Books and Brunch Book Club: ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby Van Pelt

Saturday, May 17, 2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm

About the Book

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.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

About the author

Shelby Van Pelt was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and now lives in the Chicago area with her family. Her debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, was an instant New York Times Bestseller. It has sold over a million copies.

About the event

If you have any questions, please contact Carrie Ratterman at cratterman@cc-pl.org

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Alexandria Branch