January 2024 Book Club
My IRL book club met this past Wednesday to discuss January’s book, which was REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt. There were 11 of us that met and only one person hadn’t read the book. Here are some highlights of our discussion:
- Almost all of us loved it, each of us giving it a rating of 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads. The person who didn’t “love” it still rated it 4 stars.
- She didn’t “love” it because she didn’t have all the feels like the rest of us.
- She also thought Marcellus wasn’t necessary to the plot while the rest of us thought he was the best part of the story.
- Most of us were a little leery about reading a book from an octopus’ POV, but Marcellus quickly won us over.
- I commented that Marcellus reminded me a bit of Hank from FINDING DORY.
- One person said she wanted more from the ending. View Spoiler »
- Some of us compared REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES to something written by Fredrik Backman. Both authors can draw you right in to the story and characters, even the unlikeable ones.
- View Spoiler »
- A few of us mentioned that Shelby Van Pelt has a lot to live up to with her next book.
- A couple of people recommended we watch MY OCTOPUS TEACHER on Netflix. It’s a documentary about a common octopus and her friendship with the videographer.
I love that REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES has a lot of meat to it. It garnered a great discussion. Even though we all rated it pretty high, there were other things to talk about.
Next month’s book is BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry. I’m very excited to read it. I’ve heard a lot of great things.
Have you read REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES? If so, what do you think about my book club’s discussion?
It sounds like an excellent discussion. I too recommend “The Octopus Teacher.” It was lovely.
It really was. It was interesting to hear other people’s perspective on it. I actually watched MY OCTOPUS TEACHER on Friday morning. I forgot to mention it in my Sunday Post. It was so good. I loved it. 😀
I saw your IG post about this one the other day so I started it on audio this morning. I was a little thrown by the octopus pov but I love it.
Oh yay! 😀 I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Marcellus’ POV threw me for a loop at first too. He’s such a great character, though.
Your book club is rocking right now. You know I love Remarkably Bright Creatures, but I love Book Lovers, too! I hope it’s a hit as well.
Yeah, we have a really great line up for the next four months. 😀 We’ll be voting for the last half of the year in March. Hopefully, we’ll have another good line up.
This sounds like the funnest possible book club meeting, if nearly the whole group really got into the book and you had a lovely discussion about it. How lucky! I feel like I have to put this one on my TBR list now, too.
It really was. I was really happy how it turned out. 😀 I hope you enjoy it when you read it.
So lovely to read your book club thoughts! This sounds like such a unique read, and a little weird about the octopus’ POV but also probably quite genius!
Thanks, Lindsey! 😀 Yeah, I think everyone’s thrown at first with Marcellus’ POV, but almost all of use loved him the most in the end.
I am so glad you and your book clubbed enjoyed REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES. My mom read it with her book group last year and they all liked it as well. I recently bought a copy and look forward to reading it.
Yay! 😀 I’m so glad your mom and her book club loved REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES too. I hope you love it just as much or more!