Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Read with Jenna Pick

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There is another grief that has been with her for many decades, since her eighteen year old son died, his body never found. The first stars set-in-her-ways Tova Sullivan, who, at 70 and recently widowed, likes things just so. He’d always assumed it was nonsense, but now his eyes burn in the screen’s glow and his brain feels scrambled. Cameron secures a meeting with Simon and finally confronts him, only to learn that he’s not his father after all.

The chapters alternate between these three characters, and while I enjoyed all three, I wanted more of Marcellus. How does the use of these non-human elements contribute to the novel’s exploration of interconnectedness and agency? As I mentioned, there are a plethora of coincidences in this novel, so you'll have to set that aside to enjoy the simple beauty of the tale if those types of things bother you. He hasn’t done much with his life till now, is unable to hold a steady job and has been recently dumped by his girlfriend who was fed up with his lack of initiative and whimsical nature. Cameron, Tova and Marcellus connect when he starts working at the aquarium and what follows is a deeply moving story of friendship, community, family, grief and moving on.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. I loved to go there,” she says, “hang out for long periods of time while I sat in the dark and looked at jellyfish. Cameron has a lot of growing up to do, having never held a job that he wasn't fired from, having never learned to pick up his own socks, and having never been someone anyone could rely on. Marcellus, the giant pacific Octopusthis isn't a thrilling story, it didn't particularly give me joy but it did give me feelings I do not know how to properly articulate.

What makes the book so memorable and tender is Van Pelt’s depiction of Tova and her insistence on aging like a responsible person should. So sorry your momma was a deadbeat and ditched you as a kid, but it’s not like you got dumped into the foster care system to rot.

As Van Pelt’s zippy, fun-to-follow prose engages at every turn, readers will find themselves rooting for the many characters, hoping that they’ll find whatever it is they seek. Not much, until a friendship develops following a daring tank rescue, and Marcellus McSquiddles happily uses all eight of his tentacles, his three hearts, plus his sharp brain, to solve the soul-scarring mystery of Tova’s son Erik’s disappearance thirty years ago. Lifelong considering the short length of life that Marcellus has left since he is at the end of his four year lifespan. But then her behavior turns bizarre; she stops eating and begins to self mutilate, tearing off her skin or even eating her own arms.