Fishbowl by Bradley Somer

“An entire life devoted to a fishbowl will make one die an old fish with not one adventure had.”

Ian the goldfish is bored with the life inside his little bowl and longs for adventure.  He seizes an opportunity to escape and leaps out of his bowl, plunging from the 27th floor to the street below. Along the way he witnesses the lives of the building’s residents.  The superintendent who is undervalued and unappreciated, little Herman who is home-schooled and lives with his Grandpa, a construction worker with a secret, pregnant Petunia Delilah who is awaiting her first child, Claire the shut-in, Connor the grad student, his girlfriend Katie, and the mistress Faye.  Each one has a story that interconnects with one another.

Fishbowl is a creative, clever and wonderfully written novel.  It is full of interesting characters with compelling stories that kept me engaged throughout.  I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and seeing how certain stories interconnected.  Each story is special in its own way and preceded by brilliantly creative chapter titles.  The author does a great job of portraying struggles, insecurities and emotions that are all too human.  It is a novel that is funny, heartfelt, and hopeful.  A unique and absolutely delightful read.

Favourite quote: “In that time, life took it’s course, all the players doing what they could but none in control. Not really. It’s said that everything happens for a reason, but it’s never said that reason is always a good one. That reason is choice, chance, fate, or not.”

*ARC provided by NetGalley.  Publication date: August 4, 2015.