Remarkably Bright Creatures Summary and Review
In this post, you will find a Remarkable Bright Creatures summary and review with a character guide and an explanation of the ending. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a contemporary fiction book told in both the third person and the first person from the point of view of Marcellus the octopus
As soon as I started this book, I knew it was going to be a book I would be talking about for years to come. I wanted to make sure that I did not miss any details so I took notes on the plot and themes. I wanted to be able to provide you with a thorough summary and review.
If you are thinking about picking this book for your next book club, you can check out my post Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide to help you out. This is such an easy-to-read and feel-good book that is perfect for anyone aged 12 and up. While it does deal with some heavier themes, the overall feel of the book will leave you smiling!
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, a giant Pacific octopus. She finds comfort 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. He is also the narrator of the book. He is a perceptive curmudgeon who you cannot help but love. He provides a unique perspective 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 struggles with the fact that his mother abandoned him. He believes that Simon, a businessman 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. Scroll below to see the ending of the book explained.
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Remarkably Bright Creatures Review
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 12+
Plot
I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for 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.
But when she 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.
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.
I will be shoving this book into the hands of everyone who asks for a book recommendation because it’s my favorite book of 2022
Why Jackie loves it
This book has more heart than any book I have read in a long time. The unique perspective of a grumpy octopus may seem silly, but is brilliantly done and adds a unique perspective.
Why Kirsten loves it
The themes in this book, the plot, and the characters- especially Marcellus- really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved that Marcellus added some laughter and made me smile. I recently gave this book to my son and he adored it as much as I did.
Find this book in: Best Audiobooks of 2022 / Family Drama Books / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Books / Contemporary Fiction Books / Best Book Club Books
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.
Spoilers for the ending of Remakably Bright Creatures
Tova is preparing for her move into 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 once belonged to Tova’s son and risks his life to retrieve it for Tova. When Tova finds the ring on the ground, she puts all the pieces together. The ring was Erik’s class ring and he is Cameron’s father. This means Tova is Cameron’s grandmother.
Tova helps Marcellus escape to the ocean by putting him into a yellow cleaning bucket and wheeling him to the ocean. In that moment, she decides to stay in her home not retire. She wants to ensure that the new octopus has the appropriate stimulation to keep her healthy. Tova walks down to the pier where she meets Avery. After a short conversation, Tova realizes that there was an accident and Erik was hit by the boom and killed. He did not commit suicide.
Themes in Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Self-Sacrifice
- Loneliness
- Societal expectations for older individuals
- Self-discovery
- Loss of a loved one/ grief
- Second Chances
Character Guide for Remarkably Bright Creatures
Main Characters
- Marcellus: Marcellus is an octopus whose narration provides not only a unique insight into his captivity but also a unique view of the humans with whom he interacts
- Tova Sullivan: A widow who works the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She is a cleaner who has a unique relationship with Marcellus
- Cameron Cassmore: A young man who is looking for his father. He takes over Tova’s job as the night cleaner
- Erik: Tova’s late son who died under mysterious circumstances. Police say it was suicide but Tova does not believe this is true. Although not a part of the story, his character is central to the plot and themes
Supporting Characters
- Ethan Mack: Tova’s friend and owner of the hardware store
- The Knit-Wits: Tova’s close friends (Marry-Ann, Janice, and Barb)
- Terry: Director of the aquarium
- Avery: Cameron’s girlfriend
More Characters (spoilers)
Cameron
At the end of the book, Tova discovers that Cameron is her grandson
Daphne Cassmore
Cameron’s mom and Erik’s girlfriend
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What to Read After Remarkably Bright Creatures: Book Recommendations
Expert Tip
Consider choosing Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt for your next book club. There is so much to talk about and the themes are thought-provoking as well. Check out my post Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide for everything you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the trigger warnings for Remarkably Bright Creatures?
While we think that this is a wonderful book appropriate for ages 12 and up, the following are addressed and/or mentioned in the book and may be trigger warnings for some people:
Grief
Child Death
Abandonment
Drug abuse
Suicide
Is Remarkably Bright Creatures Worth Reading
Absolutely! This book is unique, thought-provoking, and wonderful.
What actually happened to Erik?
This is a spoiler for the ending that you can find in my post. The police say Erik committed suicide but Tova does not believe it.
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Epilogue
Was this post with The Remarkably Bright Creatures summary helpful? What was your favorite part of the book? I have never read an adult book with an animal narrator and it captivated me from line one.
