Tova is at the age of retirement but enjoys her nighttime work which keeps her busy and helps her cope. Tova Sullivan works as a cleaning lady in the Sowell Bay Aquarium, Washington. The writing is clear, without many highbrow references (the obvious Shakespeare here and there, which at this is just a cliché), making the novel a fast and engrossing read. While I did not find this book as profound as others, I did think it was worth reading. As a reader, moving the story along is much appreciated. That, however, is not really the point of the book anyway and the “mystery” is just used as a plot device to move the story forward. There’s an element of mystery, but as I mentioned earlier it’s evident what the outcome is going to be. Tova’s grief, her group of friends who are supportive to the point of being overbearing, and even finding happiness late in life. Van Pelt packed so many themes into Remarkably Bright Creatures. It is one of those deceptively simple books, which, upon further inspection, can have layers of unexpected profoundness. The characters are funny and lovable (to my surprise, even Marcellus McSquiddles the octopus). This was a smart, hopeful novel, well written, a cute story with an optimistic, yet predictable, ending.

My wife bought this book, I had no intentions of reading it because it simply didn’t sound like something I’d enjoy – an octopus as a character, really? However, upon her recommendation I read and, as often happens, she was right and I found myself really liking the story, and not just because one of the character’s favorite whiskey is the same as mine. My rating for Remarkably Bright Creatures - 5īuy Remarkably Bright Creatures from *

Van Pelt grew up in the Pacific Northwest, this is her debut novel. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a charming novel telling of a friendship between an elderly widow and a giant Pacific octopus.

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