Брилянтни създания

by Shelby Van Pelt, Шелби ван Пелт, Емилия Ничева-Карастойчева (Translator)

С дебютния си роман в духа на „Човек на име Уве“ Шелби ван Пелт ни позволява да станем свидетели на едно повече от необикновено приятелство и да се потопим в една история, изпълнена с топлота, скръб, надежда и щедра порция човечност.

След смъртта на съпруга си Тоува Съливан се хваща на работа в общинския аквариум на крайбрежното градче Сауъл Бей. Тя обича нощните смени, чистейки подове, привеждайки в ред дома на морските създания, с които се отнася като с приятели. Пък и трудът винаги я е разсейвал от Голямата тъга – преди повече от тридесет години синът ѝ Ерик, тогава едва на осемнадесет, е изчезнал мистериозно с лодка в морето.

Тоува е приветлива с всички аквариумни обитатели, но никой от тях не е по-специален от гигантския тихоокеански октопод на име Марсел. Той знае и умее далеч повече, отколкото някой може да подозира, обаче при никакви обстоятелства не би си и помръднал пипалото в помощ на човеците похитители. Само че невероятното му приятелство с милата възрастна дама, която чисти нощем, променя всичко...

Благодарение на изключителната си наблюдателност и прозорливост Марсел разгадава какво се е случило в нощта на изчезването на Ерик. И че явно има връзка с наскоро пристигналия в градчето Камерън, един млад мъж в търсене на отговори на собствените си големи въпроси. Ще успее ли октоподът да разкрие пред Тоува истината, преди да е станало твърде късно?

Очарователна, озарена с хумор и душа, „Брилянтни създания“ нежно ни напомня как един нов поглед към миналото може да отключи бъдеще, което сме смятали за недостижимо.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mystery, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, was published by Ecco/HarperCollins (US) and Bloomsbury (UK) in Spring 2022.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she’s now missing the mountains in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite book this year, and will also be one of the best books I’ve ever read. Why did I love it so much?

Let’s start with the writing. Every page was impressive. The prose was spot-on and there were so many sentences I wanted to underline or reread. The dialogues were saturated with meaning and humor. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the writing style.

Then we have the characters. The author has a real gift when it comes to creating real, complex characters. She crafted unique personalities where their choices fitted perfectly with their traits. Some authors struggles with getting into the head of characters, but this author managed to bring new people into my life and I got fond of them. I didn’t want to say goodbye to them.

In addition to the humans, there was the most original and wonderful POV; the bright octopus. It was a delight to read those chapters. I actually cried after reading about the last thing he did for Tova and she for him. How many authors are able to make you cry because of an octopus?

The plot was intricate and well-thought through. I was invested from the first to last page and found myself saying ‘No’ in horror when some of the misunderstandings threatened the happiness of my new fictional best friends. Sometimes I thought; why didn’t you realize that? But then the author described why based on the personality and history of the character and it made me realize how easily we can misjudge and act in a way that potentially harms us.

I loved the ending although it was hard to say goodbye. I could have wandered around in their universe forever.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wrongread the crap out of this one. I totally get why this has been such a hit for others. I mean, the world is shit and fiction is a great place to turn when you need something hopeful. I’ve fallen victim to the right time/right place heartstring-tugger a time or twelve myself. (See A Man Called Ove, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Guncle, etc.) And like everyone else, I loved Marcellus and heard the “Sad Cat Diary” narrator each time he voiced a chapter that really brought a smile to my face . . . .



But oh my god how did y’all tolerate Cameron? Freaking spoiled manbaby! So sorry your momma was a deadbeat and ditched you as a kid, but it’s not like you got dumped into the foster care system to rot. No, you were left with an aunt who not only loved you but coddled your ass into your dang 30s. Grow up, butthole! I broke my normal routine and poked around a few reviews since everyone but me loved this and I’ve noticed most don’t even mention him at all – despite him being a main character in the story. Maybe you all were simply able to ignore him???? I love a loveable loser, but this dude was a user and no redemption arc could make me like him.

