Genre: Contemporary Lit

Format: Audiobook via Spotify (narration: Marin Ireland & Michael Urie) 

Published: May 03, 2022

Soundtrack: Long Way From Home – Lumineers

I absolutely adored this debut novel about aquarium custodian Tova Sullivan and her friend  Marcellus, the octopus. Tova lives a simple life in Sowell Bay, Washington, until she finds Marcellekus entangled in cords far from his enclosure. Following this, Tova and Marcellus form a bond, and Marcellus attempts to use his observation skills to help Tova find closure in the mysterious loss of her son 30 years ago. The story that unfolds is both tragic and yet beautifully redeeming. 

Primarily a character-based novel with what some may feel is a slow-moving plot, Remarkably Bright Creatures focuses on how grief never truly leaves us and how one fits into one’s community. Van Pelt pens Marcellus and Tova wonderfully with genuine complexity and believable personality traits. Even the background characters, Cameron (who honestly was a manchild, but I can’t love every character)  and Ethan, were full of depth and added to the complex character development and plot. I particularly enjoyed Ethan and the patient’s ways of taking care of Tova. The writing is heavy at times as it deals with the fears of aging alone, grief, and loss, but it also can be funny as we learn about Marcellus and his antics at the aquarium and his valid opinions of his human captors. If you’re on the fence about character-driven books, I highly recommend this one, as the prose, plot, and characters are extraordinarily crafted. 

One of my favorite reads of the year so far, Remardly Bright Creatures, would be a fantastic book club book as well! Finally, the narration is perfect and wonderfully cast, and I highly recommend it!

Do you talk to animals? Do you think they understand us?

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