A New York Times Bestseller!
A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!
“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.” -- Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here
For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
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"Remarkably Bright Creatures is a spellbinding novel about the unlikely bond formed between a grieving widow and an octopus at the aquarium where she works. The book follows Tova Sullivan as she deals with her husband's death and her son's mysterious disappearance many years prior. To cope with her grief, she takes on a custodial night job at an aquarium, where she forms an unexpected connection with Marcellus, a giant octopus. Through their friendship, Tova finds solace in her dark times and finally starts to move forward. Shelby Van Pelt's writing is remarkable; she easily captures the struggles of both characters while also exploring themes of hope and resilience in difficult circumstances. The combination of Van Pelt's story-telling prowess along with Marin Ireland and Michael Urie's vivid narration makes this title a must-listen for anyone in the mood for a uniquely heartwarming story. Highly recommended and a remarkable debut from this author!"
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Pickleball Queen (5 out of 5 stars)