2.5 Stars

[Anna Avian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was incredibly slow and very mundane at times. More than halfway through nothing significant had happened. There were a few chapters that were completely pointless and didn't contribute to the story in any way.
The author failed to give enough reasons for me to care about any of the characters. They all felt predictable and halfhearted.
Cameron's character was just the regular annoying, whiny kind of loser who blames everybody else for his "hard" life. We are constantly reminded how smart he is and yet the only way his smarts present themselves is through some random trivia. A 30 year old man who was raised by an aunt who made sure he had a roof over his head, rather than just being thrown into the system, who still blames his mother for all of his life choices and mistakes, is not someone I can feel sorry for. Grow up and get your act together ffs.
Marcellus was the only thing that kept the whole book together and he should have been given more space in it. I would have gladly read an entire book told only from his perspective.

[Serena · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I heard the premise of this book, I imagined an octopus POV would be used as the jumping point for reflections on captivity, "otherness", different forms of intelligence, or respect of nature... sadly I found none of that here.

It's just your average "intersecting destinies" story with a very predictable plot proceeding at a snail-like pace.

The writing style is similarly unremarkable. It is built from three POVs, one of which belongs to an octopus (great!), one to an unremarkable old lady (less great) and one to an absolutely insufferable, whiny man who talks in the kind of overly colloquial writing style ("bicep day's been lit at the gym lately") that I really cannot stand (definitely not great).

Overall, a waste of a good cephalopod.

[Helen Hoang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcellus the octopus!!! *heart eyes forever*

I don’t read a lot of literary fiction, but I was utterly charmed by this book. It was so creative and full of heart. I’d classify this as an extremely readable smart people book. Plus look at that gorgeous cover! Perfect for beach season.

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too much to say on this one, but what a charming read!!!! I love Marcellus!!!!!!

I really enjoyed seeing our character’s stories connect & Marcellus’s involvement in their lives 🥹 A bit of slow pacing, but the audiobook was amazing!!! 🐙

[Basic B's Guide · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s me not you, according to all of Goodreads.

Marcellus charmed me but the humans lost me.

[Abby Kincanon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted more octopus and less insufferable man-child

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible!! 5+ stars and highly recommend!

I listened to Shelby Van Pelt's book, Remarkably Bright Creatures, on audiobook and I highly recommend listening to the book. Michael Urie does a phenomenal job as Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who is smarter than humans and is an escape artist at night from his tank (captivity) at Sowell Bay Aquarium. Marin Ireland narrates other characters and has an amazing Scottish brogue for the character of Ethan.

Like other book reviewers, I was skeptical about a book regarding an octopus but I was immediately captivated. Similar to other reviewers, I researched octopus information and they are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates and they can radically alter their body shape to squeeze through small gaps.

The character development, dialogue, and drama of Tova, Cameron, Ethan, and Avery are terrific. Van Pelt does an amazing job on dealing with tough topics like death, loss, and grief as well as more positive issues of relationships, friendship, and interconnectedness.

Highly recommend!

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***MAY -- TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB BOOK***

**This is a review of the audiobook of this novel

CAN A HUMAN AND A GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS COMMUNICATE?

The answer in this debut novel is most definitely YES!!!

Tova is recently widowed and is working as a cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova has always felt that keeping busy was the best way to cope with the things that life throws at you. She also knows a lot about loss, her son Eric aged 18, disappeared 30 years ago, after taking out a boat on Puget sound.

Marcellus is a 60 lb Giant Pacific Octopus who has been living in the Aquarium for several years. He was a rescue but Marcellus considers himself a captive and dreams of returning to the sea. He is also highly intelligent and quite adept at escaping his tank when he wants to roam about!

Cameron is a young man who has come to town looking for the father he never knew. His mother left when he was young and he was raised by his aunt.

The story is told from the point of view of these three characters.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS AUDIOBOOK:

The star of this novel is definitely Marcellus and I enjoyed his POV the most!

