Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley could have been a really depressing book: sad and lonely man’s one true friend, Lily, his dachshund, ages and develops a tumor, which causes her blindness and eventual death. However, in the way the narrator “battles” the tumor (octopus) that has invaded their lives, you come to terms with the eventuality. I surprised myself by not crying while reading this story. It was strangely uplifting and delightfully told.