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alittlebitheather's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm not even sure I have the words to do this book justice (but I'll try anyway). This book will reach into your heart, squeeze it tightly, and not let go. I'm positive I'll be thinking about this for years to come and shoving it into absolutely everyone I know (and some people I don't)'s hands. Shelby Van Pelt has created characters that are wonderfully human and feel like they could step right off the page. Perfect for fans of books like A Man Called Ove, Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those once in a lifetime stories that is sure to leave you wanting to revisit it over and over again - I already wish I could read it again for the first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
booksandbongs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, it felt like a warm hug. The characters were lovable and I found myself rooting for them, and the storyline was engaging throughout. I can see how some people would be deterred by the slow pace, but I enjoyed the slow build up to the conclusion.
This story was charming and uplifting, while still tugging at the heart just a little bit. Cameron was a difficult character to tolerate at first, but I encourage you to stick with him — he gets better at the end.
I loved the three perspectives that we shifted through, with Marcellus being my favorite. I found the authors writing style to be well done, and found myself laughing while tears were still in my eyes.
I loved every moment of this warm and charming book, and will definitely read it again in the future.
Remarkably Bright Creatures goes beyond the Tova-Marcellus relationship and at its core is about loneliness, loss, hope, friendship, family and community. It was such an original and heartwarming concept I won’t forget for a long time.
This story was charming and uplifting, while still tugging at the heart just a little bit. Cameron was a difficult character to tolerate at first, but I encourage you to stick with him — he gets better at the end.
I loved the three perspectives that we shifted through, with Marcellus being my favorite. I found the authors writing style to be well done, and found myself laughing while tears were still in my eyes.
I loved every moment of this warm and charming book, and will definitely read it again in the future.
Remarkably Bright Creatures goes beyond the Tova-Marcellus relationship and at its core is about loneliness, loss, hope, friendship, family and community. It was such an original and heartwarming concept I won’t forget for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Child death, and Death
sjanke2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Animal death, and Child death
machenn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
midnightverde's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I LOVED this book. I was drawn in quickly and fell in love almost instantly with Marcellus and Tova. There was something so real about Tova and how she wanted to work through her grief, literally, by going to work and keeping busy. Grief is different for everyone, and imagining her cleaning an aquarium and befriending an octopus somehow just made sense. Cameron, the mystery of his father, his struggles growing up with his Aunt Jeanne and feeling abandoned by his mother added so much richness to the story as I wondered about his backstory. The way the details are revealed is exquisite and I have already recommended my mom read it—and she’s not into reading, lol, so that’s my highest praise.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, Cancer, Child death, and Drug abuse
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The best way I can describe this book is the feeling you get when you are hugging a friend but it's a bittersweet hug because the two of you are sad yet thankful that this exists. I'm glad to have been given the chance to read this book because everyone that was intertwined played a role in Tova's life in ways I didn't think possible. Characters who are older than 60 need more stories being told about them because your life doesn't stop when you reach your 30's 40's or 50's. I like the play on the title as it relates to both humans and Marcellus. Speaking of which, I wanted more of Marcellus !
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness and Suicide attempt
lit_with_lauren's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
A charmingly original debut with a Fredrik Backman vibe! Tova is an older woman who has lost her share of loved ones and, sometimes to her friends' dismay, copes by staying busy and applying Scandinavian stoicism. While staying busy at her cleaning job at the aquarium, she makes an unexpected friend — a surprisingly deft, gently humorous giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Observing what others may not, Marcellus unlocks the mysteries of the past and opens the possibilities of the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cancer, Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood, Addiction, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
shantastic_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This wonderful book weaves together the lives of three very different people whose paths cross in a Pacific Northwest oceanside town. Tova is a spry elderly widow who silently struggles with the loss of her son, who disappeared without a trace decades earlier. She occupies her time (and her mind) working as a custodian in her hometown's small aquarium, where she befriends Marcellus, one of its inhabitants (or captives, depending on your point of view). Marcellus is a Giant Pacific Octopus who was rescued and rehabilitated, now forced to live out his remaining days in a tank that is woefully unstimulating for someone of his intelligence. He occupies his time (and his mind) sneaking out of his tank at night to search for food and treasures, which he secrets within the rocks of his tank. Both Marcellus and Tova meet Cameron when he comes to work at the aquarium, hired partly to fill in for Tova after she is consigned to take time off for an injury. Cameron is a young man who recently came to town from California, where he was raised by his great aunt after his mother left him when he was nine years old. He occupies his time (and his mind) with his quest to locate the man he believes is his father.
The occupations of all three converge in unexpected and poignant ways. The narration is creatively structured - third person point of view for all except Marcellus, who is in first person, and so we are treated to his amusing and poignant perspective and wisdom. Marcellus possesses knowledge that other characters do not. We as readers become privy to this information, and we get to watch, much like Marcellus in his tank, the other characters carry on toward and away from truths that they themselves cannot discern. I really enjoyed this clever aspect of the narrative, how it created tension as we as readers are now left to wonder if and how the characters will find the answers they seek.
I loved the writing style. The prose is clear and straightforward while also being witty, humorous, engaging, and moving. Not overly wordy, not overly explanatory, and makes for a well-balanced pace. It's its own unique style, but gave me Barbara Kingsolver, Fredrik Backman, and Kira Jane Buxton vibes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures hits shelves on May 3, 2022. I am grateful to have received a downloadable review copy via Edelweiss+ from the publisher Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins.
The occupations of all three converge in unexpected and poignant ways. The narration is creatively structured - third person point of view for all except Marcellus, who is in first person, and so we are treated to his amusing and poignant perspective and wisdom. Marcellus possesses knowledge that other characters do not. We as readers become privy to this information, and we get to watch, much like Marcellus in his tank, the other characters carry on toward and away from truths that they themselves cannot discern. I really enjoyed this clever aspect of the narrative, how it created tension as we as readers are now left to wonder if and how the characters will find the answers they seek.
I loved the writing style. The prose is clear and straightforward while also being witty, humorous, engaging, and moving. Not overly wordy, not overly explanatory, and makes for a well-balanced pace. It's its own unique style, but gave me Barbara Kingsolver, Fredrik Backman, and Kira Jane Buxton vibes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures hits shelves on May 3, 2022. I am grateful to have received a downloadable review copy via Edelweiss+ from the publisher Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Child death
Minor: Cancer and Death
kkalicky94's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Child death, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt and Animal death
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