Shelby Van Pelt was working at a tech company in the Pacific Northwest when she started writing fiction. Remarkably Bright Creatures was her debut novel, published in 2022, and it quickly became a New York Times bestseller after being selected for the Today Show’s Read with Jenna book club. The story centers on Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow who works the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living in one of the tanks. Marcellus narrates parts of the novel in his own voice, and he knows more about Tova’s family than she does.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Summary
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt is a heartwarming and poignant debut novel that tells the story of Tova Sullivan, a grieving widow who finds solace and an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the Sowell Bay Aquarium.
The novel explores themes of loss, healing, and the power of unexpected connections, as Tova and Marcellus work together to unravel a decades-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Tova’s son, Erik.
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After the death of her husband, Tova Sullivan starts working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, seeking comfort in the routine and solitude of her job. For over thirty years, Tova has been coping with the pain and uncertainty caused by the mysterious disappearance of her eighteen-year-old son, who vanished on a boat in Puget Sound. While working at the aquarium, Tova forms an extraordinary bond with Marcellus, a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus with a keen sense of observation and intelligence.
Initially resistant to interacting with his human captors, Marcellus becomes captivated by Tova’s kindness and resilience, and the two develop a remarkable friendship. As they grow closer, Marcellus begins to piece together the events that led to Erik’s disappearance, using his exceptional detective skills and understanding of human behavior.
Determined to help Tova find closure, Marcellus embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about that fateful night. He employs every trick in his invertebrate arsenal, navigating through the complexities of the human world and the limitations of his own body.
As Tova and Marcellus delve deeper into the past, they uncover secrets and confront long-buried emotions, ultimately bringing them closer to understanding what happened to Erik and allowing Tova to envision a future she once thought was impossible.
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a touching and evocative novel that showcases the transformative power of friendship, empathy, and the importance of confronting the past in order to embrace the future. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing potential of unexpected connections, offering readers a gentle reminder that sometimes, the answers we seek can be found in the most unlikely of places.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Quotes
Here are some popular quotes from Remarkably Bright Creatures as featured in Goodreads.com:
- “Humans are the only species who subvert truth for their own entertainment. They call them jokes. Sometimes puns.”
- “Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”
- “Why can humans not use their millions of words to simply tell one another what they desire?”
- “Tova knew there was a bottom to those depths of despair. Once your soul was soaked through with grief, any more simply ran off, overflowed, the way maple syrup on Saturday morning pancakes always cascaded onto the table whenever Erik was allowed to pour it on himself.”
- “Tell me again about the intelligence of humans. They cannot even manage to comprehend predictable meteorological events.”
- “Some trees aren’t meant to sprout tender new branches, but to stand stoically on the forest floor, silently decaying.”
- “Secrets are everywhere. Some humans are crammed full of them. How do they not explode? It seems to be a hallmark of the human species: abysmal communication skills.”
- “What do you think I’m trying to do? Not my fault I was dealt a shitty hand.” “No, the deal is never anyone’s fault. But you control the way you play.”
- “The parents will grow old atop this mountain of a family they’ve built, and even if parts of it crumble, from time to time, there will be enough left to support them.”
- “Humans… For the most part you are dull and blundering. But occasionally you can be remarkably bright creatures.”
- “She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.”
- “The Knit-Wits have been her friends for years, and sometimes she still feels as if she’s a mistaken jigsaw piece who found her way into the wrong puzzle.”
- “If I had a clam for every time I heard someone call them [wolf eels] hideous or ugly, I would be a very plump octopus indeed.”
Final thoughts
Van Pelt pulled off something that should not have worked: a novel narrated in part by an octopus that still manages to feel emotionally honest. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a story about grief and loneliness, but it is also about paying attention to the people (and creatures) around you. The sequel, Remarkably Bright Creatures 2, is not yet confirmed, but Van Pelt has hinted at future projects set in the same Pacific Northwest world.
