the next good book

Remarkably Bright Creatures

By Shelby Van Pelt

9/10
(9/10)

355 pages

What’s it about?

Tova is a widow who occupies her time by cleaning at the local aquarium in the evenings. She tries to keep busy in order to not dwell on the losses in her life- her son drowned at 18-years-old and she lost her husband 5 years ago.  Even her friend group has slowly dwindled over the years.  When she becomes friendly with an aging Pacific octopus named Marcellus the story takes a whole new turn.

What did it make me think about?

Loneliness, family, aging and the power of relationships.

Should I read it?

So about once a year I read a feel good story that I would love to share with most of the people I know.  So far this book is my “2022 feel good book of the year”.  It is a sweet, thoughtful story that will keep you entertained.  Who doesn’t love a book that keeps you rooting for the characters?  “Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a super easy book to read- but like many other sweet stories it has some truths to ponder.  I would recommend this to almost any fiction reader.   I am sure at the end of 2022 it will make my list of best gift ideas.

Quote-

“Tova lowers into a chair near the end of the table, picturing the menagerie of porcelain figurines and polished crosses that have always lived on the shelf over Mary Ann’s kitchen sink wrapped in tissue and loaded into a cardboard box, where they’ll likely stay for years until some unfortunate younger family member happens upon them and must decide how to get rid of them.”

What’s it about?

Tova is a widow who occupies her time by cleaning at the local aquarium in the evenings. She tries to keep busy in order to not dwell on the losses in her life- her son drowned at 18-years-old and she lost her husband 5 years ago.  Even her friend group has slowly dwindled over the years.  When she becomes friendly with an aging Pacific octopus named Marcellus the story takes a whole new turn.

What did it make me think about?

Loneliness, family, aging and the power of relationships.

Should I read it?

So about once a year I read a feel good story that I would love to share with most of the people I know.  So far this book is my “2022 feel good book of the year”.  It is a sweet, thoughtful story that will keep you entertained.  Who doesn’t love a book that keeps you rooting for the characters?  “Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a super easy book to read- but like many other sweet stories it has some truths to ponder.  I would recommend this to almost any fiction reader.   I am sure at the end of 2022 it will make my list of best gift ideas.

Quote-

“Tova lowers into a chair near the end of the table, picturing the menagerie of porcelain figurines and polished crosses that have always lived on the shelf over Mary Ann’s kitchen sink wrapped in tissue and loaded into a cardboard box, where they’ll likely stay for years until some unfortunate younger family member happens upon them and must decide how to get rid of them.”

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