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[solarpsychedelic]

I just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. And it was a heart-warming, feel good, and pleasant read. Would recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Did it live up to the hype? Eh, probably not. There is too much hype in marketing these days. I try to avoid it and simply read a book as it is.

The novel is a slow paced, immersive slice of life small town drama that happens to have a sentient octopus as a POV character. The book’s pace dragged somewhat in the middle and I wasn’t overly fond of the character of Cameron (which seems to be a common reaction as I scan through reviews).

Maybe I couldn’t relate to Cameron’s storyline because of my age. Instead, I related to Tova and the theme of aging and reflecting on life.

The plot twist/reveal was predictable, yes. However,  I like it when an author can stir my heart. I can get caught up in sci-fi scenarios or modernist/post-modernist wordplay so it’s refreshing to read a narrative about relationships and everyday life.

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As good stories do, this one lingers. I’ve been thinking about Tova’s storyline and the themes of trauma, grief, closure, and reconciliation.