AMY IMOGENE READS
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Adult
    • YA / MIDDLE GRADE
    • NONFICTION+
  • More
  • About Me

Welcome to my Adult Reviews!
Check out my recent reviews below. For specific categories, see my Categories section.

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES - Shelby Van Pelt

6/28/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
3.5 stars

Cute and heartwarming, if a bit of a slog in the first half. A sentient octopus, an octogenarian who needs some closure... An odd yet endearing setup.

Concept: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★★

So I definitely, 100% picked up this novel because someone shared that it involved the antics of a sentient octopus who wrote diary entries. That's the kind of magical realism I will always show up to read.

Remarkably Bright Creatures follows the story of Tova, an elderly woman living out her days as a the nightly cleaning lady at the local aquarium. Her husband recently passed away, and her son died tragically at 18, so Tova's got to keep busy somehow as a single woman alone, and cleaning aquarium glass is something to do.

Tova's Swedish roots mandate that she do something as that's the thing "to do."

Enter Marcellous, the sentient Giant Pacific Octopus who's nearing the end of his lifespan in his aquarium tank. He knows everything there is to know in the aquarium, including where to get the best food and how to escape his enclosure. He also, to his surprise, finds out that he knows Tova too.

Tova and Marcellous form an unlikely and seemingly one-sided nightly conversation ritual. Tova talks, Marcellous listens, and when Tova's not there Marcellous plots out his next moves when it comes to Tova's unfinished business.

What will happen to Tova and Marcellous?

I'm going to stop the setup there, because literally anything else would be a spoiler, and as it is, I found this novel so extremely predictable.

That, honestly, was this novel's problem for me. It was heartwarming and charming, yes. But the dry and dull first half, combined with the utter predictability of where we were going, led to me wishing the novel would wrap itself up so I could be done with it. (Not a good way for a novel to make a reader feel.)

I wish the author had leaned into the magical realism a bit more, and leaned less on the predictable nature of the plot itself. From the very entrance of some characters, it was clear to see what their purpose was for Tova and the plot and therefore I found it very hard to care about the journey. If we had been left in the dark for longer (less POVs?) maybe I'd be writing a different review. But sadly, I just found myself wishing for more in this quaint family drama tale.

Definitely pick this up though if it's of interest—there are some gems here regardless of the plot's pacing.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Amy Imogene Reads

    Just someone looking for her own door into Wonderland.

    Categories

    All
    Advanced Reader Copy
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Mystery/Thriller
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    Short Stories
    Speculative

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home
About
Contact
All reviews posted are my own and do not reflect the opinions of any other individual or entity.  When applicable, reviewed titles sent to me by the publisher are noted at the bottom of each review.
Professional Reader 50 Book Reviews 80%
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Adult
    • YA / MIDDLE GRADE
    • NONFICTION+
  • More
  • About Me