Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 362
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 362
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★★★
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, 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 body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
My thoughts:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a charming, witty and entertaining story.
Seventy-year-old Tova Sullivan works the night shift at Sowell Bay Aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, where she forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Tova is still grieving the loss of her eighteen-year-old son, thirty years after his unexplained disappearance.
This book had an air of mystery to it, the mother still mourning her son's tragic and unanswered death many years later, a man whose mother abandoned him trying to find his father and get as much money out of him as he possibly can, and the octopus who observes everything that happens in the aquarium and knows all the answers. Through four interwoven point of views, including that of the remarkably intelligent octopus, Marcellus, we gradually begin to understand how they intersect.
I enjoyed the interwoven friendships that formed between the four main characters. Tova was incredibly strong, and I liked her kind nature and warmth. There is also a younf man named Cameron, who is searching for his dad. The chapters alternate between him, Tova, and Marcellus. I loved Marcellus and his chapters the best. His observations were sassy, very witty and incredibly thought-provoking, and the author’s unique voice encapsulates so much emotion within his chapters. Readers can hear Marcellus’s clever thoughts as he observes the humans around him. He’s a wise creature who occasionally escapes his tank in search of food treats. Marcellus is funny and very smart.
His chapters are short and I always felt I wanted more; sometimes it was a almost a little disappointing to move from his scenes to a more realistic family drama story.
The plot is mostly interesting and fast moving, but there is one huge coincidence that you must buy into. I didn’t particularly mind that the situation was unlikely because I liked the book so much. Also, the ending is a little too tight for my liking, but then again, it is certainly heart-warming.
Shelby Van Pelt has captured humanity perfectly in the pages of this beautifully written novel. It is an emotional read; an uplifting and captivating story that shines a light on the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It tells a truly heart-warming story and I’m so pleased I was encouraged to try this for an April book club read.
Overall reaction:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a charming, witty and entertaining story.
Seventy-year-old Tova Sullivan works the night shift at Sowell Bay Aquarium in the Pacific Northwest, where she forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Tova is still grieving the loss of her eighteen-year-old son, thirty years after his unexplained disappearance.
This book had an air of mystery to it, the mother still mourning her son's tragic and unanswered death many years later, a man whose mother abandoned him trying to find his father and get as much money out of him as he possibly can, and the octopus who observes everything that happens in the aquarium and knows all the answers. Through four interwoven point of views, including that of the remarkably intelligent octopus, Marcellus, we gradually begin to understand how they intersect.
I enjoyed the interwoven friendships that formed between the four main characters. Tova was incredibly strong, and I liked her kind nature and warmth. There is also a younf man named Cameron, who is searching for his dad. The chapters alternate between him, Tova, and Marcellus. I loved Marcellus and his chapters the best. His observations were sassy, very witty and incredibly thought-provoking, and the author’s unique voice encapsulates so much emotion within his chapters. Readers can hear Marcellus’s clever thoughts as he observes the humans around him. He’s a wise creature who occasionally escapes his tank in search of food treats. Marcellus is funny and very smart.
His chapters are short and I always felt I wanted more; sometimes it was a almost a little disappointing to move from his scenes to a more realistic family drama story.
The plot is mostly interesting and fast moving, but there is one huge coincidence that you must buy into. I didn’t particularly mind that the situation was unlikely because I liked the book so much. Also, the ending is a little too tight for my liking, but then again, it is certainly heart-warming.
Shelby Van Pelt has captured humanity perfectly in the pages of this beautifully written novel. It is an emotional read; an uplifting and captivating story that shines a light on the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It tells a truly heart-warming story and I’m so pleased I was encouraged to try this for an April book club read.
Overall reaction: