Remarkably Bright Creatures
DETAILS:
Publisher: Ecco
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 368 pg.
Read Date: April 28-30, 2026
What’s Remarkably Bright Creatures About?
There’s a widow named Tova, who needs to stay busy to keep the losses in her life from overwhelming her, so she works nights cleaning at a local aquarium.
There’s a thirtysomething man, who’s in a band with an old friend (a band that’s going nowhere fast), he has a series of construction jobs that he tends to lose as fast as he gets them. Cameron is directionless to say the best—he becomes convinced that his father is someone who lives in Northern Washington—not too far (but far enough) from Tova and her aquarium. Cameron sets off to meet him.
There’s a wonderful Scottish grocer named Ethan who has a crush on Tova and who helps Cameron out when he comes through town. I don’t want to say too much about him, but he’s really my favorite human character in this book, so if you’re reading this post and haven’t read the book yet—keep your eye on him, he’s just a delight.
Yes, I said favorite human character. Because the main reason to read this book is the giant octopus on the cover. His name is Marcellus. He was rescued by the aquarium some years back (he would say captured, and he can tell you exactly how many days have passed since his capture). We get snippets of his diary (one wholly composed in his head, but whatever) throughout the book. Marcellus is the hero of the book; he’s a large part of the heart of the book (although, the humans contribute a lot to it, too), and he carries most of the humor.
Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?
I came into work one day, and it was waiting on my desk with a note from a coworker. That seemed like a pretty strong recommendation. I’d seen some online buzz about it, and it seemed promising.
Thankfully, that coworker was willing to wait a year or so for me to get to it (and I really only read it when I did, so I had it read before the movie was released).
I stuck with it because it was a charming and sweet story—and how do you not want to keep coming back for Marcellus’ voice? Or anything to do with Marcellus? You come for the sweet and uplifting story, you stay for Marcellus.
What does this book tell us about humanity?
It’s about the need for a sense of connection. Almost every character we meet (I can think of 5 exceptions) is looking for some kind of connection. For some it’s romance, for some it’s family, for some it’s just a good friendship. For some, it’s unknown—but they know it when they find it.
There really are a bunch of lonely people wandering through this book. Some of them realize that’s their problem, not all of them realize it. Some have ideas how to fix it (or how they want to, anyway). But largely, they’re walking open wounds. And in one way or the other, human connection is the fix.
The exceptions I mentioned earlier? They all have strong connections already—it’s not that they wouldn’t welcome more, but they’re not hungry for it. They’ve got their needs met—and can express that into a concern for others and helping them.
A Quick Word About the Movie
I did get this read a couple of weeks before we watched the movie. It’s not the most faithful of adaptations. They rearranged some of the timeline, they combined things, elided scenes, twisted bits—but I think all of it was justifiable given the medium and the time limits. But they captured the heart of the book, and got enough of the details right to satisfy me.
Also, Sally Field was a great Tova, Alfred Molina was perfect as Marcellus, and Colm Meaney is worth watching in anything.
So, what did I think about Remarkably Bright Creatures?
This is such a sweet, heartwarming book. With just enough humor to add a little kick to it.
I’m not sure that I ever had a moment of suspense about any events in the book. Van Pelt telegraphed everything. Not in a bad way, there was next-to-no suspense involved. The only question was how she was going to execute all the plot points you expected. And how much of Marcellus do we get along the way.
On some Facebook group the other day, I saw someone wondering if they should DNF the book because Cameron was so dislikeable. That’s the entire point of Cameron—to be dislikeable, immature, and even self-centered. If that’s not obvious to you within a scene or two of meeting him, I wonder how much you’re paying attention. It’s his involvement with other characters in the book that gets him out of that and puts him on the road to being a decent person. That’s part of that telegraphing I was talking about Van Pelt doing.
The charm about Cameron is watching him stumble through what Tova, Ethan, and others are doing for him. Not enough time elapses in the book for him to grow up—but he’s on the path. (I don’t think this is a spoiler, see above.)
And Tova? Dear, sweet, Tova. From her introduction on, you just want everything to work out for her. Life has not been easy for her, you want her to find some comfort.
A perfect book? No. But one that satisfies on so many levels.
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