Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide

Sometimes you read a book that resonates with you so that you feel compelled to recommend that book often. Sometimes you read a book that you know everyone will love. Remarkably Bright Creatures was that book for us. We knew that this book would speak to so many people because of the unique and wonderful story.

We created Remarkably Bright Creatures book club questions along with a review and summary to help with your next book club.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures Review

Remarkably Bright Creatures Summary

Below you will find a brief Remarkably Bright Creatures summary without spoilers.

Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in the fictional town of Sowell Bay in Puget Sound. She loves her night shift and the quiet of the night. She is especially fond of Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18. His death was ruled a suicide although Tova is not convinced that this is true.

Marcellus is a brilliant octopus who has found multiple ways to escape his tank and is also a narrator in the book. He is a loveable, curmudgeon who you cannot help but love. He provides a unique prospective on humans and their behavior.

When Tova hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother and his father. He believes that Simon, a business man is his father.

Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.

Remarkably Bright Creatures Ending Explained (With Spoilers)

Below is the Remarkably Bright Creatures ending explained with spoilers. If you have not read the book, you should consider skipping this section.

Tova is preparing for her move to the retirement home but Marcellus knows the truth about her relationship with Cameron and is determined to make her aware of what he knows. When Cameron discovers that Simon is not his father, he becomes angry and throws away his ring which was his father’s class ring. This ring was Erik’s ring.

Marcellus knows that the ring had belonged to Tova’s son and risks his life to retrieve it for Tova. Tova helps Marcellus escape to the ocean. She also learns that her son’s death was an accident and Cameron is, in fact, her grandson. She decides to stay in her home.

Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions

1. We love Marcellus and his voice throughout the story. Were you surprised that there was an animal narrator in an adult book?
   
2. Do you think you would like Marcellus if he was a person rather than an octopus and does he remind you of any other literary characters?
   
3. Did Marcellus make you change your opinion of Aquariums and Zoos in a positive or negative way?
   
4. How do you feel about keeping intelligent animals like Elephants, Great Apes, and octopuses in captivity?
   
5. Tova is lonely but she chooses to work alone at night. Why do you think she chooses this?
   
6. Cameron, Tova, and Marcellus all experience grief. Do you think this is what connects them to each other or is there more?
   
7. Each of the characters has made major life changes. What major life changes have you had and how have these affected you?
   
8. Tova was thinking about moving into a retirement community. Did you want her to move to stay in her home?
   
9. Did you like the ending of the book?
   
10. What do you think the characters in the book are doing one year after the book is finished?
    
    **Small Spoilers**
    
11. At the end of the book, Tova and Cameron realize how they are truly connected. Did you see this coming?
    

Book Recommendations

If you love our Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club questions, summary, and review, let us know what other books you would love to see for your book club.