Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel
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Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Shelby Van Pelt (Author), Marin Ireland (Narrator), Michael Urie (Narrator),
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 62,709 ratings
Amazon Charts #20 this week
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A New York Times Bestseller!

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.” -- Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively listenable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine 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 invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

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

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  1. Listening Length
    11 hours and 16 minutes
  2. Author
    Shelby Van Pelt
  3. Narrator
    Marin Ireland, see all
  4. Audible release date
    May 3, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B09DTGQHKJ
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 16 minutes
Author Shelby Van Pelt
Narrator Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date May 03, 2022
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09DTGQHKJ
Best Sellers Rank #24 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Animal Fiction (Books)
#1 in Cozy Animal Mysteries
#1 in Animal Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
62,709 global ratings
Book came with a defect.
4 Stars
Book came with a defect.
The book itself is wonderful and the concept is well executed. However, the seller of this previous book failed to mention the giant ink spill in the pages. I wish I had been made aware of it or that the book had been listed as a lower quality/price before purchasing it. I wouldn’t have bought it if I knew about the defect. I know it’s just one page and the text isn’t obstructed, but if you love books and you enjoy keeping them in pristine conditions, then maybe you can understand why I’m so upset.
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Top reviews from the United States

Joanne C
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
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Loved this! So creative and a wonderful happy ending. Great characters, fun and quick read. Would recommend to anyone, think seniors would especially enjoy.
4 people found this helpful
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T. Sparks
5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable story
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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What a wonderful surprise this was! I thought Remarkably Bright Creatures was a story about a woman and an octopus, but it turned out to be so much more than that. This is Shelby Van Pelt’s first book, and I don’t think a debut has affected me like this since I read Hollow Kingdom, another story that unfolds through the eyes of an animal. The story has a bit of magical realism to it, in the sense that parts of it are told from the octopus’s point of view, but otherwise it’s simply a delightful tale about family and connections that had me ugly crying by the end of the book.

In the first chapter we meet Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus on display in the Sowell Bay Aquarium near Puget Sound. Marcellus has been in captivity for 1,299 days, and based on his life expectancy of about four years, he believes he only has a handful of days left to live. His dreary days in a small glass enclosure are broken up by secret nighttime excursions, as Marcellus is extremely smart and has found a way out of his tank.

Tova Sullivan is a seventy-year-old woman who has been working nights at the aquarium as a cleaning lady for the past two years. Tova knows how to remove the hundreds of fingerprints on the tank walls and can polish the floors to a brilliant shine. She’s also quite fond of the sea creatures she encounters each night, especially Marcellus, and the two have formed an unusual bond since Tova saved Marcellus one night after he escaped and became entangled in a bunch of electrical cords.

Next, we meet Cameron Cassmore, a thirty-year-old man who is drifting through life with no real purpose. Cameron lives in California, and one day his aunt gives him a box of his estranged mother’s things. Inside the box he finds a photo and an old class ring, clues that could lead to the identity of his father, a man he never knew. Cameron hops on a plane to Washington state, convinced the man he thinks is his father—a rich real estate tycoon—will be so distraught over abandoning his son, he’ll shower Cam with money. At least that’s the plan.

Finally, Ethan Mack is the owner of Sowell Bay’s Shop-Way, the local grocery store. Ethan has known Tova for years and secretly has a crush on her, but Tova is much too distant to notice his interest. When Cameron shows up at the Shop-Way looking for a job, Ethan directs him to his friend who manages the aquarium, which is how Cameron and Tova meet.

Tying all these characters together is Marcellus, a remarkably bright octopus with a penchant for stealing and hoarding the treasures he finds after hours on the aquarium floor, and who just might be able to bring two people together who need each other—but don’t yet realize it.

Van Pelt’s chapters alternate among all these characters and introduce a slew of side characters as well, each one vitally important to the story. At first, we don’t realize how each character is connected to the next, but slowly the author reveals her secrets until the stunned reader begins to understand the depth of these connections. Each character is given a detailed backstory that becomes very important to the plot. Tova’s story in particular was heart wrenching, as she has experienced quite a bit of loss in her life and finds herself mostly alone in her twilight years. Luckily she belongs to a group of women who call themselves the Knit-Wits, and the four of them meet weekly to eat, drink, gossip and support each other. Tova came to America from Sweden as a little girl, so the story is filled with details about growing up with her Swedish mother and father. Even the Dala horses her mother collected play a part in the story, and I found these little details added so much richness.

At first I couldn’t figure out how Cameron fit it, but once he arrives in Sowell Bay and meets Ethan and Tova, his story takes on new meaning. Cameron meets a woman named Avery who also plays a vital part in filling in some of the missing pieces about Cameron’s father, and I loved the way the author gave even the most insignificant side characters meaning and purpose.

Van Pelt infuses her story with so many emotional moments and themes. We see how the Knit-Wits are going through the aging process, as their numbers have dwindled over the last few years. Tova is facing being alone in her old age, with no children or husband to take care of her, and so she makes the rash decision to sell her beloved house and move into a retirement community. I don’t want to give too many details about Tova’s past and her losses, because I think it’s better to discover those revelations for yourself. Let’s just say that I felt Tova’s pain and wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.

