Remarkably Bright Creatures
Books | Drama / American / General
4.4
(1.7K)
Shelby Van Pelt
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Soon to be a Netflix Film A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune * The View * Southern Living * USA Today "Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender." -- Washington Post For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
Mystery
Humor
AD
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Shelby Van Pelt
Pages
360
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Published Date
2022
ISBN
0063204150 9780063204157
Community ReviewsSee all
"This book was heartfelt and cute. Not really my type of book but I can see why it's popular. I wish the male main character wasn't such a turd... I almost DNFed because I just really couldn't stand his chapters which were a big portion of the book. I could have had a lot more Marcellus (the octopus) chapters."
"I was skeptical about reading a book with an octopus narrator, but ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. I found the characters refreshingly down to earth and not driven by emotion. I thought the ending was a little cookie-cutter and dry at a few points.
The best aspect of this book was the character development. Despite being a generally unlikable character, Cameron and his self-fulfilling prophecies become the driving force of the novels plot. Van Pelt does a remarkable job of creating a very real character.
This pushed me a little out of my comfort zone. I usually see clear of the TikTok popular books, but I’m glad I gave this one a chance. The writing is decent, the characters are great, and it’s an overall wholesome book.
Throughout reading, I felt like this book was begging to be made into a movie. That’s not always a bad thing, but it may have been trying a little too hard to land a Hollywood deal.
3.5/5 stars "
"I really enjoyed this book, although it took me a little time to get into the story. Around the 45% mark, I found myself fully immersed. The novel follows Tova, a widow who works at an aquarium, and a brilliant giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. It explores themes like grief and healing in a very unique way. By the end, I was filled with love for all the characters. Marcellus, the octopus, is definitely my favorite, and the author’s ability to craft such an incredible character truly showcases her skill. It’s a heartwarming and beautifully written story."