The narrators were absolutely great and the voice of Marcellus is just as I expected it would be, he is intelligent, a bit of a grouch but has formed a bond with Tova.

The setting of Puget sound is described in all of it’s splendor, I could easily picture the glistening blue waters and almost smell the salt in the air!

While fanciful, this story still had me engaged throughout. The novel is nicely paced and I was never bored.

After listening to this book and loving it, I of course had to Google The Giant Pacific Octopus. I found that it is indeed extremely intelligent and there are many articles about them solving puzzles, escaping from enclosures, etc. You will enjoy learning more about them if you liked this novel!

While the story is somewhat predictable it was still fun to listen to how these two humans and one octopus would solve the mystery of Tova’s missing son.

If you believe that animals can bring comfort and happiness to a person’s life and can help you heal from life's tragedies, you will love this book!! It is quirky and fun but there are also some serious issues described.

I received this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley and Harper Audio. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this wonderful story!

Publication date is May 3, 2022

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I miss something?

Everyone else seems to have been enchanted with this story. Not I.

In the first third of the novel, it was painfully obvious how the story would conclude.

Do you remember Romeo and Juliet? Mr. Shakespeare was the King of Spoilers when he tells us the outcome of the ill-fated lovers in the very first paragraph. But he told a story worthy of rippling through the ages.

In contrast, Remarkably Bright Creatures is boring. The storytelling needed sharpening because most of the book was superfluous and should have been distilled to the dialogue.

Additionally, the narrative voice is lackluster (aside from the Marcellus/octopus sections). This book would have benefited from some hilarious moments or some snarky comments. Van Pelt shines when writing in the first person, and all of the sections should have been written using that perspective.

Bored stiff and couldn't wait for this to end.

Sorry, Tova.

How much I spent:
Hardcover text – Free through Mel-Cat (Michigan Library System)

2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal

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[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very popular and adored by so many so I'm just going to keep this short.

I feel a bit disappointed like I read a different book. I thought the first half was very good and I even chuckled at parts. After a while, I realized that I'm constantly waiting for Marcellus to show up. I love his POV and it reminds me of the octopus in "Resident Alien" TV show. While waiting for him, I become increasingly annoyed by one of the characters. 😫 And I'm sorry to say, I have very little interest in the other character.

I feel like I might regret not giving it a higher rating, a bit of "Frick Island" Deja Vu.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Seventy-year-old Tova Sullivan works the nightshift as a cleaner at Sowell Bay Aquarium. She lives alone, recently widowed and her eighteen-year-old son having disappeared almost thirty years ago. Though financially stable, Tova believes in keeping herself occupied and enjoys her work and the company of the aquatic life in the aquarium, among whom is Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, who was taken in as a rescue and at the beginning of the novel is on Day 1299 of his four-year (1460 day) life span. His observations and ruminations on human beings (which are shared in the first person in snippets throughout the narrative) are laced with humor (with a touch of snark) and wisdom. He is after all a ‘remarkably bright creature’ who also happens to venture out of his tank at nighttime, never exceeding the eighteen minutes beyond which would result in “consequences” as he cannot survive longer than that outside his tank. On one of his nocturnal adventures, Tova ends up saving him from harm and they form a special bond. Though Tova has a supportive group of friends, she is concerned about not having anyone to look after her in her advanced age and begins to consider the option of selling her home and moving into an upscale retirement facility. As the story progresses we also meet thirty-year-old Cameron Cassmore who travels to Sowell Bay, Washington from Modesto, California in search of information about his family connections. Abandoned by his mother as a child and raised by his aunt, he has recently become aware of possible family connections that lead him to Sowell Bay. He hasn’t done much with his life till now, is unable to hold a steady job and has been recently dumped by his girlfriend who was fed up with his lack of initiative and whimsical nature. Cameron, Tova and Marcellus connect when he starts working at the aquarium and what follows is a deeply moving story of friendship, community, family, grief and moving on.

