Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a heartwarming read. It is a story of an unlikely friendship between Tova Sullivan, the seventy-year-old cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific Octopus. Marcellus is an exceptionally intelligent creature who can unlock doors and interpret human emotions. Tova is an octopus-whisperer, and she communicates with Marcellus through indigenous methods. Years ago, Tova’s son died under mysterious circumstances, and Marcellus knows of truths that no one else does. How do you bring closure and hope to your best friend when she is a human and you are an invertebrate who cannot speak? The feisty octopus embarks on a mission to achieve the impossible.
The premise of the novel is unique. The point of view of narration varies- it’s mostly in the third person centered around Tova and her gang of friends, fondly known as the ‘knit-wits’, and Cameron, a drifter on a mission. Interspersed between these chapters are first-person point-of-view narrations by Marcellus.
The main issue is the slow pacing. The initial part of the book has two parallel stories- one of Tova’s and the other of Cameron’s and only when their paths intersect does the story pick up. There is a big reveal as well, but it is predictable, and midway, I figured out what it was. Cameron’s character comes across as entitled and tedious, and you want him to grow up. There are also some unnecessary details, and filler chapters prolonging the length. Marcellus is the undisputed star, and I wish there was more of him in the book.
As someone with limited knowledge of marine biology, the book was an eye-opening read. I had no idea that Octopuses were such intelligent creatures. It turns out they can solve puzzles and mazes and extricate themselves out of containers! If you enjoyed the book, I hear there is a Netflix documentary called ‘My Octopus Teacher’ about octopuses.
Overall, the book is ‘feel good’ and interesting, but it could have been crisper. It is super-impressive for a debut novel and is a bestseller. Pippa the Grippa, a new octopus, is brought into Sowell’s later; perhaps there is a sequel in the works!
