Remarkably Bright Creatures cover art

Remarkably Bright Creatures

‘That Octopus Book’, the international bestseller, now a major Netflix film

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Remarkably Bright Creatures

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

Have you met Marcellus the octopus yet?

**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**
OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK
OVER 29,000 5 STAR REVIEWS
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF 2022
GLAMOUR BEST BOOKS OF 2022

'Full of heart and humour . . . I loved it.' Ruth Hogan
'Will stay with you for a long time.' Anstey Harris
'I defy you to put it down once you’ve started' Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

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.


'You won’t be able to put it down because when you’re not reading this book you’ll be hugging it.' Jamie Ford
'Truly original and touching' Helen Hoang
'Unique and luminous' Booklist starred review
__________________________
READER REVIEWS
'I couldn't put it down'
'Marvelous, heartwarming, brilliant'
'I enjoyed every second'
'I was gripped from the first page'
'I was completely charmed by this story'©2022 Shelby Van Pelt Animals Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Thriller & Suspense Feel-Good Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

A unique and luminous book
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)
Remarkably Bright Creatures is the rarest of feats: a book that manages to be wry and wise, charming and surprising, and features one of the most intriguing and satisfying characters I’ve encountered in fiction in a very long time – Marcellus the Octopus. I don’t know how Shelby Van Pelt managed to make this uncommon tale sing so beautifully, but sing it does, and I defy you to put it down once you’ve started (Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, author of THE NEST)
I usually read non-fiction books, but Remarkably Bright Creatures gave me exactly what I want whenever I pick up a novel. It transported me to a different world, and it illuminated something new for me – in this case, about relationships and getting older. Reading Tova and Marcellus’s story was the perfect way to start my next decade of life. (Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft)
Truly original and touching, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a story of family, community, and optimism in spite of darkness. Prepare to fall in love (Helen Hoang, author of THE KISS QUOTIENT)
Shelby’s characters are unique and yet completely relatable ... It is a fresh and fascinating story full of heart and humour and I loved it. (Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things)
A winningly totally original feel-good mystery packed with memorable characters that, once started, demands to be finished
An ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut about what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places ... Memorable and tender.
A warm and satisfying book. It wrapped itself around me, luring me into the many mysteries hidden just beneath the surface. (Polly Crosby, author of The Illustrated Child)
Remarkable characters, who will stay with you for a long time. (Anstey Harris, author of The Trials and Triumphs of Grace Atherton)
You’ll bask in this book’s warmth and wit
The best books about grief find a way to illuminate the darkness of loss, and Remarkably Bright Creatures offers a masterclass
All stars
Most relevant
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

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

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Very enjoyable, not too heavy and fairly predictable narratively. But still a good listen, would recommend. The only thing that I did not enjoy was the awful attempt at a Scottish accent. As a Scot myself I can assure everyone that no matter where you go in Scotland, no one sounds like that. 😂

Very enjoyable, terrible Scottish accent😂

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My wife said she was reading this and gave me a brief synopsis that involved missing people and an octopus - I was intrigued so decided I’d take the plunge.

Less the mystery thriller I was half expecting, more the romantic drama that verges on the silly but despite really not being my usual genre, was a fitting vibe to an otherwise fraught and tricky life period.

Its characters are well thought sculpted and the performances are wonderful, particularly the narrator for Marcellus who had me laugh out loud more than once.

Yes, the Scottish accent is dreadful. But it has its charm and I soon just heard Ethan rather than longing for something more realistic.

It’s a warm cardigan of a story with some ups and downs along the way to keep you on your toes.

Worth a read / listen. 🐙

It’s a hug in a book.

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I was a bit sceptical about the story line at first, listening to the audio version with the American accepts (and rather dodgy Scottish none). However it was surprisingly engaging and I binge listened to it in the end!! Good to have a plot which is not the usual formulaic format.

Remarkably good story

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Absolutely loved this book, the characters are brilliantly written and most importantly totally believable. Scottish accent is dubious but didn’t spoil it for me at all. I think 6.30 from Lessons in chemistry is possibly the best character ever written but Marcellus definitely gives him a run for his money. Only just finished and already telling my friends to read/listen.

Very character driven

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