Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

I heard this book was about a relationship between an octopus and a woman. Needless to say, I wasn't crazy about reading it. I am so glad I did! It's so much more than that. Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus, lives in the Sowell Bay Aquarium. He was severely injured when he was young and was rescued and brought to the aquarium to heal and live. The lifespan of a giant Pacific octopus is 4 years, which Marcellus is getting close to. He is sad and lonely and bored. He is also very intelligent. Tova is the woman who cleans the aquarium after it closes each night. Tova is also sad and lonely and bored. Tova's only child, Erik, died many years ago by drowning when he was 18 years old.  Tova's husband died a couple of years earlier. Tova's only sibling, Lars, who she was estranged from, dies near the beginning of this book. So she has no family.

Cameron is a 30 year old loser. He can't keep a job. He can't keep a girlfriend. He has no money. He is just drifting through life. His mother abandoned him when he was 9 years old, leaving him with her sister, his aunt Jeanne. His mother, Daphne, was an addict. Cameron never knew his father - and neither did his aunt Jeanne. Cameron looks in a box that was left by his mother, hoping to find something valuable that he can pawn for money. He sees a picture of his mother with a guy from when they were in High School. He also finds a class ring. He decides he is going to find this guy who he believes is his father. His mother's friend is now a wealthy Real Estate Developer. His plan is to track him down and demand back payment: 18 years of child support his mother never received. Cameron's "father" lives in Sowell Bay.

These two stories unfold throughout the book and eventually interweave into each other. There are lots of hints about who Cameron really is, but the only living being that actually KNOWS is Marcellus. When Marcellus lived in the sea, he discovered Erik's possessions from the night Erik drown. As his connection with Tova deepens, and his time on earth shortens, he desperately tries to figure out a way to give Tova the information she needs to bring closure to Erik's death.

This is a heartwarming story about family, friendship, love, strength, commitment and perseverance. It was engaging from beginning to end. I really loved it.

Wendy's Rating: *****