Remarkably Bright Creatures is Shelby Van Pelt’s breakout novel, and a delightful work of magical realism. Set on the west coast in the small town of Sowell Bay, the late night shenanigans of the Marcelous, the Giant Pacific octopus held in captivity at the local aquarium, set the stage for a heartfelt tale of grief, loss, friendship and the fundamental need for connection and understanding.

At the heart of the story is Tova, a widow in her 70’s,  who cleans the aquarium part time in the evenings. She lost her son decades ago, and with no other family around, she likes to keep herself busy with work, and the occasional get together with her long-time friends, the “knit wits”. Then there is Marcelous, the octopus held in captivity at the aquarium where she spends most of her evenings cleaning. When she discovers the creature out of its tank one night, her empathy and understanding of his needs and situation spark the beginning of the most remarkable tale of friendship and survival in a world that all to often feels out of our control. 

What makes this novel so special is the first-person perspective of Marcellous. While his thoughts may not get quite as many pages as others, his vivid and wise presence is felt throughout the entire story. For this fantasy mom, his personal perspective was what piqued my interest. Remarkably Bright Creatures may not be an epic fantasy novel, but for anyone who believes in the wonder of the unknown depths of the ocean, this is definitely a book worth your time

The Feels – Grief, Loneliness and The Search for Belonging

While I still consider this a generally light read, the emotions it was able to evoke within me were anything but. Greif and loneliness are strong themes throughout the entire story, but so expertly crafted, sometimes quiet and resigned, and other times it felt raw, angry and near paralyzing. The loss of Tovas son is still shrouded in mysterious circumstances, even 30 years later. Her grief is subtle because it is processed through her ritualized and organized cleaning, at the aquarium and in her personal life; Tova meticulously keeps all aspects of her life as neat and orderly as possible, even down to the planning of her own final days, never wanting to put that burden on anyone who isn’t family.

These themes are not just echoed by the main character Tova, and loneliness in particular is something nearly every character we get to know is struggling with. This loneliness is felt so deeply by characters, but as the reader, we can see that none of them are truly alone and haven’t been for a while. With a little time and perspective, they start to understand that the loneliness they perceive may not actually be their reality, and that the connections they make with others can be monumental in healing and finding our inner peace.

Accompanying the theme of loneliness, is the search for belonging in a world that doesn’t seem to have a clear place, or even path, for you to follow anymore. Camerons story illuminated this emotional journey well, and while many readers found this character to be more obnoxious and whiney then they would like, I believe it was fitting and key to his emotional arc and character development. While Tova and Marcellous may have been the MVPS, Cameron was definitely the MIP - most improved player.

Craft & Delivery – Bringing the Story to Life

I highly enjoyed Shelby Van Pelts writing style and her artistic twist on magical realism. With a rotating 1st person POV, Van Pelt gives us insights into the thoughts of the Marcellous, the highly intelligent octopus held in captivity at the aquarium where Tova works. Through Tova, Marcellous, and Camerons perspective, Van Pelt spins a mysteriously hopeful and happenstance tale that will touch any true believers heart.

The audiobook is narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, who do an incredible job bringing these characters to life. As someone who toggles back and forth between audio, kindle and print, I found Marcellous’s POV to be most enjoyable with the narration of Michael Urie. 

And did I mention Netflix has wrapped up filming on their adaptation? Tova will be played by Sally Field, which I have absolutely no objections to, and Marcellus will continue to be voiced by Michael Urie.

Audience Connection – Will this resonate with you?

One remarkable aspect of this story is how much emotional ground it can cover, through multiple characters, in so few pages. Perhaps this amazement is due to my tendency to lean towards epic fantasies with long character arcs, but Van Pelt created an inspirational story that can resonate across generations, genders, and perhaps even species if given the chance.

It's hard to imagine anyone who hasn’t experienced grief or loneliness is some aspect of their life, and searching for sense of belonging is another common theme to find relatable. What makes this novel such a remarkably brilliant addition to the world of literature is its hopeful dive straight to the heart of humanity, and the unrelenting belief that there is always light to be found within the darkness.

Final Verdict

In between your next epic adventure, take a detour to Sowell Bay and you won’t regret it. If you’re a fantasy lover like me, you know how mysterious the ocean is, and these creatures are just as mystically mysterious. The delightful narration of the intelligent creature will be just enough satisfying your magical curiosity, while the emotional journeys of the main characters will allow you to reflect on your own experiences in connection and healing.

Remarkably Bright Creatures reminds us that the bonds that we form, no matter how unlikely, can anchor us through life, even in the most uncertain and turbulent waters. 

~ The Fantasy Mom