But then her behavior turns bizarre; she stops eating and begins to self mutilate, tearing off her skin or even eating her own arms. She’s dead before the eggs can hatch”.

This is a NOT TO BE MISSED delightful DEBUT that had me joyfully humming that Beatles tune for days after finishing ! AVAILABLE NOW!

The setting of Puget sound is described in all of it’s splendor, I could easily picture the glistening blue waters and almost smell the salt in the air!

I realize that I like more edge, which I thought I would get, of course, with an octopus as a main character. The deal is, it’s realistic fiction with a dab of magical realism. It sort of reminds me of Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here, which I loved. In Wilson’s book, we have a realistic story line, but it also happens to have kids who explode. Here, we also have a realistic story line, but it’s an octopus that’s the weird part. Marcellus reminds me a little of cool Charlotte the spider in the kids’ book, Charlotte's Web. Oh, the realistic story is well done, don’t get me wrong. I loved both Tova and Cameron—both sympathetic and well-drawn. The writing is good. The plot is interesting and fast moving, but there is one huge coincidence that you have to buy into. I overlooked that the situation was unlikely because I liked the book so much. Also, the ending is a little too tight for my liking, but then again, it’s heartwarming. Who doesn’t want a feel-good ending these days?

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Given the current state of the world, one needs a charming story that tugs at the heart yet is uplifting. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” is the perfect novel that will take your mind away from current politics and an unsettled world. Plus, an octopus is one of the main characters! Who doesn’t love a good cephalopod story? For those who are familiar with octopuses and their clever antics, you enjoy this story. 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. Do you think Tova’s loneliness and her eventual connection with different individuals, both human and non-human, provide insight into the human need for companionship on a regular basis? And in what ways does the novel explore this theme through Tova’s character arc?

Dive into the extraordinary depths of friendship, redemption, and the power of hope with “Remarkably Bright Creatures”! In this captivating debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt, we embark on a heartwarming journey alongside Tova Sullivan, a widow seeking solace in the late-night solitude of Sowell Bay Aquarium.The relationship between Tova and Marcellus, the octopus, is an intriguing element of the book. Their interactions give readers a glimpse into the possibility of communication and understanding between species. Despite their different forms of existence, they find a common ground that leads to a bond strong enough for Marcellus to risk his life to reveal a family connection to Tova. Cameron is a young man who has come to town looking for the father he never knew. His mother left when he was young and he was raised by his aunt. BOOKQUOTE.NET works with the purpose: "Promoting a reading culture, building and developing reading habits, helping people realize the benefits and importance of reading". From there spread knowledge to the whole society. When an unlikely friendship develops between Tova and Marcellus, we learn from the fresh perspective of a tale told by an octopus that her mother's intuition was right and that there was more to the police report of her greatest tragedy.