The author’s portrayal of a close-knit small-town community and sensitive depiction of issues such as loss, grief, loneliness and aging will touch your heart. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, the story is very well told and nowhere in the narrative do you lose interest or experience boredom. Marcellus is adorable and is a reminder of how precious our animal friends are to us especially in moments of loneliness and sorrow. The story also makes you ponder over the plight of animals in captivity. Though none of the animals in this story were harmed or ill-treated, you cannot help but feel sympathy for Marcellus when he feels imprisoned within the glass walls of the aquarium and misses his natural habitat.

Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with a lively cast of characters (human and cephalopod), engaging and well-paced narrative and a perfect combination of emotion, humor, wit and wisdom (suspend disbelief and you will enjoy the story!), Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful story that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a lump in your throat and a smile on your face.

I thank the author and publisher for providing a DRC of this wonderful book via Edelweiss+. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could rate this book higher.

I loved Tova and Marcellus so much. They get 5 stars easily.

But Cameron is such a horrible cry baby/man child I give him 0 stars. How is he 30, but every decision he makes is so infantile and selfish? For example, if he had to cancel a date, why wouldn't he call the person instead of going to her place of business and telling her tèenager? Sure, he becomes less horrible by the end, but I disliked him so much by then that I didn't care, and honestly, I doubted his character arc. No one that far behind in life would be able to become a functional adult so quickly.

Also there were a lot of things in this debut novel that didn't ring true for the modern era and seemed to take up a lot of time just to add drama. Like the hunt for the real estate guy just took so long. Any middle-aged real estate agent would have a Facebook page. Cam could have looked him up and dmed him, no need to drive a fuel inefficient vehicle all over Washington.

I can see why this is such a popular book there are a lot of heart warming aspects like the Octopus detective and the rich character descriptions are great, but I just couldn't stomach Cameron who thought it was OK to walk around with chocolate on his face, smelling like other people's urine.

[MarilynW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie

Seventy year old Tova Sullivan loves her job working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Doing this job helps her with the grief of losing her husband. There is another grief that has been with her for many decades, since her eighteen year old son died, his body never found.

Tova loves cleaning the floors, windows, tanks, and the seal statue that was a favorite of her son when he was little. For Tova, this job is a life saver, a place for her to be, a place she is needed, welcomed, and cherished by the aquarium manager. And then something very special happens! Tova meets curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. She already knew Marcellus, just as she knew all the other aquarium creatures but she never KNEW him before she and Marcellus meet face to face in an amazing way. Thus begins a lifelong friendship between Tova and Marcellus. Lifelong considering the short length of life that Marcellus has left since he is at the end of his four year lifespan.

There is another important person in this story and it's thirty year old Cameron Cassmore, a man who has never really grown up or found his place in life. He's never met his father and his mother abandoned him when he was nine. Cameron has a lot of growing up to do, having never held a job that he wasn't fired from, having never learned to pick up his own socks, and having never been someone anyone could rely on. But he's in Sowell Bay now, on the prowl to find out the secrets to his past, hoping what he finds will pay off, if possible.

I loved this story, the people, Marcellus, and gray Cat. The audiobook narration could not be better. Marin Ireland does her usual wonderful job while Michael Urie IS Marcellus. He's now a new favorite narrator of mine. I avoid animal stories because I usually can't handle things happening to animals but this is a story about giving life to both animals and humans and that giving makes future loss bearable. Even if we can't keep something forever, we don't want to miss the chance of the time we can spend with those we can love and cherish.

