Remarkably Bright Creatures: Book Club Guide
Everything you'll need to host a book club featuring Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
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Purchase Remarkably Bright Creatures for your next book club:
Physical copy: Bookshop.org (supports local bookstores) or Amazon
Audiobook: Libro.fm (supports local bookstores)
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Release Date: May 2022
Genre: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism
Amazon Rating: 4.6
Goodreads Rating: 4.37
My 2 sentence 2 cents: I found this to be an easy read, and the octopus’s POV was a delightful highlight. I liked the found family aspect and was happy with the ending, but there was a lot of miscommunication between characters, which I personally don’t love as a plot device.
Book Club Discussion Questions
Tova likes to keep to herself, but she also likes to keep herself busy. Did you relate to her coping mechanisms?
Why do you think Tova and Marcellus connected so strongly?
Tova thinks a lot about how to avoid becoming a burden to her friends as she ages. Did you empathize more with her or her friends? What do you think you would have done in her position?
How did you feel about Cameron as a character? Why do you think he has a tendency to self-sabotage?
Do you think Cameron matured over the course of the book? If so, what about his experience in Sowell Bay helped him to do so?
Cameron quotes Hamlet to Tova, “Conscience does make cowards of us all.” What do you think he means when he says this?
What was the significance of the Dala Horses? Why do you think Erik fixed the horse but kept it hidden?
“Remarkably bright creatures” is used to describe both octopuses and humans at different moments in the book. Who do you think proved themselves the more intelligent species in this story?
Though Tova and Cameron are not in captivity like Marcellus, they are both, in a way, stuck. Tova, stuck in her grief in a house with too many ghosts. Cameron, stuck in a perpetual cycle of relationship and career self-sabotage. Do you think they escaped their metaphorical enclosures by the end of the book?
Were you happy with the ending? Did you feel Cameron’s mother’s story was a loose end, or was there enough information and closure to leave you satisfied?
Wine Pairing - Floorshow Red
I clearly picked this wine for its label. I love the octopus design, and couldn’t pass up the perfect opportunity to feature it. This full-bodied red blend has flavors of dark red fruits with notes of clove and vanilla. Find it at Total Wine & More.
If you’re getting multiple bottles and looking for something a bit more affordable, I recommend picking a wine from a Washington vineyard to play into the book’s setting. There are a ton of great options from Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley.
Batch Cocktail Pairing - Dark n’ Stormy (serves 6)
I decided to go with the classic nautical themed cocktail, the Dark n’ Stormy. This recipe serves about 6, so you can easily double it for a bigger group.
1 cup dark rum (Gosling’s Black Seal Rum is traditional)
2 cups ginger beer (Fever Tree or Bundaberg are good, don’t you dare use sugar free)
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
lime wheels or wedges for garnish
Mix the rum and lime juice together and set everything in the refrigerator to chill. Right before serving, gently mix in the ginger beer. Pour over ice in individual glasses and garnish with lime wheels or wedges.
Snack Ideas
Sowell Bay may be fictional, but our snacks are inspired by its coastal Washington locale.
Smoked Salmon Potato Chip bites (swap chips with cucumbers for something lighter)
Crostinis or Crackers with Goat Cheese and Cherry Compote
Sour Swimmers from Trader Joe’s or Swedish Fish
Spotify Playlist
For the playlist, I chose songs that deal with themes grief, but with a touch of optimism, i.e. moving forward and finding joy after loss. A personal favorite is “Blue Sky & The Painter” by bastille. The lyrics say “Would I be who I am without this sadness in me? / Is that a blue sky? It’s about damn time.” I thought these lines really spoke to Tova’s character. Her experience with loss makes her the type of person who’s able to empathize and connect with Marcellus. And connecting with Cameron feels like the clouds of grief finally parting for a blue sky.
I also threw in a fair amount of ocean themed songs to lighten the mood a bit.
Fun Extras to Add to the Aesthetic
Seashells for table display
Happy reading! But please, read responsibly 😉
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