Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Join us for coffee, conversation, and community as we discuss Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures on Wednesday, April 29th at 1:00pm. An instant New York Times bestseller and name a "best book of summer" by The View and Southern Living, Remarkably Bright Creatures is "a heartwarming novel to suit any mood" (The New York Times) about a widow who befriends an octopus. Available wherever books are sold and from the Free Library of Philadelphia (but it's popular, so place a hold ASAP).

Shelby Van Pelt was raised in the Pacific Northwest. Remarkably Bright Creatures is her debut. The book has been adapted to film by Netflix, where it premieres Friday, May 8th. The film adaptation stars Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, and Alfred Molina.

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.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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