Pub May 3, 2022 by HarperAudio

[Charles Hobby · Rating 1 out of 5]

jesus fucking christ

[Kip Gire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure many may disagree with this review, based on the love that this book has received, but I really didn't find anything special here. I found the relationship with the octopus charming but the rest of the story was very middle of the road, and achingly slow... the characters were very 2D and trite.. the boy was annoying to the point of cartoon angst.... it's interesting, but it's not groundbreaking at all

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 just go with it stars
There have been lots of books between dogs and cats forming impressive bonds with humans. But this is the first that involves an octopus and a human. Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus. And he’s nearing the end of his expected life span. Tova is the seventy year old woman that cleans the aquarium where Marcellus is a prisoner, as he sees it. She’s a widow and her 18 year old son went missing decades earlier.
I had enjoyed watching My Octopus Teacher on Netflix earlier this year. And Van Pelt does an equally good job of showing the reader how smart octopuses are.
The story weaves in other characters - a thirty year old still trying to find his footing and also the father he never knew, a transplanted Scot who runs the local deli and store. I found myself drawn to each and every one of them. This is a lovely heartwarming story. It deals with growing old alone, grief, growing up belatedly. It grabbed my heart. I loved the magic realism of this story.
Both narrators do a great job. This made for a delightful audio experience. Michael Urle was superb as Marcellus. Marin Ireland always does a great job and this time is no exception.

[Arielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book for a 12-year-old who wants to read a book about adults. The writing style and plot are at the middle school level. There’s nothing really wrong with it if you look at it from that perspective, but this book is simply not complex enough for an adult who reads regularly and has the ability to read between the lines.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book with a bittersweet feeling and a smile. How important is that? For me it's priceless. How rare was that for this reader? Pretty darn rare. Maybe I've been reading the wrong books.

Three wonderful characters and one giant octopus. Tova. Cameron, Ethan, and Marcellus. All searching for something and as I listened I so wanted them to succeed. If the wily Marcellus has his way, Tova will get hers. I should mention that one learns a bit about the lives of giant octopi and how Marcellus came to live in a tank in a aquarium.

The narrators were great. Ethan's Scottish voice made me melt and Tovas voice fit my picture of her wonderfully. Well done!

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in constant awe of the world, the creatures that inhabit it, and the connection and bonds that form between different species. Whether it’s a dog and a dolphin (watch this video for a serotonin boost), a magpie and a dog, or a human and an octopus.

If you have seen the My Octopus Teacher doco and loved it, you’ll probably also appreciate this book.

Loved it, love Marcellus. What a debut 🐙

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This must be my Year of the Octopus. After watching and loving My Octopus Teacher on Netflix, I’m more than a little obsessed with these amazing, intelligent creatures. This is my second book featuring octopuses (no, it’s not octopi), in as many months.

Tova, the 70-year-old cleaning lady at the aquarium, is grieving the recent loss of her husband, and the son who disappeared 30 years ago. Outside of work, I enjoyed the interactions she had with her friends, the Knit Wits. Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who lives in the aquarium, is nearing the end of his short (4-ish) life, having never known freedom, despite his nightly escapes to other tanks to get a tasty snack. Cameron is the new employee, a struggling young man who is on a quest to find the father he never knew.

The chapters alternate between these three characters, and while I enjoyed all three, I wanted more of Marcellus. He is a grumpy old man with a heart of gold. The best part is we are privy to his witty and snarky thoughts, usually about humans. Snark gets me every time.

How these three lives intertwine makes for a heartwarming, feel-good story. There’s a mystery to solve, one Marcellus has figured out. He only has to find a way to get the humans to piece the puzzle together. He might be curmudgeonly, but he has a soft spot for these two, especially Tova, with whom he shares a strong bond. You know where the story is going, but it’s OK, because the journey there is charming and delightful. Marcellus, of course, stole my heart, putting a smile on my face, and a lump in my throat.

Readers who enjoy Fredrik Backman, (although he’s hit or miss with me), will likely love this one too.

* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kail Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough good things about this story. So so good on audio!

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook….read by Marin Ireland and Michael Urle
….11 hours and 16 minutes

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book!
A debut classic is born!!

I have fully fallen in love with this gem as others have.
Thank you to *Cheri* for her wonderful review who first turned me on to this priceless quirky novel.

