Marcellus is a remarkably bright creature. He is a Giant Pacific Octopus who lives in the Sowell Bay aquarium. He likes to escape his enclosure at night and explore or eat a few fellow sea dwellers in the other tanks. He gets away with it because Tova, the elderly cleaning lady, doesn't see the harm in granting him a little bit of freedom. Marcellus sees things people often overlook. He watches lives pass in front of his tank every day and has become an expert in the way things work. His fondness for Tova inspires him to help her find closure in her life, even if it's the last thing he does.
Tova likes to keep herself busy. Ever since her son's mysterious death thirty years ago and then the death of her husband by cancer, she has done anything she can to stay moving. She visits friends for coffee, shops at the local market, and she cleans the aquarium most nights, all while forming a bond with Marcellus.
Cameron is a thirty-year-old Californian that never seems to catch a break. Mostly his fault. He tries, but can't seem to get it together long enough for anything good to happen. On a mission to find his long-lost father, he crosses paths with Tova and Marcellus.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt, is a simple yet lovely read. The lives of her characters are accurate to the point you will recognize someone similar to them in your own life. This is a cozy book about life, death, and everything in between. It's fantastic for anyone who just wants a simple heartfelt story.