Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel

The heartwarming, humorous tale of a remarkably bright octopus named Marcellus who helps two lonely humans find connection after calamity.

Tova Sullivan is pushing seventy - along with a mop - working nights at the Soul Bay, Washington aquarium after losing her husband. She still mourns her son Erik, who died mysteriously at the tender age of eighteen, and shares her dreams and fears with Marcellus, an aging octopus who is ensconced in a tank on the premises but reveals himself to be something of an escape artist.

Cameron Cassmore has hit a dead end. He can't keep a job, and he sure as hell can't keep a girlfriend. So he leaves California and heads to Washington searching for the father he never knew. His luggage ends up in Italy, and Cameron ends up in Soul Bay, where he lands a job at the aquarium, humbled that the sea creatures eat better than he does.

Marcellus the octopus is observant in ways those silly humans are not, and when he discovers a secret that could bring both Tova and Cameron the answers they seek, he must execute a daring plan before it is too late for all of them.

Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it took a different turn, and a more satisfying one then I had imagined. Author Shelby Van Pelt’s characters are well-drawn (major and supporting roles alike), each with a rich history, endearing quirks, and frustrating blind spots.

Marcellus is a gem. He's not a magical talking sea creature, but we hear his thoughts, and oh, the humor! He's fascinated with fingerprints, each a unique marvel, and he's weary of banal talk about the weather. Why do humans drone on endlessly about rain?

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who delights in stories about love from loss, happiness from haplessness, small-town gossip, and clever humor.