Unabashedly Tender YA Novel About Grieving, Loving ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures‘ by Shelby Van Pelt is a heartfelt young adult novel that thoughtfully blends grief and connection with the serendipitous ways we become linked to others. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a coastal aquarium, told by Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus, and Maren, newly widowed (for want of a better word) — two lonely creatures locked in their worlds connected only by whatever tendrils they choose to reach out across.
Plot Overview Of Remarkably Bright Creatures
The story opens with Maren, a recent widow struggling to make sense of her late husband Graham. In the wake of her grief and newfound single motherhood, she takes comfort in caring for Marcellus at the nearby aquarium — a playful yet perceptive octopus — only to have pseudo squid infiltrate its ranks.
Even as Maren navigates her feelings, the story splits between both points of view from Maren’s damaged form and Marcellus’ unusual perspective. Here, Oliver illustrates how the octopus has an astonishing sensorial awareness of his world even though he is imprisoned in a glass cage. Readers are offered a peek at human folly, life’s caprice, and magic inter-species relationships through his eyes.
Marcellus’ insights give him a vivid picture of both Maren’s hurts and the burdens she bears as mother to Simon and Ruth. The latter leaves him uttering as a crumbling figure perched beside the side of an old farm animal before he chimes in almost like an additional commentary on love, death, and dared I say it? The human spirit. His ideas are playful, as well as deep and provide a philosophical view of his life & relationships.
As the narrative progresses, through her mourning Maren has to face its influence over her family. Start To Learn About Your Feelings And Heal CLICK TO TWEET In response, Marcellus hatches a plot to get Maren back in touch with the mother of her two children and herself. This unlikely pairing not only shows up and brightens the day, but bizarre associations become part of personal change/ metamorphosis. Maren and Marcellus’ attention also becomes a more central thread in the story.
In the story’s denouement, long-awaited revelations begin to surface while Maren reaches for closure and a fresh start. If anything, the connections she forms with Marcellus could be seen as a wonderful ending of sorts to accompany her losses and healing from it all.
The Good in Remarkably Bright Creatures
The author also focuses on grief and portrays the journey of how these men navigate through tremendous loss which makes for a very heartwarming side in among all the action. It is perfectly aligned with his own experiences and appeals to those who have met similar tribulations, again appealing to empathy as well.
Unusual Narrative Experience:Marcellus, an octopus, functions as a narrator, unlike any other surrounding character. While his observations help people understand their own typical human emotions and relationships, viewing them from a different angle. This changes the entire perspective in a silly but deep way.
Themes of Connection: The true beauty in this story is the connection, connections to each other as people; but also beautifully expressed through our amazing nonhuman world. Readers will see and celebrate their relationships in a fresh light with new ways friends care for each other more than you might expect.
So hard Characters Of Remarkably Bright Creatures
The different characters are well developed, as flawed and complete people. Maren’s story is a universal yet extraordinarily unique past of self-discovery and becoming which enables any reader to resonate with her highs, lows, and growths.
The narrative is poignant along funny at the same time and offsets moments of hilarity with raw emotion that helps make the read engrossing. Marcellus brings plenty of humor to his astute observations, which help break up the serious topics and make for a rounded read.
The burden of parenting in the aftermath of a loss is carefully examined through Reflection on Parenthood. Maren’s Kids, Simon and Ruth (whose name she pronounces with German inflection) are kids to whom I know one of the Mommies lied that her only reason for having children was to glue them together; like many sticky things, they have trouble staying stuck.
Philosophical Views:Marcellus starts thinking about life and love while becoming philosophical when it comes to the time. It gently urges readers to explore their humanity and the less obvious facets of life.
Lyrical prose:Shelby Van Pelt has a wonderful ability to write lyrically, pulling the readers into her world emotionally. The ability parenthood gives to express the complexities of human emotions and relationships enriches the story on a whole new level.
Book Club Fodder:Themes of grief, connection, and healing will certainly make this a popular choice. There is plenty of room for the type of conversation you at once need to have about what relationships are and work, as well as how to deal with loss.
Power of inspiration and hope: In the end, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a story centered on survival and optimism. It is a type of book that opens readers up to their feelings and others, inspiring them to look on the bright side during troubling times in anyone’s life.
Conclusion
A gorgeously penned novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a tale of loss and love that develops the unexpected connections that twist through our lives. Shelby Van Pelt Showcases the Depths of Human Emotion & Transformative Power Through Marcellus The Octopus and Maren’s Journey Anew This book also deep character development, the level of emotion and attention compresses you into Spiral to a degree that only unmatched Prior Castles achieved. Whether you are suffering a loss or just want to read something moving, that resonates long after turning the final page of “Remarkably Bright Creatures” it is worth your time and effort.
