Top Ten Tuesday #45
Reasons I Loved Remarkably Bright Creatures
This week’s theme is a fun one, I think. It’s “Ten Things I Loved About [___]” and it comes with instructions. They are to pick a book title. It didn’t take me long to figure out which book I wanted to gush about. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES is my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. Here are ten eight reasons I love it as much as I do:
Marcellus: It’s mostly told in a third-person limited POV and it’s sometimes told in a charming first-person POV from Marcellus, the octopus, the star of the book. He’s smart, snarky, a little bit cranky, and a delightful narrator.
Tova: Tova’s the main human character. She’s such a likable person despite being a bit closed off because of grief. She reminded me a bit of my own grandmother whose family, like Tova’s, immigrated to the US while she was very young.
Friendship: There are many forms of friendship but my favorite is the one between Tova and Marcellus. Their friendship reminds us, not in a preachy way, that animals know more than they let on and they each have feelings and deserve our kindness and respect.
Unputdownable: As soon as I started reading REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, I could tell it was going to suck me right in and it did. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I still think about it long after I finished reading it.
All the Feels: I laughed, I cried, and I smiled. I felt so many emotions while reading this beautiful story.
Great Discussion: It’s a very heart-warming story of love, loss, grief, and resilience and garnered a great discussion at my IRL book club. Even though most of my book club rated it high, we still had things to talk about.
Fredrik Backman Read-a-Like: It reminded me of something written by Fredrik Backman. Both authors draw you right in to the story and characters because they make you feel something.
My Octopus Teacher: One of my friends recommended I watch MY OCTOPUS TEACHER on Netflix because I loved this story as much as I did. I’m so glad I decided to watch it. I adored it. It was captivating and it made Marcellus more real to me.
What about you? Have you read REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES? If so, did you love it as much as I did?
I have heard so much praise for this book I feel like maybe it’s time I give it a try. The biggest reason I hesitate is because it has received so much hype, and I’ve often been burned by the hype.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/reasons-i-love-listening-to-audiobooks/
If/when you do decided to read RBC, I hope you like it as much or more than I do. 😀
I’ve heard such great things about this story!
It’s so awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyes this type of story.
I really need to read this soon as I’m fascinated by these critters. Oh man, My Octopus Teacher was fabulous. My daughter randomly found it not long after it came out and we watched it, both crying at the end.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Right?! I cried at the end of MY OCTOPUS TEACHER too. It was such a sweet story. I’m so glad he documented his time with her. <3 I’m glad you and your daughter loved it so much. I think you’d like RBC, at least I hope you do. 😀
This sounds like a truly original story. I love a book that has a strong focus on friendship.
https://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com/2024/07/top-ten-tuesday-ten-reasons-why-i-love.html
It really is and it’s so cute. I never thought I’d like a story told from an octopus’ POV but it just makes the story better. 😀
This one is on my TBR, you may have just convinced me to read it sooner rather than later. Happy reading! My TTT post https://readwithstefani.com/books-i-could-re-read-forever/
I hope you do read it sooner rather than later and I hope you love it as much as or more than I do. 😀
I’ve heard so many good things about this book. Here is my post https://paigesofnovels.com/2024/07/16/top-ten-tuesday-10-reasons-i-love-funny-story-by-emily-henry/.
I can definitely see why so many people lofe it. 😀
Love the cover and it sounds like a great book.
sherry @ fundinmental
I love the cover too. It is a great book and I’m glad I had to the chance to read it. 😀
This one has gotten a ton of hype! Glad you enjoyed it.
It has. To me, it deserves the hype. 😀 Thanks!
I loved the writing, too. The octopus narrator was very compelling in the audio format.
Oooh. That’s cool. I didn’t listen to the audio so I’ll have to try it sometime. 😀
OOh nice list! This is a new to me story!
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
It’s such a great story. If you choose to read it, I hope you like it. 😀
Great work! I may read this now–you are very persuasive!
Thanks! 😀 If you do end up reading it, I hope you enjoy it as much as or more than I did.
Totally agree! This was such a great book that took my by surprise.
Yes! 😀 It took me by surprise too. I’m still so glad you enjoyed it.
I really want to read this! I don’t know if I was the one who recommended “My Octopus Teacher” but I loved that one. I did cry a lot at the end although they weren’t completely tears of grief. They were also joy at the depth of their relationship and the wonder of octopus intelligence.
You were one of the friends who recommended I watched MY OCTOPUS TEACHER. Someone at book club also recommended it. 😀 I agree completely about the multi-faceted tears.
Great reasons. I am putting off getting a copy to read because of the grief side of the story. I do struggle to read those sorts of stories. Otherwise your reasons are really good!
Have a lovely week!
I understand. I have to be in the mood and in a good place to read a book with grief or real-world problems. 😀
What a great list! It feels like everyone has been raving over this book, and while I added it to my TBR, I wasn’t quite sure if I really wanted to read it. Your list has me pretty hyped for this now, so it looks like this will probably be getting read pretty soon. Thanks!
I really hope you loved it as much as or more than I did. 😀