Remarkably Bright Creatures *DNF*

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt *DNF*

Unpopular Opinion:

I don't always put the DNFs in my blog but this one is so wildly popular I'm putting it here to express my opinion on it.

It's a great reminder that not every book is for everyone. We all have different likes and dislikes, same as art, food, music, etc.

Google

A heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship between a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus and a widowed aquarium janitor named Tova. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, finding connections, and the power of human and animal bonds. Tova, haunted by the disappearance of her son decades earlier, forms a unique relationship with Marcellus, who uses his intelligence to help her piece together the truth.

G👀dreads

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.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Magical Realism

Day 1 - The book starts with Marcellus "Day 1,299 of My Captivity". 🐙 I already feel bad for him.

Day 2 - I'm on the Struggle Bus with Remarkably Bright Creatures.

It was recommended by *so*many*people*.

Octopus are my favorite sea creatures. I felt bad for Marcellus in the first two minutes, counting his "days in captivity".

The naughty knitters (or whatever they're called*) sounded promising but I have no interest in anyone else.

*ETA Knitwits. I like Naughty Knitters better!

Then, all of a sudden, we're in a mobile home park with no dots connecting how or why we're there. I felt like I jumped into a different book. Not even a mention of Cameron the Man Child in the About. 

I'm at 20% and sad to say this will be a DNF for me. Only sad because I *wanted* to like it.

It's me. I don't have the patience to stick with it waiting for it to get better.

⏰💣tick tock, Tick Tock, TICK TOCK. ⏰💣

Yes, I get character development. I think characters can be developed without dragging it out. I think maybe I'm so inpatient because I was never an avid reader before I retired. If a book doesn't capture my attention right away, I can't force myself to muddle along as if it was my job to finish it. Sometimes I bow out sooner but I give it to the 20% mark when it is so highly recommended. And this one was HIGHLY recommended across the board.

🎧Marin Ireland

Now that I quit, I went back to read some of the 1 ★ reviews, just to see if I was all alone on this one. I typically don't read those when checking reviews because they are in the minority. Kind of like hotel and restaurant reviews. Throw out the top and bottom. The entire reading world does not like and dislike the same stories. Now I'm not feeling even a smidgeon bad for giving up or feeling like I missed out on a great story. These are all from Goodreads.

• This book was an unforgivable bait and switch. I read it - as the cover art and summary promised - for the heartwarming tale of an unlikely friendship between a woman and a giant octopus.
  I'm telling you, the octopus is present MAYBE 5% of the book. MAYBE.
  In fact, most of the "screen time" goes to a character completely unmentioned in the summary: a 30 year old man child who blames his problems on everyone else. Selfish, Lazy. Rude. etc.etc.etc.
• An unforgivable lack of octopus.
• Marcellus is wonderful. Cameron is insufferable.
• I stopped reading at one point to check if I had maybe gotten a different book with a similar title. Surely this isn't the 5 star book I waited 114 weeks for at my library. I literally rolled my eyes more than once while reading it. etc.etc.etc.

My favorite. Just a three word review! (No disrespect to Jesus intended) : 

• 𝕵esus Ƒvcking Ƈhrist.

UPDATE

For those who loved this book, you'll be happy to know they are making a movie. Tova will be played by Sally Field. To be aired on Netflix sometime in 2026. 
It's a hard NO for me but I imagine it will be as wildly popular as the book.