Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
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Web ID: 14352368I Wanted More Marcellus...
"Remarkably Bright Creatures" was a slow starter for me. A slow burn is my thing, so call me surprised when, for some reason, I had to listen to some chapters multiple times. I struggled to connect. I enjoyed the character Tova Sullivan, and the best part of this story is her friendship with Marcellus.šIt was extraordinary to see how they found ways to help each other. I was expecting much more of Marcellusšthan I heard.š§ Instead, there were secondary stories that were distracting, and most secondary characters were bizarre and ridiculous. This is where I struggled, and it just made me crave more octopus. More Marcellus.šAnd, even more, Tova.ā¤ļø I listened to the audiobook narrated by Marin Ireland, with Michael Urie as Marcellus's voice. They both did a splendid job of voicing. Listening to an octopus talk in his head was entertaining, and learning facts about them was fun and engaging. Overall, "Remarkable Bright Creatures" was a story I mostly enjoyed! 3.5ā
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Strong writing but plot was okay
A slice-of-life story about a sweet friendship between an aquarium custodian Tova and a Pacific octopus named Marcellus. Shelby Van Pelt has plenty of writing talent, and I can see how this book became a sensation. The parts with Marcellusā POV was quite charming - I wish there was more of it because the octopus part actually is a minor part of the story. The first third of the book starts out pretty strong but it starts to peter out towards the middle because Cameronās POV and story overtakes the narrative, and itās hard to empathize with him because of his excessive self-pity, self-absorption and negativity. Although his character was quite realistic, I didnāt think his story arc was deserved. I also think in this age, I would rather not read about entitled, petulant men who gets plenty of second chances and barely grow up through the course of the story. Aside from the main characters (Marcellus and a few of the aquarium workers like Terry, Tova and Cameron), the minor characters are not very well fleshed out and became a blur (it was hard to care about Tovaās or Cameronās friend groupsā¦). All in all, I thought this was an intriguing concept and makes me want to read up more about octopus - maybe the book that inspired this one, The Soul of an Octopus.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent Read! Highly Recomend!!
Absolutely adored this story! Marcellus was literal perfection and definitely tugged at my heartstrings the entire time. Despite this being wayyyy out of my typical horror/thriller genre, this may be the best book I've read in years. Excuse me while I go research having a pet octopus...
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Remarkably Bright Creatures altered my understanding of an octopus and also about animals in general. What a heart-warming story about a seventy-year-old woman and the choices that life presents. Tova Sullivan, the seventy-year-old woman lives alone in the house that her Swedush father built. Tovaās son and husband are both dead: the son disappeared in the ocean and the husband died from cancer. Tova works part-time as a cleaning lady at a local aquarium. Enter Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, on the gentle slope to his death. An octopus only lives four years, and Marcellus is almost four. The story brings other interesting characters into the discussion: Cameron, Ethan, Terry, and many other minor characters. The story displays the horrors of living alone at the end of life, and the hard choices this presents. Again, friendship and love fight for supremacy. This story reminds me of Sipsworth about the friendship between a mouse and an older woman. Friendship reigns as the beacon against loneliness
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A delightful surprise
Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus, is a keen observer of both human and aquatic life at the aquarium where he as lived for nearly four years. Bored, he learns how to go on short visits to other portions of the facility. Ms. Van Pelt skillfully ties together Tova, a widowed cleaning lady, and Cameron, a bright man prone to poor decisions. Each of the humans is seeking answers to difficult questions. Will Marcellus be able to steer them toward the answers before The Consequences overtake him?
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great book
Such a great book. Tackles sad parts of life, has you cheering for characters you grew to love and crying over brilliantly smart sea creatures. Definitely a re-read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Book
I have wanted to read this book since it came out, and I am so glad I finally read it. I thought it was very well written. I loved the chapters with the Octopus POV and the relationship between him and the main character.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
a STORY OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
Tis the season for a heartwarming story and though Iām late to the game, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt has taken a chill off these gray days. Tova is a 70-year-old widow who cleans after hours at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. One night while mopping the floors, she finds the giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, out of his tank and tangled in power chords in the break room. What she doesnāt know is that Marcellus leaves his tank every night in search of more delectable nourishment than the chopped mackerel the aquarium feeds him. Keeping busy has always been Tovaās antidote for grief. She took the job after her eighteen-year-old son Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat on the Puget Sound thirty years ago. After her husbandās more recent death, she was lonely, despite her well-meaning group of friends the Knit Wits. Marcellus, like all octopi, is a remarkably bright creature ā but he may be unique in his perceptiveness. He senses Tovaās sadness, and he wants to help solve the mystery of her sonās disappearance before his short life (1,461 days to be exact) is over. He is aware of his species short lifespan and counts down the days in his alternating narrative. Cameron, another lost soul, comes to the aquarium in search of a job. He has a history of failed relationships and employment. Abandoned at the age of nine, he was raised by his aunt, and though he has no idea if his mother is alive, he is looking for the father he never knew. Initially, his motives are not pure, but we come to know the brokenness in this young man and understand what he really needs. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES is a story about family and community and how our relationships can fill our emptiest places. Whether those relationships are with the creatures we care for, the families we choose, or the community we engage with, they cast light on the shadows of our life. The story of Marcellus and Tovaās friendship is charming. Marcellus is witty and wise, and his alternating narration lends a touch of magic to the story for which Iām more than happy to suspend disbelief.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com