Remarkably Bright Creatures” delves deeply into the concept of family, both by blood and by choice, as seen through the evolving relationships between Tova, Cameron, and Ethan. Tova, dealing with her unresolved grief, finds unexpected familial bonds in her growing friendship with Ethan and her newfound connection with Cameron. Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.” Truly original and touching, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a story of family, community, and optimism in spite of darkness. Prepare to fall in love with a most exceptional octopus.” Marcellus McSquiddles, a giant Pacific octopus who is held in Sowell Bay Aquarium (and a bit of a curmudgeon) begins the story narrating his life in captivity. He has a special relationship with the nightly cleaner, Tova Sullivan. Tova is a widower whose eighteen-year-old son went missing over thirty years ago, and she still feels the loss daily. Tova is an excellent cleaner who takes her job seriously. She’s seventy years old and is on the verge of retiring. Yet she loves all her exhibits of sea life.

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Three wonderful characters and one giant octopus. Tova. Cameron, Ethan, and Marcellus. All searching for something and as I listened I so wanted them to succeed. If the wily Marcellus has his way, Tova will get hers. I should mention that one learns a bit about the lives of giant octopi and how Marcellus came to live in a tank in a aquarium. There have been lots of books between dogs and cats forming impressive bonds with humans. But this is the first that involves an octopus and a human. Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus. And he’s nearing the end of his expected life span. Tova is the seventy year old woman that cleans the aquarium where Marcellus is a prisoner, as he sees it. She’s a widow and her 18 year old son went missing decades earlier. The Lincoln Highway: In 1950s America, Emmett Watson is released from a work farm after a year in prison. With his family gone and the farm lost, his journey west takes an unexpected turn when two friends join him. A gripping tale of hope and redemption unfolds in just ten days. While fanciful, this story still had me engaged throughout. The novel is nicely paced and I was never bored.This is s love story, but not the kind you expect considering my heading. It’s about love, lose, friendship, and second chances. But most of all it’s about hope and destiny.

Bonus: You’ll learn a lot of fun facts to know and tell about octopuses. 5. LIZ Review Remarkably Bright Creatures

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Tova can’t just sit home at night. Evening is the most difficult time for the widow who recently lost her husband of 47 years, and has no surviving children after losing her only son Erik, when he was just 18. So, she decides to “train” the new guy, Cameron Cassmore, who will be temporarily cleaning the Aquarium while she recovers. She has no living family and keeps to herself, except for occasional meetings with three women her own age, the Knit-Wits. One of the women can no longer cope with some household tasks and is moving away to live with her daughter. This makes Tova realize that this would not be an alternative for her without any living family members. While growing older, she plans to sell her house, get rid of years of belongings, and move into an upscale senior-care facility.

This must be my Year of the Octopus. After watching and loving My Octopus Teacher on Netflix, I’m more than a little obsessed with these amazing, intelligent creatures. This is my second book featuring octopuses (no, it’s not octopi), in as many months.Note: Above are quotes and excerpts from the book “Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt”. If you find it interesting and useful, don’t forget to buy paper books to support the Author and Publisher! In addition to the humans, there was the most original and wonderful POV; the bright octopus. It was a delight to read those chapters. I actually cried after reading about the last thing he did for Tova and she for him. How many authors are able to make you cry because of an octopus?