The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel concerns the deep friendship between Pen and Alice, who are initially portrayed as opposites. Which character did you identify with more strongly, and why? Have you ever experienced a close friendship with someone who is different than you?

2. Pen’s perspective on life shifts dramatically as she gains maturity and experience and becomes a mother. How has your greater life experience changed your perceptions of the things you did as a younger person?

3. Worried that she is doomed to repeat her parents’ dysfunctional marriage, Pen hopes that her quest to understand the reasons for their divorce will help her to avoid making similar mistakes. How accurate is her fear that people are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past? What measures have you taken to avoid repeating past history in your own life?

4. As international students, Alice and Pen feel out of place in Edinburgh. Have you ever been in an environment where you felt like the proverbial fish out of water? How did the experience affect you?

5. Several of the characters have different views of motherhood. Margot, for example, believes that mothers must sacrifice everything in order to be deemed a “good mother” by society. Do you agree with Margot’s perspective, or did another character’s viewpoint resonate more with you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The Sacrifices of Motherhood is a major theme that has also been explored in several other bestselling novels, including Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers and Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch.  What do each of these books suggest about societal pressures on mothers? Why is this theme relevant in the novels’ contemporary moment?

2. The novel is set on a college campus. Why is college perceived as such an important milestone for adulthood? Why might this opportunity be especially important for young women and other groups who did not always have access to university education?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Discuss the book’s narrative structure. How does the framing narrative told by the adult Pen affect the overall themes and ideas? Why does Knight use different characters, including Julian, to narrate the story?

2. Consider the novel’s title. Why is the octopus so important as a symbol, and what does it connect to thematically?

3. Julian is the novel’s antagonist, but he does not see himself as a bad person. How do the sections from his point of view reveal his flaws and weaknesses? Why might Knight have chosen to portray him as a character with vulnerabilities as well as flaws?

4. Alice is an actor. How does her chosen profession reflect aspects of her character? How do her experiences with beauty and objectification play a part in her chosen career?