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A review by jhbandcats
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
This book is full of warmth and love from beginning to end. It was such a comforting read. Normally I read books that are dark or violent, and this was so refreshing. (I’m going back to my disturbing books in just a moment; I just want to extol the virtues of this one first.)
I loved the cranky octopus Marcellus, a prisoner in a small glass cell for most of his life. He has a lot to be cranky about: he’s smarter than the other sea creatures in the aquarium so he has no one to keep him company. Plus, he’s *definitely* smarter than the humans who stroll by every day, peering in and leaving their fingerprints smeared all over his tank.
He’s figured out how to escape his tank and wander around after hours, and he befriends a clever widow when she rescues him from an adventure gone wrong. The bond between these two is the backbone of the book (even though octopuses don’t have backbones). However, it’s the bonds between the denizens and newcomers of the small town that drive the narrative.
Lovable, flawed characters, a couple of mysteries, and an exploration of human nature combine to make this book a Remarkable Creature in and of itself.
I loved the cranky octopus Marcellus, a prisoner in a small glass cell for most of his life. He has a lot to be cranky about: he’s smarter than the other sea creatures in the aquarium so he has no one to keep him company. Plus, he’s *definitely* smarter than the humans who stroll by every day, peering in and leaving their fingerprints smeared all over his tank.
He’s figured out how to escape his tank and wander around after hours, and he befriends a clever widow when she rescues him from an adventure gone wrong. The bond between these two is the backbone of the book (even though octopuses don’t have backbones). However, it’s the bonds between the denizens and newcomers of the small town that drive the narrative.
Lovable, flawed characters, a couple of mysteries, and an exploration of human nature combine to make this book a Remarkable Creature in and of itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Child death, Grief, Addiction, Animal death, and Confinement