Remarably Bright Creatures Review
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was, by all definitions, remarkable. I had really high expectations for this book because everyone I know enjoyed it, and while not all of my expectations were met, it was still an amazing book. I don’t typically read contemporary fiction because I find it so mundane, but something about Marcellus, the octopus; Tova, the widowed cleaning lady at the aquarium; and Cameron, a man searching for his biological father, really spoke to me, and I found myself sucked into the story, wondering how all three characters would connect.
The characters were people you would pass on the street and never think twice about, but Van Pelt gives them a voice to showcase how grief and abandonment can affect a person, and how they manifest not only externally but also internally. This is especially evident in the characters of Tova and Cameron. Tova Sullivan is still battling grief over her son, who died 30 years ago, as well as her recently deceased husband, while trying to navigate the suffocating loneliness surrounding her, despite the friends she has in Sowell Bay who are surrounded by children and grandchildren. Cameron, on the other hand, is searching for the missing piece in his life that he feels is owed to him: a father. Instead, his search leads him to a small town with people who are understanding and give second chances, embracing him as one of their own, and eventually, he builds a family on the broken foundation of his past.
I really liked Tova and Cameron’s dynamic because there were so many times that they got on each other's nerves, but they kept coming back to each other. They had amazing banter that had me chuckling at 2 a.m. as I continued onto another chapter. Not only was Remarkably Bright Creatures funny, but it was also emotional. Since the reader has Marcellus’s, Tova’s, and Cameron’s point of view, you can’t help but feel like you are going through the same thing as them. The ending of the book definitely had me emotional when the big reveal happened.
Of course, we can’t forget about Marcellus! It was evident how much research Shelby Van Pelt did into Pacific octopuses to write Marcellus’ character. It was fascinating to be in an octopus's mind and understand how he views humans; although he doesn’t hold humans in very high regard, he becomes deeply attached to Tova and Cameron. His chapters were short and far and few between, but they read like an old man who knows the wisdom of the world, which is fitting for how intelligent octopuses are.
The only reason this book was not a 5-star read is because of the plot twists. I found all of them incredibly predictable, but that doesn't mean that the novel wasn’t enjoyable. I would have preferred it if Marcellus hadn’t revealed so much at the beginning of the book because it took away the mystery of most of it. Some secrets that could have been part of the “big reveal” were said outright by the octopus, and it took away from what could have been an emotional scene. This caused the book to feel like Van Pelt was dragging her feet for the human characters to make their discovery, so it felt like the book could be a little slow at times.
I really liked the ending, though! It perfectly wrapped up everything that had been building throughout the book, satisfying both my need for the characters to have a happy ending and addressing how their relationships would develop in the future. Overall, I would definitely recommend Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt to anyone looking for a feel-good, complex story with dynamic characters and found family. It’s the perfect read for a trip to the beach, or even an aquarium!
Written by Carlie Renee
