. It wrapped its tentacles around me quickly and didn’t let go.

Reviewed by Angus Dalton