Book Review - A Remarkably Beautiful Book

A few months back, I received a call from my mother, asking me if I had ordered any books. Later, I discovered that my cousin-sister had ordered books for me as a gift. I couldn't wait to see them and had my mom send me pics of each.

The yellow cover page, with a reddish-orange octopus holding a bucket of bubbles, immediately grasped my attention. It was the Bloomsbury 2024 edition of 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' by Shelby Van Pelt. As I felt it would be hard to do justice to this book while reading mid-semester, I decided to save it for the summer break.

What stood out to me the most in this novel is the fictional town of Sowell Bay, the genuine characters, and most importantly, the point of view of Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus in Sowell Bay Aquarium. The chilly mornings at Sowell Bay, with water spraying from the sea, transport you from your home into the little world of the novel. Its silence represents both a comfort and a lingering sadness clocked around an irreparable loss that seeks closure.

Tova Sullivan treads along the line between solitude and loneliness as she lives a routine life as a cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, conversing with the marine life there, especially her friend, Marcellus. Cameron Cassomore is drifting along in life, losing and gaining hope, as he desperately searches for his father and family history. The most noble character in the novel is Marcellus, the octopus, whose intelligence and compassion allow him to see and understand things beyond human comprehension. It challenges the very notion of "humanity" as something limited to human beings.

My favourite quote from the book is, again, an utterance by Marcellus:

"As a general rule, I like holes. A hole at the top of my tank gives me freedom.

But I do not like the hole in her heart. She only has one, not three, like me.

Tova's heart.

I will do everything I can to help her fill it."

When you read the novel, these lines alone will fill your heart and eyes.

The story is also about community. About relationships that go beyond familial bonds. Acts of kindness and love that overtake words. Understanding and acceptance.

For me, this is a 10/10 book. The setting drew me in, the narration carried me through, and the characters left a lasting mark on my heart.