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Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Book Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Number of Pages: 362
Audiobook Narrated by: Marin Ireland and Michael Urie
Listening Length: 11 hours and 06 minutes
Published in: 2022
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Remarkably Bright Creatures : Quick Summary
Remarkably Bright Creatures follows a widow, Tova Sullivan. Tova is trying to find solace in her job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium after her husband’s death and son’s disappearance over thirty years ago.
Amidst the routine of mopping floors, she crosses paths with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium.
Surprisingly, Tova and Marcellus strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite Marcellus being a bit of a recluse in his watery home, he becomes Tova’s confidant.
But it seems that Marcellus is trying to figure out what happened to Tova’s son all those years ago.
Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel beautifully explores themes of friendship, dealing with the past, and finding hope in unexpected places.
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Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Review
My Views on Theme and Plot
Remarkably Bright Creatures has a truly great setting. It really reminded me of the movie Finding Dory. The themes of loss, grief, and family were genuinely heartwarming. I absolutely loved the fact that the main characters were entirely different.
One of the protagonists, Cameron, trying to find a place in the world was really interesting and easy to connect with. I like that the author chose an octopus as the main character; it really made the story unique.
Another interesting aspect of the book was the small town and close-knit community.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Characters
Tova is a kind lady who doesn’t want to depend on others. She’s strong and independent. Her love for her late son and husband makes her character very emotional.
Cameron is a likable character, but sometimes he did things that annoyed me.
And I felt like he wasn’t trying his best to get things done and find a better future.
Marcellus, the octopus is my favorite. He’s grumpy and doesn’t like humans. I absolutely loved his observations about humans. Seeing an octopus as a sleuth was really fascinating.
Disappointments
Remarkably Bright Creatures was a good book, but I felt like there wasn’t anything new, except for the main character, Octopus.
The themes of lonely elderly and troubled youngsters weren’t something unique. I had expected a lot more in the story. Because there weren’t many characters or various plots, I could easily guess the ending.
Conclusion:
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a happy book. Although it wasn’t exactly a mystery book with an unpredictable plot, i enjoyed the heartwarming moments. If you are looking for an uplifting, feel good story this is a good one.
The Creative Muggle Rating : 3/5 stars
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My Favorite Quotes from Remarkably Bright Creatures
Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.
I loved this quote. It’s funny to see how Marcellus observations about humans are really fascinating. It feels like he is mocking them but somewhere appreciating the talents.
Secrets are everywhere. Some humans are crammed full of them. How do they not explode? It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills.”
This is absolutely true. We are crammed with secrets but almost find a way to hide it or avoid communicating to each other entirely.
Day 1,361 of My Captiv- Oh, Let Us Cut the Shit, Shall We? We Have a Ring to Retrieve.
This was really humorous. If you have really listened to the Remarkable Bright Creature audiobook, it was a really funny moment. Marcleus has put on the hat of a detective so no time to discuss his captive days.
What to Read After Remarkably Bright Creatures
If you are looking for books like Remarkably Bright Creatures featuring animal protagonists here are some great book recommendations.
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus– There is a main character , a dog named Six-Thirty.
- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein– This is the story of Enzo the dog
- The Bees by Laline Paull– Follows a bee named Flora 717
- A Dog’s Purpose by W Bruce Cameron– Follows a dog named Bailey over a year of nine lives.
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell– This is a story of a horse.
About the Author Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Chicago.
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