Remarkably Bright Creatures

A good book tends to have more than one meaning: the surface one that everybody gets, and an underlying one that may or may not be discovered by the reader, but when it is, it elevates the book, often into the great category. Remarkably Bright Creatures falls into the latter.

On the surface, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a cute stroll with thirty-year old Cameron who doesn’t know his father’s identity, was abandoned by his mother at age 9 and raised by her sister in California. Of Tova, a 70-year old widow who lost her only son, Eric, when he was 18-years-old to an unsolved death (suicide according to authorities, Tova knows better), and works in Sowell Bay, Washington as the evening cleaning lady to the town’s aquarium. And of show more Marcellus a clever, Houdini-esc 60-pound giant Pacific octopus who understands humans. When a lead on Cameron’s biological father takes him to Sowell Bay, it is Marcellus who cracks the case that may solve the human’s mysteries.

As fun as the story is, it’s the underlying theme that will grab your heartstrings. We follow all three through the steps of their unresolved grief, their feeling of abandonment, and bondage that keep them stuck where they are, figuratively and literally. In a creative twist, author Shelby Val Pelt walks the reader through the different types of feelings and reactions to loss, be it by death, captivity, or abandonment. A very remarkable story and one that, while wildly hyped, is worth it. You won’t regret reading Remarkably Bright Creatures.

TIP: The voice of Marcellus and his few lines, are worth the audible version. show less

3.75 ⭐

A poignant little exploration of family and growing older; this feels like a slice of life, like maybe you are passing through Sowell Bay and Ethan the Scottish grocery clerk is telling you everybody's business. I love how endearingly grouchy everyone in this story is, from Marcellus to Tova to Cameron. How very PNW. I enjoyed the experience and, because this story has a lot of soul, it got some tears out of me in the end. All my love to Marcellus to Great Pacific Octopus.

One elderly a Swedish immigrant, a 30-year-old man with a bad case of arrested development, and an octopus are all rolled into one great story. The story explores the effects of grief and yet manages to be filled with moments of humor. Marcel’s sections were delightful.

I really loved the way it all came together. It was everything I hoped the book “One in a Million Boy” would be. I loved seeing Cameron mature and everyone slowly discovering their connection. I loved Tova learning how to trust people again and let them in, just like Marcel the octopus.

There’s so much to talk about in the book. The different ways people deal with grief (staying busy, dwelling on it, talking to others, shutting down). Animal captivity for human show more entertainment. What we assume about others (people thinking Tova needed money because of the cleaning job). The way parents (or the lack there of) impact your own maturity. The way closure on an issue (like knowing her son didn't hill himself) can impact your ability to move on, the value we place in material belongings (paired with discussion of Swedish death cleaning), etc. So many interesting things. show less

It seems like I'm reading about senile people-related books this summer lol. One of the protagonists Tova, is the opposite of a crumudgeon (unlike Ove from the last book I read) but lived through similar experiences like Ove.

I especially enjoyed Marcelleous the Pacific octopus's point of view. So snarky but so lively! It's like observing the world's happenings through a reader's lens, except that he's confined to the limited space of an aquarium. It's a heart-warming book that recounts the union of characters, whether in a familial or romantic relationship. The author's writing is also quite enjoyable. I did find the oceanic metaphors a bit redundant in the last few chapters of the book, but that might just be me.

-- spoiler--

We never show more got the full story behind Erik's death, and any history about Cameron's mom, Daphne. It was somewhat implied that Daphne experienced an unfavorable disposition, one that's linked to substance use, after Cameron was born. I am curious about the author's choice not to disclose any relevant information about Daphne and what she knows about Erik's disappearance. Maybe Tova and Cameron accept that no definite answers will come, even if they spend all their time digging around. Quite a unique ending, personally in favor of it show less

After sitting on my shelf forever, I finally read Remarkably Bright Creatures—and I’m so glad I did. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut is a heartfelt, beautifully written story about loss, healing, and unexpected connections.

The friendship between Tova, a widowed aquarium janitor, and Marcellus, a clever, snarky octopus, is both unique and deeply moving. Through their alternating perspectives, Van Pelt explores the power of unlikely bonds and the search for truth, with humor and warmth woven throughout.

This book left me feeling uplifted and reminded me of the profound ways we impact one another. Don’t let this gem sit unread on your shelf like I did—it’s a treasure worth diving into.

Remarkably Bright Creatures completely stole my heart. This beautifully written contemporary novel blends grief, friendship, family, and a touch of magical realism into a story that feels both comforting and deeply emotional.

Marcellus the octopus is easily one of the most unforgettable characters I have ever read. His observations about humans are witty, wise, and surprisingly moving. The relationships that form between the characters, especially as they navigate loss, aging, and loneliness, feel genuine and heartfelt.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, the aquarium setting adds so much charm and atmosphere. The mystery element kept me engaged, but the emotional connections and themes of healing and human-animal relationships are what truly show more made this book shine.

Such a warm, unique, and memorable read. Perfect for book clubs and anyone who loves character-driven stories with heart. show less

Can an octopus be a detective? Well, he can in Shelby Van Pelt's wonderful first novel “Remarkably Bright Creatures” (2022).

Marcellus is an octopus in an aquarium in a relatively small town in the state of Washington. He is nearing the end of his four-year life span, and he is smart enough to know it. He is also smart enough to read English, to identify people by their fingerprints on the glass of his tank, to escape each night to consume seafood in other tanks and even to have a hidden coin collection.

Marcellus is a part-time narrator, as well, but mostly the novel is about Tova, a 70-year-old woman who cleans the Sowell Bay Aquarium each night, and Cameron, a 30-year-old man who leads an aimless life until he starts working there, show more too.

Tova still mourns the recent loss of her dear husband, as well as the death of her teenage son at sea 30 years before. Yes, those 30 years are significant. Marcellus is the one who recognizes that Tova and Cameron are related somehow. One thing he can't do is speak, so how can he communicate what he knows to these two hapless humans? And can he do it before his own rapidly approaching death?

Van Pelt makes us believe this fantasy. She fills her novel with pleasures and surprises, strong characters and an octopus to love. show less