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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt

Start date: November 28, 2024

Finish date: December 16, 2024

Why we're reading this: Remarkably Bright Creatures is South Side Book Discussion's December selection!! This book club will be h…more
[close] Remarkably Bright Creatures is South Side Book Discussion's December selection!! This book club will be held in person at South Side Library on Thursday, 12/16 at 2:00 PM.. Visit our website or call 515-283-4152 for more details.

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Aug 23, 2022 Andy rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-not-great, animals, best-audiobook-narrations

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a high concept family drama that’s a tad predictable and a bit too convenient. It’s the type of novel I will read – usually because it’s the book du jour – and then roll my eyes at the stock characters and manufactured low-stakes drama while slogging through.

Yet, I was charmed throughout Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel for one simple reason: Marcellus, the octopus.

Taking well-worn tropes – small-town living, lonely widower, failure-to-launch thirtysomething – and “Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a high concept family drama that’s a tad predictable and a bit too convenient. It’s the type of novel I will read – usually because it’s the book du jour – and then roll my eyes at the stock characters and manufactured low-stakes drama while slogging through.

Yet, I was charmed throughout Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel for one simple reason: Marcellus, the octopus.

Taking well-worn tropes – small-town living, lonely widower, failure-to-launch thirtysomething – and pairing them with the musings of an observant and sarcastic giant Pacific octopus, proved to be a winning formula. However, without his frequent (and brief) interstitials throughout the story, this would’ve been a still entertaining but rather forgettable effort.

Seventy-year-old Tova is a likable lead character that I found more relatable than anticipated. A chance encounter with Marcellus creates a bond between the two that helps Tova answer a 30-year mystery involving the death of her son. Yes, the octopus helps solve a mystery. I know it sounds ridiculous, but Van Pelt sells it.

Some of it - basically any plot involving Cameron - made the story feel long and basic, but Van Pelt always found her way back to Tova and Marcellus. Their wishes for a legacy were poignant and meaningful, and the way the author connected the two together for a happy ending brought a few tears to my eyes.

This isn’t a life-changing story, and it’s far from the best novel I’ve read in 2022, but it made me laugh, it made me think and it made me cry. What more can you ask for from a talking octopus and his septuagenarian compatriot?

I had high hopes for the audiobook and it mostly delivered. Marin Ireland, one of my narrator all-stars, let me down a bit here. She was fantastic as Tova and Ethan, the Scottish town gossip and grocery story owner, but all her other characters – especially Cameron – felt stale. Still, her okay narration is better than most. Hey, even Michael Jordan had bad games!

Michael Urie brought an aristocratic flair that was perfectly fitting of Marcellus. Many readers will know Urie for his roles on “Ugly Betty” and “Younger,” and his trademark rapid-fire sneering paired with sincere empathy was used to great effect here. It was a delight having him bring Marcellus’ journey to life, and I’d eagerly listen to another of his narrations again soon. ...more

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Aug 09, 2023 Courtney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-with-jenna

Smart cookie.
I am smart, but I am not a snack object dispensed from a packaged food machine.
What a preposterous thing to say.

Marcellus might be one of my favorite literary characters. This book felt like a hug and I loved it. Tova and Cameron and Ethan and Cat are all wonderful and I truly enjoyed this story. I feel like there are a lot of books trying to be the next "A Man Called Ove" and this might actually come close.

After a deep breath, she goes on. "We must say goodbye, friend. But I'm gla ...more

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