And Van Pelt includes so many funny moments in her story that kept the tone light, despite some of the more heavy themes. There’s an ongoing bit about Cameron’s lost luggage that was hysterically funny, and Tova inherits a stray cat at one point, which was a delightful side plot. I also loved the story about the t-shirt that Tova uses to clean Ethan’s kitchen—you’ll just have to read the book so you can experience the hilarity too!

And of course, I can’t forget the star of the story, Marcellus the octopus. As the days tick by—each of his chapters starts with a marker (“Day 1,299 of my captivity”, etc)---the tension builds as Marcellus gets closer to his impending death (at least that’s what he thinks). Marcellus understands human nature more than most humans, and I loved the way he wisely intuits each character’s needs. Ultimately, this is a story about creatures—both human and animal—saving each other. The way Marcellus’s story plays out was absolutely perfect—heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

This is a very special book, and I’m so glad I was able to finally read it. Highly recommended!
120 people found this helpful
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Lisa K. Blake
4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars… and just delightful!
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2024
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I had this book on my library shelf for a long time before it finally grabbed me. And not unlike the tentacles of a cephalopod’s arm, it really grabbed me. I loved all these characters immensely, in all their exasperating glory. I am always a sucker for a story told in multiple perspectives, and this one did not disappoint in that arena; all the voices here are fresh, genuine, and endearing. The plot has a few twists with just enough magic, and the ending was satisfyingly sweet. This was a great way to spend a rainy, restorative weekend.
2 people found this helpful
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Stacey
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably Bright Creatures fed my soul
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
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I loved this book. All of it. I can't dissect it and pick out parts I didn't like and did like because that's impossible to do when the book hits all the sweet spots for me. The book has a soul and it touched me deep to my soul which isn't typically what I get from a book. Especially something so different like Marcellus and all his amazing abilities. Sure, when I first started reading the book I thought an octopus as a character was different and I wondered how I would receive that, would I enjoy it? From Marcellus' first chapter I was hooked. Suckered in. When Tova first felt the tentacles wrapped around her arm, I wanted to feel that! But I always felt like I was right there with every character and feeling their: Loss, pain, strength, confusion, anger, happiness, love, and finally closure. That's what this author did - pulled me in and I couldn't put the book down until it was finished and I want to read it again. To the people who haven't read this book, yet, and you are skeptical about an octopus narrative, I am telling you that you will enjoy it! I recommend this book to all adults and to younger people in their teens who may have had loss in their life and/or dealt with hardship- they may find a connection to this book.
Shelby Van Pelt please, please write more books. You have the gift of finding soulful topics, unique characters and bringing a story together that no one would have thought of.
I have always been a reader, but when I became disabled I became more sedentary so I have the time to read quite a bit everyday.
This is the first time I wrote a review. I had to! Couldn't stop myself!!
Thank you for bringing me laughter, sad tears, then happy tears. The best combo!
Thank you!
26 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Surprised at how much I loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is so surprisingly beautiful. I just finished the last chapter as I sit here typing this review. There is something so painfully and beautifully relatable about the characters and the story. You find yourself caring about this creature, if you will, and loving these beautiful characters as you watch them develop, grow hurt, and reunite. If you have lost a loved one (parent, grandparent, pet) this book is painfully relatable and beautifully written! loved every second of it! Couldn’t put it down! great book!!
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Mrs. B. Librarian
5.0 out of 5 stars so heartwarming
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
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Truly one of the most heartwarming books I have read in a very long time. It reminded me a bit of A Man Called Ove. Tova was such an endearing character. You could just picture this stoic woman with a heart of gold. Then Marcellus the octopus was delightful. You couldn’t help but pull for Cameron. Anyone with adult sons can understand Cameron. Well written, and a beautiful ending.
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magan
4.0 out of 5 stars A really sweet book
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
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The overall story was quite captivating, I finished it in just a few hours. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, I wish the ending didn't leave me feeling so...unsatisfied? It just felt a little vague, I needed more closure and it just didn't quite happen for me. However, not a bad read.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and quite unique
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
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I loved the chapters written in Marcellus' voice. He was certainly a character, funny and droll. I really enjoyed the book. It was an easy read and a perfect vacation read.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Michele Jenkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Book Club pick!
Reviewed in Canada on April 19, 2024
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Book arrived very fast !
There was an 8 week wait at the library!
Excellent price as it was more expensive in the book stores !
Love this book it’s a very captivating and easy read !
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Jorge
5.0 out of 5 stars El libro más hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on September 30, 2023
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Hace mucho que no leía un libro tan especial, me ha encantado. Tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón ❤️🐙
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selina emery
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and heartfelt
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2024
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Such a feel good and refreshing read. The main characters are superbly developed and Van Pelt uses intricate descriptions and story lines for each. You’ll find yourself waiting for each character's chapter to return as you move through the book and find yourself thinking of them long after you put the book down.
One person found this helpful
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Livre
Reviewed in France on April 6, 2024
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Article reçu en excellent état et rapidement
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H J Gibbons
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastico.
Reviewed in Spain on March 11, 2024
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No quería que terminara.
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