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Remarkably Bright Creatures cover art

Remarkably Bright Creatures

By: Shelby Van Pelt
Narrated by: Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, read by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie.

Good Housekeeping Best Books of 2022

Glamour Best Books of 2022

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago, keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late...

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

©2022 Shelby Van Pelt (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"Truly original and touching." (Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient)

"A beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing. Shelby Van Pelt makes good on this wild conceit, somehow making me love a misanthropic octopus, but her writing is so finely tuned that it's a natural element of a larger story about family, about loss and the electricity of something found." (Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here)

"I defy you to put it down once you’ve started." (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest)

What listeners say about Remarkably Bright Creatures

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Awful Scottish Accent

The Scottish accent was so bad I couldn’t continue listening. Given it was a main character should have been better

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16 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story… that Scottish accent though…

Nice story, well written, unique, characters are great. The octopus narrator is excellent. The other narrator was also great… when doing an American accent …. which leads me to why I’ve given it three stars: Ethan. A character who is meant to be Scottish but sounds like a weird cross between an American, an Irish traveller and an Asian person from Bradford. It was so ridiculous it made me wish they’d kill poor Ethan off, so the pain in my ears would end. If you are Scottish or know what a Scottish accent actually sounds like, just read the paperback and save yourself the awkwardness. If you are a narrator and can’t do the accents in the story, please just don’t take the job!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Didn’t think it was for me but I loved it!

A sassy octopus who cleverly observes humans from his tank. Was a fantastic twist to this novel. The voice actor for him is perfection!
The story was a little cheesy, but a satisfying feel good story. I thought it was gonna be too “chick lit” but it’s a really good book

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8 people found this helpful

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Read This Book

Wonderful book. I tend to read, or listen quickly, devouring a good book. I had to listen to this one a second time, more slowly, to fully appreciate the texture. Best book in years.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A great read!

This is a really lovely story, I kept wanting to read on - would strongly recommend!

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a beautiful story

such a lovely book with many layers. a tad predictable but charming and meaningful and the character of Marcellus is beautifully written.

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5 people found this helpful

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Lovely story

A great story and so well read. It was lovely to listen too. I would recommend to anyone.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Marcellus is fab!

I loved the whole Marcellus story, I wish there had been more from him. Excellent narrator except for the Scottish accent but I managed to tune that out and enjoy the story, would definitely recommend to friends.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

This book was recommended to me. I've read and listened to loads of books but nothing that had an Octopus in it. I just love everything about this book and its one I'd go back to again and again.

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5 people found this helpful

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Heartwarming story

I don’t usually listen to fiction audiobooks but this came recommended. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I looked forward to the times in my day when I could listen to this. It is a beautiful story of friendship and I enjoyed every minute of the story.

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4 people found this helpful