Remarkably Bright Creatures

by Shelby Van Felt

Remarkably Bright Creatures brings together characters who are searching, who are in pain, who are living out their lives the best way they know how. Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus. He was rescued and now is spending the rest of his “sentence” at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. He knows that he has a lifespan of four years. Being a highly intelligent creature, he is doing a backwards countdown on his days and realizes there are not many left. Also ending the close of her life, with less precision, is Tova, the extremely competent 70 year old janitor at the Aquarium. She enjoys her job, and it keeps her busy. Her husband and son have both passed away—a fact which is daily present with her as she moves through time with sadness.

When Tova’s estranged brother passes away, she is forced to think about how she will end her days without anyone to care for her. Meanwhile she does have people in her life who love her, especially a group of friends called the Knit-Wits and the grocery store/deli owner Ethan who has a big heart.

Cameron is a young man who has an uncanny ability to regurgitate random facts but has never quite found his place in the world and considers himself a failure at everything he does. He was raised by his Aunt Jeanne after being dropped off by his mother. He never even knew who his father is. At the end of his relationship and financial ropes, he finds a high school class ring and goes off in search of his father. His journey takes him to the town where Tova works.

There are many clues that rise to the surface, some provided by Marcellus who really is a “remarkably bright creature.” He and Tova develop a relationship after she realizes that he gets out of his tank most nights. He recognizes her sadness and finds ways to communicate with her and help her. Although one clue sends the reader on the path of discovery, it takes several more before the actual mystery of various relationships is revealed. Tova did not know her son as well as she thought she did. Other characters have issues they have to come to grips with also. I  like the way the author explores the depths of character of the people and animals that populate this book. Remarkably Bright Creatures handles well its themes of family, love, grief, and overcoming your past rather than letting your past determine your future. 

Rating: 5/5

Category: Fiction

Notes: Contains swearing

Publication:  May 3, 2022—Ecco

Memorable Lines:

Terry’s small daughter chose my name. Marcellus McSquiddles, in full. Yes, it is a preposterous name. It leads many humans to assume I am a squid, which is an insult of the worst sort.

The Knit-Wits have been her friends for years, and sometimes she still feels as if she’s a mistaken jigsaw piece who found her way into the wrong puzzle.

Every few seconds, with a loud whoosh, a burst of wind smacks him in the side of the head as another semi truck hurls down the freeway, like a parade of oversized beetles, mocking him with their menacing grilles as he stands on the shoulder in front of the camper’s popped hood.