Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt isn’t something I would naturally gravitate toward. Before reading this book, my taste leaned more toward depressing or horror fiction. But when I picked it up, I was looking for something comforting, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed.
This book is about Tova Sullivan. She’s really old—retirement age, even—and she started working at Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up, after her husband died. Keeping busy was always her way of dealing with grief, ever since her eighteen-year-old son’s untimely death 30 years ago. Then she makes an acquaintance in the aquarium: an octopus named Marcellus. He’s a very smart octopus and knows a lot of things, including the mystery behind her son’s death. And before everything ends for Marcellus, he has to make sure the mystery is solved so he can help Tova, the only person he’s ever become friends with.
Marcellus easily won me over. His chapters always made me admire sea creatures, and I really liked his humor. We love to anthropomorphize animals, and this one is done right.
Tova, despite her age, is equally charming. I’m not usually a sucker for stories told from an older person’s point of view, but this one was different. I didn’t expect to like her as much as I did.
The other pivotal character is Cameron, a 30-year-old guy with no direction in life, even though he’s smart and should know better. When I read his parts, it felt like I was reading about an 18-year-old. He’s annoying and painful to read. I’d gladly hop back to Marcellus and Tova any time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s charming and easy to read. I’d recommend it to anyone feeling down, like I was when I started. It definitely helped take my mind off my worries. That said, it’s not a groundbreaking or mind-blowing story, but it’s a nice, light read that’s still worth picking up.
Have you read this book? If you have, share your thoughts in the comments! If not, let me know if it’s on your list! ❤️
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