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ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Suicide, Confinement, Death, and Addiction
saramoser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, and Death of parent
socolorfull's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First, the good: the Audiobook was fantastically narrated. Definitely a treat for your ears. The cast of characters was a loveable lot... Well... Mostly loveable. Cameron was annoying. Sweet little Tova stole the show, but the shopkeeper was a close second, and Tova's group of friends who loved her so much were just the sweetest bunch of elderly folks. I hope to have a group of friends like that when I'm a little old person. Jane was also a hoot. I even enjoyed Terry, the head boss of the aquarium, who we don't see much of but when we do see him, he seems like a nice, slightly eccentric guy.
Now, the bad: predictable. Which made it boring because why did it take so freaking long to get to the most predictable ending of all time? The book opens with all of these different, seemingly unrelated characters. I found it difficult to follow the jumping back and forth between the two groups of characters - the ones in California and the ones in Washington.
For those who enjoy the journey, and don't really care about a predictable story, I guess the journey is fine. I found it to be a little long, drawn out and boring, personally. The book takes FOREVER to get going. Was all that back story REALLY necessary? Like almost 50% of the book worth of back story?
I also wish Marcellus the Octopus had more of a presence. I felt like the book was billed as being narrated by an Octopus but I feel like 90% of the book was narrated by humans. I thought it was going to be all about the Octopus when, in fact, it was mostly about humans. I guess most people want to read about humans but I read a lot of stories about humans and have never read one about an Octopus so I was excited by that.
Anyways, I don't think it lived up to the hype but I'm in the minority (as usual) so give it a go if you want a sweet little story about finding family and love when you feel like you've got nobody and nothing.
If you like books with animal narrators, check out Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton. Do yourself the favor of pretending the sequel doesn't exist though - it's not really that good.
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Drug abuse
ukponge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Child death and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
jodean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Child death, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide and Animal death
Minor: Pregnancy
lslobarr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Animal death, Grief, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
tdhuck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Animal death
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Heartwarming • Hopeful • Special
📖 S Y N O P S I S
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
💭 T H O U G H T S
There's no denying Remarkably Bright Creatures was one of the most hyped and beloved releases of 2022. Yet for me, it was the one I was the most uncertain about because animal voices do not often work for me. Despite this, I still knew I'd be picking it up at some point in 2023, and I am so glad that I did.
What an absolutely beautiful story! I fell in love with each of the characters, their stories and how everything intertwined. Shelby Van Pelt does an incredible job in Marcellus' characterization. He is the star of the show. It's no secret that curmudgeons are some of my favourite characters and it's safe to say Marcellus has been added to that list. His dry humour, wisdom, and keen observations about human beings was so unexpected and well done.
Set in the Pacific Northwest, the writing transported me to the small town and made me want to pack a bag to go exploring. Despite suspecting how things would tie together, the pacing kept me interested and the deeply human characterization was a gentle reminder of the importance of connection and friendship. On a deeper level, Tova and Marcellus' unique friendship showcases the power of animals.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those quiet books where not a whole lot happens, yet it was truly special, leaving a lasting impression on my heart and a smile on my face. It is a hug in book format, a gem of a debut. With a little over a month left to go, it's safe to say, it will be making its way onto my end of year favourites list. I will also be eagerly awaiting news of what Shelby Van Pelt is working on next as I will automatically add it to my list.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of heartwarming stories
• anyone who has ever lost someone
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?"
"My death is imminent. But I am not dead yet."
"Some trees aren’t meant to sprout tender new branches, but to stand stoically on the forest floor, silently decaying."
"Being a parent is not for the faint of heart."
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Cancer, Alcohol, Mental illness, Addiction, Drug use, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Drug abuse
partner death, overdose, accident, drowningvickybuka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Cursing
Minor: Pregnancy
vas_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Cancer, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Animal death, and Death