Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Let me start by saying that by reading the synopsis of this book, it is not my normal pick. It came up as a suggestion after I finished House by the Cerulean Sea (a book chosen by my book club that I thought I would hate and loved!!!!!) so I thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I did.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel for which she has been nominated for Best Fiction and Best Debut Novel of 2022. It definitely stands up to the hype. I was so crazy about this book that I chose it for the month I hosted book club. I also redid my bathroom with an octopus theme. I really loved it.

The books setting is in a small town on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. Tova Sullivan is an aging widow whose only child, Erik, vanished from a boat on the sound 30 years prior. Tova is faced with growing old with no family to lean on. She currently is in good health and works after hours cleaning at the local Aquarium. When working alone at night she tends to chat with the creatures at the aquarium and becomes particularly fond of a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus whose escape tactics are extremely entertaining.

The best part of the story is when you realize Marcellus has an inner voice of his own and is very intelligent. Van Pelt does an amazing job switching between character points of view in each chapter and does a fabulous job bringing human characteristics to Marcellus and making readers fall in love with him.

Cameron is a lost 30 year old young man who comes to town looking to confront his rich father for abandoning him as a child. He steps in for Tova cleaning at the aquarium when she breaks her wrist at work. Readers soon find out Marcellus has the insight into human nature that even most humans do not.

Van Pelt has done such a wonderful job creating all of these colorful characters. The story line has a bit of romance, mystery, and coming of age. Basically it has something for everyone. I recommend this book for people who love a light mystery and just wonderful feel good stories. I laughed. I cried. I have put this book in my top 10 books ever list. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!

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