Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
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Reading a book not only about an octopus but narrated by an octopus was of no interest to me whatsoever, which is probably why it took me so long to pick up Remarkably Bright Creatures and read it.
Honestly, if someone had told me that I would not only be glad I read this book but that I’d still be thinking about the characters (yes, including the octopus) days after I finished it, I would have said – sorry, no way that will happen. Impossible! Just not my cup of tea.
Well, I did finally have to read it because my book club chose it, so, yeah. Had to go with it. In fact, the Read With Jenna book club went for it too!
Here’s my review of the book. And you’ll not only get a short synopsis of what Remarkably Bright Creatures is all about, but you’ll get my honest opinion along with my three Rs of book reviews. Should you Read, Reread, or Reconsider it?
Contents
Who Is Shelby Van Pelt?
It wouldn’t be surprising if you’re not yet familiar with author Shelby Van Pelt.
Because, did you know that Remarkably Bright Creatures is a debut novel? Yes. It’s Shelby Van Pelt’s first novel and, a remarkable one.
Shelby was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest so it’s not surprising that she based her first novel there. These days, she lives in Chicago with her husband and children.
Synopsis Of Remarkably Bright Creatures
Tova Sullivan finds solace in her night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium following the loss of her husband and the mysterious disappearance of her son decades ago.
As she goes about her routine, she encounters Marcellus, a cantankerous giant Pacific octopus. Against all odds, a remarkable bond forms between Tova and Marcellus, leading to an unexpected friendship.
Marcellus the octopus holds secrets beyond anyone’s imagination. With his unique perspective, he pieces together the events surrounding Tova’s son’s vanishing. Determined to help her find closure, Marcellus must employ his cunning and resourcefulness to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a heartwarming reminder that examining our past can pave the way for a future once deemed impossible. Perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a witty, compassionate exploration of the transformative power of connection.
Remarkably Bright Creatures – What I Liked
This book unexpectedly grabbed me by the arms and tightly held onto me until the very end.
It inspired emotions within me that I most definitely didn’t expect, and these started almost from the very first page when I met Marcellus the octopus and immediately felt sorry for him. But, this is not really in any way a sorrowful book. Despite the fact that I cried more than once.
I loved the character Tova, and in certain ways, she reminded me of my own beloved mother. Especially her little group of gossipy friends collectively called the Knit-Wits! I still think about them and smile….many, many days after I’ve finished reading the book.
My favorite character was, of course, Marcellus the octopus. Go figure! While I was stuck in my “prejudging” phase of not even wanting to consider reading this book, I thought the idea of this character and the whole book was just silly.
Marcellus inspired a variety of different emotions within me. Sorrow, for his cooped-up plight. Laughter at the funny things he said…well, he didn’t actually say them LOL, except in octopus thought I guess. He thought them though and they were funny. Wonder at how brilliant Marcellus seemed to be. This one made me turn to Google, by the way.
FYI, it’s true. Octopuses are considered highly intelligent beings. Almost as smart as humans.
And finally, there was a little twist of mystery in the story that turned out differently than I expected! Loved that aspect of this book as well.
Remarkably Bright Creatures includes so many different types of struggles that we humans have on a daily basis, like grief, loss, trusting others, finding success and so many other things. To say that makes it seem like this book is a total sad downer of a story. But the reality is it’s just the opposite and I found that despite the struggles that the characters had in the book, despite I cried more than once, it left me feeling uplifted and joyful that I finished the book.
Remarkably Bright Creatures – What I Disliked
I did not like the character Cameron at first. I couldn’t see how this character had anything to do with the rest of the characters in the book or how they were all going to tie in together at some point. For me, that slowed the book down for me a bit, because I was just bored with Cameron. But, that was well before I really got to know more about Cameron and could see his story and life beginning to take shape. Once I got a little further in and figured out what the deal with Cameron was going to be, all was well!
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Read, Reread, or Reconsider?
And now, my three Rs of book reviews. Should you Read, Reread or Reconsider reading Remarkably Bright Creatures?
A Definite Read!
I completely prejudged this book before I ever even picked it up. That was a huge mistake and I urge you not to do the same thing.
This book was heartwarming in many ways and so totally unique and truly unlike any other that I’ve read.
Remarkably Bright Creatures FAQs
Is Remarkably Bright Creatures sad?
I’m absolutely certain that Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures will be the go-to book for countless readers this summer. It’s a whimsical book that truly touches the heart. While it does have moments of sadness while delving into themes of grief, and moving on from the past, it also embraces the power to envision a brighter future, and I would not say that this book leaves you with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. For me, it left just the opposite.
Does Remarkably Bright Creatures have a happy ending?
While Looks Like Books doesn’t do spoilers, I will say that the ending filled me with a variety of emotions, one of which was joy for the characters!
Are octopuses really smart?
Yes. Octopuses are considered to be very smart beings.
Conclusion – Remarkably Bright Creatures
My advice to you is not to prejudge this book like I did. That was totally wrong and I’ve already completely called myself out for doing that 🙂 I think this is an exceptional book, and I highly recommend that you give it a try.
Oh, and say hi to Marcellus for me!
Also, Remarkably Bright Creatures would make an excellent book club pick for your next book club. If you’ve already chosen it for book club, then you’ll need discussion questions.
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