Remarkably Bright Creatures
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, 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 body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late... Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
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What you might want to know about Remarkably Bright Creatures
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Tova Sullivan is a widow in her seventies who cleans the Sowell Bay Aquarium after hours. Marcellus, the captive Pacific octopus, has figured out he is dying and decides to help her find what she lost.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is fictional, but Shelby Van Pelt drew on real research about giant Pacific octopuses, including their intelligence, problem-solving, and behavior in aquariums. The octopus character Marcellus reflects documented capabilities of the species.
Remarkably Bright Creatures was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee. It was also a Read with Jenna book club pick on the Today Show, which contributed to its bestseller status.
A film adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures has been announced, with Sally Field attached to play Tova. The project is in development and has no confirmed release date.
Remarkably Bright Creatures alternates between human characters and chapters narrated by Marcellus, the octopus. The voice is gentle and observational, with a mystery threaded through quiet daily life. It is widely recommended as cozy literary fiction.
Remarkably Bright Creatures was written by Shelby Van Pelt, published in 2022 by Ecco.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is 368 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Remarkably Bright Creatures takes most readers 6 to 8 hours to finish.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a standalone novel by Shelby Van Pelt, not part of a series.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.