Note of interest… unrelated per say…
But scientist recently figured out why female octopuses self-destruct.
After she lays her eggs she does with any new parent would…carefully watch over her progeny. She stays with them and protects them from predators blowing water over them to keep them oxygenated, writes Nicolas Bakalar for the New York Times”.
“But then her behavior turns bizarre; she stops eating and begins to self mutilate, tearing off her skin or even eating her own arms. She’s dead before the eggs can hatch”.

Our ‘A-Star-is-Born’ octopus
in “Remarkably Bright Creatures” — is a male …. so Marcellus has about a 4 year life span…(as Marcellus himself will tell us)…

If Marcellus was a female octopus she would die [self-destruct] soon after she lays her eggs.
By the time a young octopus wiggles out of its egg, its mother is already dead.

….Shelby Van Pelt (tons of talent), is going to have her challenges following up with her next novel…but I don’t doubt for a second that she won’t continue to surprise readers again and again.

As sappy as it sounds having an octopus as a leading character—Shelby absolutely makes it works brilliantly… (feelings are all so real)…
and if readers look closer —wise symbolism is sprinkling throughout.
….Themes of love, loss, grief, loneliness, and friendships, are strong.
The characters are gloriously genuine.

….You can bet, I’ll choose to read Shelby’s next book!

The audiobook-narrators empowers this story exceptionally!!

[Brooke Averick · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANT!!! HEARTWARMING!!! WITTY!!!! A TRIUMPH!!!! I laughed out loud and sobbed my pretty little eyes out. I would throw myself in front of a two ton bus for Marcellus. I need a sequel that’s the same events of this book just told through the constant 24/7 stream of consciousness POV of Marcellus. Tova is more than welcome to have a few chapters sprinkled in there as well. Cameron can sit this one out.

[zuza_zaksiazkowane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Swaye is my witness, I called this book’s ending on page four. Well, half the ending.

And you probably will, too.

This novel isn’t out to surprise (or, if it is, that's a big fail-o-rama), save with its novel octopus POV. Mostly, it’s a bittersweet reflection on grief and aging and loneliness and family.

And all of these topics are worthy of meditation.

As for the writing itself: some of it feels inspired, but most of it does not. Around our female lead, Tova, everything crackles and glows. The dialogue feels right. The sorrow and grit are there. Same with our octopus lead, Marcellus. But the other characters feel less fully realized.

My advice if you plan to read this novel: lay down any expectations of elegant prose and intricate character development in all but the two main players. And even there, don’t get crazy. This is a simple, mainstream novel, with an interesting sea creature twist. It’s a beach read, or a palette cleanser in between meatier works. Sorry, but them’s the facts.

Two things did really bother me during this mostly decent, if unremarkable, read. May I get them off my chest?

First, Shelby Van Pelt is not a master of nuanced foreshadowing. I can’t give you specific examples, or I’ll spoil the plot, but I was bludgeoned by hints of things to come. I found myself thinking: I’m not an idiot, lady. You don’t have to hit me over the head with your clues.

Second, Van Pelt is absolutely in love with the word “some,” and not in a good way. Normal people probably won't trouble at this, but I get OCD with my pet peeves. Please allow me to give you three examples of how the author’s use of the word “some” drove me apeshit by story’s end:

1. “Two clicks to download some travel app he saw a commercial about, with some schtick about guaranteeing rock-bottom prices” (104).

So... to clarify: do you not know which travel app he used? Or, could you not make one up?

2. “I was watching some show on the travel channel the other day” (245).

Which show, now?

3. “They were interviewing him about trends in vacation home sales or some boring thing” (245).

Wait, please. Were they interviewing him about trends in vacation home sales, or about “some” other “boring thing”? What exactly did this supposed interview entail, Ms. Van Pelt? You’re the only one who knows for sure, and I’d really like to be looped in.

…
I’ve given you three examples here, but the author does this at least 100 times in 360 pages. I’m not exaggerating. And to me, this feels lazy. An author’s job is to create a believable world, full of believable details. Vagaries do not achieve this end, especially in such abundance.

