Remarkably Bright Creatures

The most unique and memorable part of the book was definitely Marcellus, the octopus. His chapters were witty, emotional, and surprisingly comforting. The story beautifully explores grief, loneliness, healing, and unexpected companionship through Tova Sullivan’s life. Despite its emotional themes, the book feels incredibly warm and wholesome throughout. Overall, this was such a heartfelt and memorable read.

Very interesting book. Sensitive and emotional.

You know what makes this book interesting? Seeing human beings from a perspective of the giant octopus, Marcellus but with over time, the way Marcellus forms a bond with humans is incredible. I love how the title and cover exactly portrays what’s inside the book. Remarkably symbolises emotional depth of both human being and creature. You will see a visible change/shift in perspectives of both if you will compare them with how the story begins and how it ends. It all felt like a beautiful memory that has hit the mark. While Bright speaks about the grief, abandonment, loss, and loneliness, the characters felt in this book yet hope and resilience kept them moving. Creatures because they play an essential role in this book. They are the protagonists of the story. The story will stay with you like an external part of your soul because at the end, how misunderstandings clears and each of their bond strengthens. Especially Marcellus and Tova. For Cameron and his mother, I felt bad. There was a part where Cam said his childhood was robbed off and he grew up with his aunt, knowing that he has been abandoned by his parents. While there were clues that unveiled Daphne’s story. I felt so emotionally connected with this book and characters in it. Finishing it felt like leaving behind something that I wanted to stay a little longer. This book felt like a warm hug and read along made it even more interesting.

Not good quality paper.

Warm, fuzzy and everything good read.

I'm deeply emotional over an octopus! Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a quite tender story that slowly creeps into your heart. It begins slowly and might make you DNF this book, but I kept going, and that's the best decision. The book follows three different lives, but they eventually connect. The first is my favourite, Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who is extremely smart, observant and sarcastic. Then we have Tova, an old woman who works at an aquarium carrying grief up her sleeve, and Cameron, a young lost man searching for his biological father. This book talks about loneliness and unexpected friendship. It's a friendship without any grand gestures or perfect words; it's about accidental connections. The story wonderfully captures how companionship can emerge from the most surprising places, even across species. A gentle, heartfelt read that lingers long after the last page.

Good book condition

Remarkably Bright Creatures is the language of overcoming and hope. It's faith in simplicity, triumph of the spirit, as also the interconnectedness of life. The treatment could be considered fairy tales-que, with an intelligent, connecting the dots, Marcus, the octopus, and his kinship with Toca, his aquarium's cleaner. The loneliness and care of the geriatric community, slowing down and solitude, community engagement and relevance and handling of loss, are the interwoven parallel themes. The pitfalls and advantages of small town living, through the eyes of the young and the aging, were interesting contrasts. Even though the content, overall, was a bit too neatly tied, the author made it a pleasant reading experience, guaranteed to make one develop an affinity for octopuses.

An uplifting and enjoyable book, well written with likeable characters, believable dialogue and of course, an octopus. Anthropomorphisation for sure, but all the better for it. We will never know how an octopus really thinks, but I like to imagine this book captured it. Oh, and there's a human love story and some other stuff that's really sweet!

At first glance, with the title and cover, I expected the octopus to take center stage in the story—but it turned out to be more of a family-searching journey, which was a lovely surprise. That said, the octopus adds just the right spice to the story, offering a unique perspective on the human world. Personally, this book reminded me of my grandfather, who was adopted as a baby and spent years searching for his original family. It gave me a deeper understanding of why people feel such a strong desire to know their roots.

I have to admit my heart sank when our book club suggested a book about an Octopus and an old lady. That soon changed as I became invested in the characters and the lyrical prose. The ending actually made me cry…and I loved Marcellus the octopus!

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is heartwarming and comforting, leaving the reader with a bittersweet feeling—sad to say goodbye to the characters, yet grateful to have been part of their journey. The story follows Tova Sullivan, a widow who spends her nights cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and Cameron Cassmore, a young man who unexpectedly finds himself single, unemployed, and without a place to stay. Readers are also introduced to Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Intelligent and mischievous, Marcellus avoids human interaction when he can, yet he is gradually charmed by the small woman who cleans the glass of his enclosure each night. Shelby brilliantly portrays his curious and perceptive nature, at times allowing the reader brief insight into the workings of his mind. As the story unfolds, the reader is gently drawn into the intertwined lives of all three characters. What makes this book so compelling is the way the author captures the softness and perseverance of each character, despite the challenges they face. One of the most enjoyable elements is the brief, interspersed windows into Marcellus’s mind, captivating the reader with his honest and bemused reflections. However, some readers may find the momentum slows briefly toward the end, as the characters take a bit longer to uncover the final pieces of information. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a wonderful choice for readers seeking a light, wholesome, and heartfelt story. You grow to love these characters and think of them with genuine affection. This book is truly more than just a beautiful cover.

I almost didn't choose this book when I realized the narrator was an octopus. I'm so glad I did read it. This is a wonderful book with characters that are real. They could be a part of anyone's family. It is a well written, heart warming story, without being gushy or overly sentimental. I couldn't put this book down and regret finishing it so quickly. I will be looking for more from this author.