Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Read with Jenna Pick

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I loved this story, the people, Marcellus, and gray Cat. The audiobook narration could not be better. Marin Ireland does her usual wonderful job while Michael Urie IS Marcellus. He's now a new favorite narrator of mine. I avoid animal stories because I usually can't handle things happening to animals but this is a story about giving life to both animals and humans and that giving makes future loss bearable. Even if we can't keep something forever, we don't want to miss the chance of the time we can spend with those we can love and cherish.

Humans… For the most part you are dull and blundering. But occasionally you can be remarkably bright creatures.” The writing style is similarly unremarkable. It is built from three POVs, one of which belongs to an octopus (great!), one to an unremarkable old lady (less great) and one to an absolutely insufferable, whiny man-child who talks in the kind of overly colloquial writing style ("bicep day's been lit at the gym lately") that I really cannot stand (definitely not great). A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. One of the central narrative threads of the book involves the mystery surrounding Erik’s death. It was ruled a suicide, but Tova never believed this to be true. The uncovering of the truth about Erik’s death and its impact on Tova’s life forms a crucial part of the narrative. Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”BOOKQUOTE.NET works with the purpose: "Promoting a reading culture, building and developing reading habits, helping people realize the benefits and importance of reading". From there spread knowledge to the whole society.

Are you looking for a story that leaves you with a good feeling? You need Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This book has had a lot of positive buzz and I thought the beach was the perfect place to read it. This story is about Tova, a recent widow, who mourns the loss of her son and the future he’ll never have. There’s Cameron – a young man who started life at a disadvantage with a missing father and an addicted mother and can’t seem to get outof his own way. Only Marcellus (full name – Marcellus McSquiddles) a Giant Pacific Octopus 🐙 knows the connection between them and is determined to show them before his time is up. This book is about grief and family in whatever form it takes. The ending is wonderful as well as the journey to get there. (You’ll yell at Cameron a couple of times) Several lonely people come together in this book, a couple of them helped by an octopus named Marcellus who lives in the local aquarium. Tova has always felt more than a bit of empathy for the sharks, with their never-ending laps around the tank. She understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.” The relationship between Tova and Marcellus, the octopus, is an intriguing element of the book. Their interactions give readers a glimpse into the possibility of communication and understanding between species. Despite their different forms of existence, they find a common ground that leads to a bond strong enough for Marcellus to risk his life to reveal a family connection to Tova. The Midnight Library: Nora Seed discovers a magical library filled with endless books, each containing an alternative life she could have lived. As she contemplates her regrets, she embarks on a journey to uncover the essence of a truly fulfilling existence.The chapters alternate between these three characters, and while I enjoyed all three, I wanted more of Marcellus. He is a grumpy old man with a heart of gold. The best part is we are privy to his witty and snarky thoughts, usually about humans. Snark gets me every time. It's just your average "intersecting destinies" story with a very predictable plot proceeding at a snail-like pace. The best books about grief find a way to illuminate the darkness of loss, and Remarkably Bright Creatures offers a masterclass.”— Marie Claire