Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is one of those stories that lived up to the hype and more. A truly fantastic read.
Some books have the ‘hit’ factor. While there are plenty of fantastic books published each year, only a select few reach that huge bestseller tier. In the past few years, the most popular reads were stories like Lessons in Chemistry, The Women, and of course, Remarkably Bright Creatures.
This novel is constantly on the New York Times Bestseller’s list, and each day, a new reader picks up the book. Its lasting success is truly a publishing dream. And while some books with huge buzz and popularity might not deserve the crown, Remarkably Bright Creatures certainly does.
What’s interesting is that the novel is such a quiet story, yet it also dives deep into grief, resilience, loneliness, aging, and even a fresh start. The protagonist, Tova Sullivan, is one of the most vivid characters I’ve read in some time. Her kindness and strength, especially after dealing with personal losses, were admirable.
Of course, there’s also a big plotline of her connection with a giant Pacific octopus, which obviously makes this story stand out even more. Where the octopus even helps Tova might find happiness again. But while it sounds so outlandish, it really works so well, more so than I expected.
What’s the Story About
After her husband passed away, 70-year-old Tova spends her nights cleaning the floors at her local aquarium in a small town in Washington. She keeps busy to avoid thinking about the unimaginable loss of her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, who mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
During her nights alone at the museum, Tova eventually strikes up a friendship in the most unlikely place, with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus is an extremely intelligent octopus that is one step ahead of the humans, but he grows fond of Tova. He even puts the pieces together to find out what happened to Erik.
He’s short on time and must find a way for Tova to learn the truth.
Tova’s Journey
Tova is a Swedish immigrant who lived a lovely life with her husband and Erik, until her son went missing. While the police concluded Erik’s disappearance was a suicide, Tova was never convinced it was, and she has spent the past 30 years wondering what really happened that day.
Tova and her husband tried to pick up the pieces of their lives, but everything was changed forever, and a cloud of grief followed them wherever they went. Years passed, and her husband developed cancer and eventually passed away from it, leaving Tova on her own.
We don’t often get the perspective of someone in their 70s. Most books have their main characters range between the 20s to the 50s. So I found it refreshing to read Tova’s perspective on this crossroads era of her life, and what her next step should be.
And of course, her friendship with Marcellus is quite amazing, and yet, it completely makes sense. I think it shows Tova’s compassion and, in a sense, a no-nonsense attitude. Marcellus is extremely smart, as he figured out how to escape from his tank each night, but moreover, he appears to truly listen to her. And for the first time since Erik’s passing, she has someone to talk to who will actually listen.
Grief, Loneliness, and Hope
The big themes of this novel are about the experience of a great loss and the aftermath. We all experience loss at some point, and society seems to want people to grieve in silence and also get over it quickly. Many people have a hard time talking about how grief also instills a constant loneliness, a hole that can’t be filled.
But yet, as Remarkably Bright Creatures displays, it is completely okay to keep moving forward. And sometimes there are still big surprises to be found, even at age 70. I found this to be incredibly moving, and the way the author, Shelby Van Pelt, writes this narrative, giving Tova a new opportunity for happiness, was quite beautiful.
Yes, there are heavy topics covered, and it’s handled with care. But it’s also very hopeful in the end.
Verdict
If you haven’t read Remarkably Bright Creatures yet, I highly recommend you move it to the top of your list. This is a poignant and lovely story about moving forward and second chances. A great book club read with much to discuss and analyze.
For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.
