The Octopus Has Three Hearts

The Octopus Has Three Hearts is a collection of fourteen short stories; the thread of continuity that runs through each of them is described in the book’s synopsis as the relationship between people and animals. Having never read anything by Rachel Rose before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Her story-telling style is like nothing I’ve ever read before, and I’m not exactly sure that’s a good thing. I felt a little bamboozled by the supposed overarching premise of the collection. Sure there are animals in some capacity in each story, but their inclusion feels more like an afterthought to keep true to the theme of the collection rather than fully centering on the relationships between man and beast. The stories that do actually center them are sometimes violent and off-putting to read. While the stories themselves are well-rounded and filled with highly believable characters, the content of each story left me feeling a little haunted. If Rose’s prose wasn’t so powerful and engaging I would’ve put the book down after the few stories. As it is, reading this book was an experience I’d rather not repeat.