Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

  • Downloads:7801
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-06-16 08:21:40
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Shelby Van Pelt
  • ISBN:B09DTGQHKJ
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

11 hours, 16 minutes

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

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。

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible。

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Reviews

Rebecca

What a lovely story。 While the twist is obvious, it doesn't detract from the story。 What a lovely story。 While the twist is obvious, it doesn't detract from the story。 。。。more

Nancy J。

Remarkably good readA Good book is one you can't put down。 This was one of those! A few a ha moments when I kinda knew were the story was headed, but couldn't wait to find out for sure! Beautiful done! Remarkably good readA Good book is one you can't put down。 This was one of those! A few a ha moments when I kinda knew were the story was headed, but couldn't wait to find out for sure! Beautiful done! 。。。more

Jessica

I adored this book- well fleshed out characters with such clever writing。 I was skeptical about having an octopus partially narrate, but Van Pelt sold me from the start。 I listened to the audio version and the narration was wonderful。

fc7reads

What's not to love about a book that features an octopus as one of the main characters? (The human characters were also interesting。) What's not to love about a book that features an octopus as one of the main characters? (The human characters were also interesting。) 。。。more

Beth Johnson

I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures! So sweet & creative。 I loved the relationship between Tova & Marcellus and recommend this book to everyone!

Alyssa

Such a fun, heartwarming read。 A nice break from my usual genre。

Carrie

4。5 The beautiful cover was definitely a draw and so was the rave reviews the book was getting。 Add in that the author is local to the Western suburbs of Chicago and I was hooked。 It is really a sweet story, especially between the two main characters: Marcellus, the octopus and Tova Sullivan, the woman who cleans the aquarium at night。 She does so out of a need to keep busy and to keep grief at bay。 "She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to 4。5 The beautiful cover was definitely a draw and so was the rave reviews the book was getting。 Add in that the author is local to the Western suburbs of Chicago and I was hooked。 It is really a sweet story, especially between the two main characters: Marcellus, the octopus and Tova Sullivan, the woman who cleans the aquarium at night。 She does so out of a need to keep busy and to keep grief at bay。 "She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe。" (9) Her husband passed away a couple years ago, and their son Erik when he was 18 in a inconclusive accident at sea。 They never really knew what happened to him, and his body was never found。 Now as she hits her 70s and friends move to assisted living or in with their children, she faces a lonely time ahead。 Cleaning anything, but especially Marcellus' tank glass gives her direction and distraction。 And when she finds the octopus out of his tank one night, all sorts of things become possible。 Marcellus gets to narrate chapters - he is also facing the end of his life span and has his own purpose。 Not only is he smart, but he is compassionate。 He muses: "Humans can be wounded by their own oblivion too。" (182) In a parallel story arc, Cameron Cassmore, a wounded young man with a chip on his shoulder comes to Sowell Bay to find his roots and takes on maintenance at the aquarium where he and Tova become friends。 The small town outside of Seattle is conducive to knowing everyone and their business, which helps the story along and adds to the feel-good vibe of this debut novel, that is ultimately about connection。 。。。more

Jack Tedone

We love an Octopus with smarticle particles。 Pretty predictable, but still an enjoyable read

AmyJMcF

This book, a Read with Jenna selection, is the debut novel of the author。 It is the type of book I am drawn to: broken people, interesting locales, part mystery, and a soupçon of mysticism。 In this case, an incredibly brilliant giant Pacific octopus is a central figure。Thoroughly enjoyable!

