“After a pause Lily looks up at me. “Sometimes I think of you as Dad.” My heart rises in my throat. That’s the only term of endearment I need.”
― Lily and the Octopus
― Lily and the Octopus
“Most of all, I am thankful for Lily, who, since she entered my life, has taught me everything I know about patience and kindness and meeting adversity with quiet dignity and grace. No one makes me laugh harder, or want to hug them tighter. You have truly lived up to the promise of man’s best friend.”
― Lily and the Octopus
― Lily and the Octopus
“It's natural, as our loved ones age, to start grieving their loss. Even before we lose them.”
― Lily and the Octopus
― Lily and the Octopus
“Dogs are always good and full of selfless love. They are undiluted vessels of joy who never, ever deserve anything bad that happens to them.”
― Lily and the Octopus
― Lily and the Octopus
“To focus, I think of how dogs are witnesses. How they are present for our most private moments, how they are there when we think of ourselves as alone. They witness our quarrels, our tears, our struggles, our fears, and all of our secret behaviors that we have to hide from our fellow humans. They witness without judgment.”
― Lily and the Octopus
― Lily and the Octopus
Shannon’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Shannon’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Shannon
Lists liked by Shannon




