In closing, I was really looking forward to reading this story, and I was mildly disappointed with it. Really, I got more pleasure from reading other people’s reviews about the novelty of an octopus narrator than I got from reading the actual book. Oh well, that’s life sometimes.

My consolation prize, stimulating dialogue with a savvy buddy-reader, more than makes up for this otherwise lackluster experience.

Book/Song Pairing: Never Let Me Go (Florence + The Machine) youtu.be/zMBTvuUlm98

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An aging octopus named Marcellus; A 70-year old woman named Tova. An unlikely friendship that blooms in an aquarium in Seattle.
We find out Tova’s son died years ago at the age of 18. The how and the why unclear. But Marcellus, the octopus, has some knowledge of his death.

An enchanting and delightful story of an unlikely friendship; a discovery of truths; family and relationships.

This was a remarkable and bright story and I’m not sure why I waited so long to read it!
5⭐️

P.S you might want to rethink that calamari dish. 🐙

[Sean Flynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this title up because I thought it was about a mystery-solving octopus. I love octopuses. They happen to be my favorite water animal, and I just finished reading The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery (which is a far better read if you're into octopuses). Remarkably Bright Creatures is not about a mystery-solving octopus. The octopus knows things that the characters in the book don't know, and makes feeble attempts intermittently throughout the story to clue the characters in. However, the "mystery" could've easily been solved without the octopus. In fact, readers who pay just partial (maybe 2/5ths) attention will be able to figure it all out halfway through the novel, then have to plod their way through the rest, waiting for the characters to catch up.

All of this might have been forgivable had these characters' lives included any drama of moderate interest. If I told you this book was about a 70-year-old cleaning lady (Tova), her knitting friends, and a 30-year-old fuck-up (Cameron) who can't hold a job, well ... that's what it's about, and it's as interesting as it sounds. True, Cameron is supposedly a genius, and this could've added an interesting element to the story. Unfortunately, he doesn't act like one, nor does his alleged intelligence serve any purpose in the plot. At all. Maybe two or three times he will spew some random factoid about something or other, but it's not anything that helps anybody. It just happens.

There is a moment when a cat shows up (named Cat), but again, it doesn't do anything important other than cat things. Not sure why it was put in the story at all other than that author Shelby Van Pelt happens to be a cat person. When it arrived at Tova's front door, the narrative lingered on it and Tova's reaction to it so intensely that I felt certain the cat was going to play a major role. But it's really just there, being a cat. Not sure how much I can fault this, though, seeing as every cat I have ever met acts just like Cat in this novel. It's a believable cat.

The ending was a pile of ass. Not going to spoil it, but when I said that any slightly attentive reader could figure the whole thing out, that's not entirely true. It didn't end the way I expected it to, but it wasn't like "Wow! That was a crazy twist I didn't see coming!" It was more like, "Ah, I get it. This is what's going to happen, and that's going be quite nice because of the themes of home and family that are being developed ... oh wait. What? Damn. Why the fuck are they doing this instead? What? This makes zero sense and is not satisfying at all! I'm not satisfied! And there's that cat doing cat things again!"

So, in sum, main character's life is boring. She cleans at her job, cleans at home, sometimes goes grocery shopping and hangs with her knitting group who are equally boring. Cameron is that guy nobody wants to hang around with because he's 30 years old and acts like he's 19 with his freeloading whininess. Marcellus (the octopus) is a bit more interesting simply because he's an octopus, but his parts in the novel are way too few and way too short. He's more like a wise, old narrator watching the non-action and coming in every twenty pages or so to comment for a page, but he doesn't say anything that the reader doesn't already know.

In fact, as a reader, I identified with Marcellus more than any other character because reading this novel was like being an octopus in a tank, languidly observing the boring-ass lives of people through a glass and wishing I were out swimming in the ocean where there can be some hope of excitement.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I wish there was more Marcellus in the book! I love that Octopus! I loved Tova too!



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