Sarah Himes Greer

A sweet book, descriptive and engaging writing。 Parts of the story seemed to lag a bit at times, but overall an enjoyable book。 The audiobook narration was lovely。

Krista Bailey

The few times I was forced to put this book down I found myself hugging it。 When I grabbed the dust jacket to put back on after I finished it I found that Ashley C。 Ford had said the exact same thing in her review on the back。 So take both of our words for it! We're not quite halfway through the year and I'm ready to call it my favorite of 2022。 The few times I was forced to put this book down I found myself hugging it。 When I grabbed the dust jacket to put back on after I finished it I found that Ashley C。 Ford had said the exact same thing in her review on the back。 So take both of our words for it! We're not quite halfway through the year and I'm ready to call it my favorite of 2022。 。。。more

April Dodds

I was so sad when this book came to an end。 Unexpected friends and love found in unexpected places。 As I read Remarkably Bright Creatures I was reminded of how I felt watching My Octopus Teacher。 What a special story。

Donna Brown

Audio

Meredith Waggoner

What I liked about this book: Okayyyyyy so maybe I cried over a fictional octopus?? Some books are just special and are written in such a way that you feel like you’re right there, living amongst the characters。 This was one of them! So cozy。 So briny。 So lovable。 What I didn’t like: Cameron’s plot line took me forever to care about。 Unfortunately, he felt like the weakest link of this book, but I suppose he redeemed himself in the end。 If it wasn’t for Marcellus and Tova this book would have be What I liked about this book: Okayyyyyy so maybe I cried over a fictional octopus?? Some books are just special and are written in such a way that you feel like you’re right there, living amongst the characters。 This was one of them! So cozy。 So briny。 So lovable。 What I didn’t like: Cameron’s plot line took me forever to care about。 Unfortunately, he felt like the weakest link of this book, but I suppose he redeemed himself in the end。 If it wasn’t for Marcellus and Tova this book would have been a 3 or 4 star read for me。 。。。more

Jessica

Love this!

Amy

I loved this book and I loved Marcellus。 The love of all creatures and the story of the sea and lost love and aging and loving in different ways。 There was no one or no thing not to love and it wasn't sappy。 The story was laid out well with different characters coming together -- different real people, flaws and all。 I'm tired of hackneyed "love stories" or overdone affairs and everything tied up in the end and this was my antidote。 I can enjoy a happy love story when done subtly and kindly and I loved this book and I loved Marcellus。 The love of all creatures and the story of the sea and lost love and aging and loving in different ways。 There was no one or no thing not to love and it wasn't sappy。 The story was laid out well with different characters coming together -- different real people, flaws and all。 I'm tired of hackneyed "love stories" or overdone affairs and everything tied up in the end and this was my antidote。 I can enjoy a happy love story when done subtly and kindly and just so fine a novel。 Lovely lovely story。 。。。more

Eilrun

Light enough to be a quick summer read, but with just enough compelling weight to capture your soul。

Denise

Audiobook

Barb Keltner

I do love a great "feel good" story! I do love a great "feel good" story! 。。。more

Marisa Zane

This book was charming without being cheesy and gentle without being slow。 Pick this up if you love anthromorphism, loveable curmudgeons, fierce but sweet grandmotherly types, and “swing-ups。”

Lienkie Vogel

Another 4,5🌟 read

Jo

A wonderful sweet story。 Enjoyed thoroughly!

Shelly

I loved everything about this book!

Missie

Excellent book! Now I want an octopus!!! Loved the plot, the characters, and especially well…everything!

Nancy

One of the best books I have read in years!

Lynne Carlton

I loved this book。 A cast of dysfunctional yet charming characters in a small Pacific Northwest town on the sea observed and directed by a captive, curmudgeonly octopus。 He and everyone else go straight to the reader’s heart & cling there like tentacles wrapped around a wrist。

Mary

Just adored this book。 Hated to see it end。 So heart felt and lovely。 Highly recommend。 Thinking about it makes me smile 🧡

Jean DeBiasse

4。5 stars, very very cute and heartwarming with a unique story 🐙

Carrie

Oh Marcellus and Tova, how I love thee!

Leigh Anne Brown

Absolutely amazing。 I was dying to get to the end, but also dreading when it would be over。 Beautiful writing, lovable characters, satisfying ending。 Jenna’s picks really are the best。