Supriya's Banter
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Language: English
Paperback: 368 pages
Listening Length: 11 hours and 16 minutes
Narrator: Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
I picked up the book after reading a stellar review by a friend. A tale about an octopus who is as much an escape artist as he is an eagle-eyed sleuth and even a philosopher to boot seemed intriguing.
And after spending ten-plus hours with this deep-thinking shape-shifter octopus, I am happy to say I am not disappointed.
Remarkably, Bright Creatures feels exactly like the home Marcellus, the perceptive eight-armed sage, inhabited before he was rescued and held captive in a public aquarium.
Like a deep-sea dive—the story is mysterious, beautiful, and full of surprises, revealing its bright colours now and then.
Seventy-year-old Tova Sullivan carries grief like armour. The lonely widow has not come to terms with the unexpected loss of her eighteen-year-old son years ago. With the recent loss of her husband, she finds herself lonelier than ever. Though she has a group of friends, well-wishers and even a soft-spoken, rock-aficionado admirer, Tova takes pride in keeping her miseries locked up in her heart.
To keep busy and having something to do is her way to cope with her unmitigated grief, and she does it by cleaning the local aquarium at night. An unusual, hasty rescue mission leads her to Marcellus—a grumpy yet wildly intelligent octopus with a talent for escape and a keen eye for human sorrow. Marcellus has seen it all from his tank, and he’s about to change everything for Tova.
The story unfolds in a sleepy Washington coastal town, a place where everyone knows everyone (and their business). The rest of the cast and the subplots give enough diversion and depth to the story, but all these threads, one by one, neatly come together in the end. The setting feels like a place you know and have visited. The local gossip and the habit of everyone getting into everyone’s business add chuckles. It, of course, would seem relatable to anyone who has ever lived in a small town.
The story arc and the plotline are tender without being sappy. Marcellus’s perspective—is a total delight. I found myself looking forward to these chapters. His dry wit and sharp observations are a treat. Sample this—
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?
Marcellus, with his eight slimy tentacles, steals the show. But Tova’s quiet resilience provides just the background for him to shine through.
You need to suspend some disbelief when Marcellus works out an incredibly tangled mystery before the bipedal, apparently brainy counterparts. But if you have grown on a steady diet of Bollywood movies like me, it wouldn’t be a problem.
I enjoyed the narration by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie. The characters, especially Marcellus and Tova, sound exactly like you’d expect. The gentle drone of a clever, moody octopus who finds captivity boring and an insult to his intelligence is an absolute joy to hear.
Heartwarming, magical, and remarkably bright!
A Heartfelt, Tentacle-Touched Tale.
Can’t recommend more.
