Book: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Pages: 368
Read on: Kindle
Read in: ~4 hours
Plot Summary: 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.
Things I Liked:
1. A book told, partially, from the perspective of an intelligent, sentient octopus?! Sure, colour me excited! But, also colour me a tad (3%) skeptical! How would this story unfold? How would Marcellus, the Octopus, help figure out the mystery behind Erik's death?! Ever since I read Remarkably Bright Creatures' plot summary, I was hooked! I was in a bit of a reading funk and this seemed like a quirky enough book to sample and am I glad I did! This book is a treasure!
2. The story is told from the perspective of 4 characters- Tova- a septuagenarian part-time aquarium cleaning lady, Cameron- a thirty year old, who is trying to find his purpose in life, Ethan- a friendly, kind, small-town-grocery-store owner and Marcellus- an almost-4 year old, highly intelligent and astute Octopus! While each and every perspective in this book is merited and brings something fresh and interesting to the narrative, my favourite chapters are those in which we see the world of humans from Marcellus' perspective!
3. This is a book about surviving loss- a timely book to read given I have lost so many friends and family over the past two years. Tova lost her 18 year old son suddenly and without any closure. He'd gone out one summer night and never returned. His body never found but it was assumed that he drowned in the ocean. Tova and her husband, Will, had somehow moved forward with their lives and then Will got sick with pancreatic cancer and passed away. We know all this from Tova in present day- a lonely, slightly prickly 70 year old, who is fiercely independent and doesn't want anyone's pity. She enjoys her job cleaning the local aquarium, where she meets and befriends Marcellus, the octopus, when she catches him out of his tank and entangled in some electrical cords! Tova's journey from being this alone, slightly prickly but kind old lady to opening herself up for love and companionship is truly lovely to be a part of!
4. Tova and Marcellus' friendship is so sweet! They both just understand each other! Marcellus figures out how Erik died and one other secret about Erik. His attempts to pass on that information to Tova is just so heartwarming and smart and, before you think I've lost my mind, done in a way that suits an octopus! Marcellus doesn't do anything outrageous to get that information to Tova; he only does what an octopus with its limited time out of water and other constraints can do. I love how the author has written Marcellus; he sounds like a wise, slightly grumpy but very smart, old man! I really loved getting to know him!
5. This is also a story about finding human connections, trying to make peace with your past, letting it go and creating a new, happier, unexpected future. It left me with a sense of optimism that, I think, we all need right about now.
6. Remarkably Bright Creatures is very well-written and taut. I found myself very engrossed in it and I really enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a book that's funny yet poignant but ultimately optimistic, then this is a good one to pick up!
Rating: 5/5
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