Our April selection is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt — our first CC book narrated by an octopus. Van Pelt’s debut novel tells the story of Marcellus, an octopus in captivity at the local aquarium, who forms an unusual bond with the night custodian, Tova Sullivan. Marcellus uses his amazing skills to work toward solving the mystery of Tova’s son Erik, lost at sea 30 years earlier. Leave your reality check detector at the door: This book, notes one reviewer, “requires a willingness to throw disbelief overboard."
Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut about what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places. – Washington Post
Whimsical, immersive and vibrantly written, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a truly tender masterpiece about grief, letting go of the past and giving yourself the permission to dream of a future. – BookReporter
I listened to the Audible version of this book, and it was excellent. Some books lend themselves to audible versions better than others, and some narrators are better than others. This version was very well done. There’s one narrator for Marcellus and another who does everything else. I really enjoyed it.
Usually I don’t even have to put a hold on our books; they’re just sitting on the shelf. For this one, the library has six copies and two holds. I should get it in plenty of time, but it’s the first time I’ve had to wait.
I’m trying to remember the title of an English or Irish book I read probably 40 or 50 years ago. It’s about a young Irish woman who is a passionate Catholic. She lives alone, has a sad little job, lives in a sad little bedsitter (ie, studio), and drinks way too much. She is very depressed, but when she confides in her priest, he just tells her she needs to pray more. I don’t remember the actual end of the book but it is very sad.
Does anyone know what I’m thinking of?? Thanks in advance.
I’m still technically on hold, but the county library system sometimes puts a few copies of popular ebooks on a 7 day loan. If you go onto Libby at the right moment, you get offered a copy. And they leave your regular hold in place. Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of the books so I lucked out! Hopefully I’ll get another copy closer to the discussion time.
Coronado’s library is independent from the other systems and anyone in California can get a card. I haven’t done it yet; it would be my third system after the city and county. Next time I’m over there!
Agreeing with others who posted about the audio version of this book- just finished it and Marcellus’s deep toned, slow paced, snooty sounding voice could not have been imagined reading the book.
The alternating points of view enhanced by listening to it. If you have a choice, this is a good one.
I’m still on hold for the Kindle version of the book, but I got it on Hoopla as soon as I looked. I’m not really a fan of reading on my phone, but it’s much less annoying than I expected. (Helps that it’s pretty engaging.) The last thing I read on Hoopla was a collection of Spanish poems which was very slow going.
Yay, another “skip the line” 7 day loan came up in my County holds so I have it back in my Kindle! And apparently the regular book also came up in my city holds (different cards and systems).
It’s April 1st! Welcome to our discussion of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
I started this book with a bit of bias, afraid it might be a little too cute or overly sentimental for my tastes. (The Wishing Game had that effect on me.) But I thought all the elements worked here, and I rolled along just fine with our friend Marcellus’ late night escapades.
If I had to express any criticism, it would be 1) Tova seemed older than 70 (but maybe that’s a by-product of grief); and 2) I didn’t buy that Daphne would never have told anyone she was with Erik that night. What would have been the motivation? And even if I did accept that, I don’t believe that the police (or even more likely, the admittedly gossipy community) wouldn’t have figured out that she was with him. After all, Adam remembered their relationship, and even Daphne’s name, nearly 30 years later. So those are my beefs. But I loved the construction of the story, the characters, and the idea of redemption after a life immersed in grief.
What kind of person do you think Marcellus would be if he were human? What qualities do Marcellus and Tova both share that make this remarkable friendship a success?
Each of these characters — animal and human — need each other in a specific way, even if they don’t realize this at first. What qualities bind these characters to each other? Are they connected by loss, grief or something else?
On page 9, Tova empathizes with the sharks in the big aquarium tank, musing that she “understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.” Why do you think she feels so compelled to keep busy? What would happen if she simply stopped?
In contrast to how Tova keeps busy, Cameron emerges as a character who deals with grief by remaining stagnant, refusing to even try to reach his potential, much to the frustration of those who care about him. Why do you think he sabotages himself? Have you ever had someone like this in your life?
Marcellus is extremely smart — smarter than any human he encounters. Have you had encounters with animals — octopuses or otherwise — who demonstrated surprising levels of intelligence, emotional or otherwise? Have you felt “seen” by an animal or felt a relationship with an animal deepen upon earning their trust?
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” takes place in a Pacific Northwest coastal town in the recent past. The watery Puget Sound setting plays a major role in the plot, but how else does the setting inform the novel? How do you think the novel would be different if it were set somewhere like Arizona or Minnesota?
Marcellus remarks on page 59 that “fingerprints are like keys, with their specific shape. I remember all keys, too.” From the house key Tova loses to the ring of keys Marcellus finds at the bottom of the sea, the novel is filled with various types of keys. What do you think keys symbolize in this novel?
Tova reflects on her experience caring for her husband through his illness and eventual passing, and with no surviving family to do the same for her, she worries about being a burden on her friends as she ages. How do you view the role of community and family in caring for older people? How did Tova’s views on this change throughout the book, and why do you think they did?
In the middle of the novel, on page 177, Cameron says to Tova, “conscience does make cowards of us all.” What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree with this?
Tova’s Swedish Dala horses are some of her most treasured possessions. Why do you think that is? Are there heirlooms in your family that carry a similar significance?
This novel explores different characters who are faced with major choices: They can open themselves up to something new and take an unexpected, daring opportunity or they can continue on as they have been. Have you ever faced a moment in your life where a critical choice could change everything? Did you take the leap or not?
Marcellus’s life in captivity is much different than the life of an octopus in the wild — and eventually, Terry reveals that Marcellus was rescued from the sea after a life-threatening injury. Aquariums play an important role in education and conservation but some people view keeping animals, especially intelligent ones, in captivity with skepticism. What do you think?
In the last few pages of the novel, Tova and Cameron realize how they are truly connected. What do you imagine they are doing a year from the novel’s end?
Van Pelt’s debut novel tells the story of Marcellus, an octopus in captivity at the local aquarium, who forms an unusual bond with the night custodian, Tova Sullivan. Marcellus uses his amazing skills to work toward solving the mystery of Tova’s son Erik, lost at sea 30 years earlier. Leave your reality check detector at the door: This book, notes one reviewer, “requires a willingness to throw disbelief overboard."
don’t recall this mentioned in the book ……