Family Life | Book Chatter

Remarkably Bright Creatures
By Shelby Van Pelt
Ecco Press, 9780063204157, May 2022, 368pp.

The Short of It:

Delightful.

The Rest of It:

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. ~ from the publisher

I am not a fan of magical realism but when it’s done well? I can’t help myself. Tova, a lovely woman working at the aquarium befriends a large Pacific octopus. He escaped and got tangled in a bunch of cords so Tova came to his rescue. You see, Marcellus, is quite the adventurer. He escapes his enclosure nightly, gathers little things here and there but he has a secret that he’s been trying to share with Tova but she hasn’t quite caught onto it yet.

Tova is happy cleaning the aquarium and she enjoys her nightly visits with Marcellus and company, but after her brother dies, she begins to ponder her next step. Should she move into a retirement home? After spraining her ankle while tending to Marcellus, she comes to the conclusion that although she has friends, she doesn’t have anyone to care for her when that time comes. Life is nothing but a bunch of decisions, isn’t it?

Interwoven into this story is also Cameron’s story. A young man, unemployed and searching for the father he’s never known. Without any real ties, he heads north to look for his father. Luck is not on his side though. His bag is lost at the airport and inside it, the only chance he had at making a little money. Penniless, and desperate he calls his aunt, borrows more money and invests in a run down camper. Thinking, hey, at least I can live in it.

Although Cameron is used to living by slim means, he desires more. He desires a more stable life, and he hopes his father can be a part of that. What begins as a quest for an inheritance becomes something much more. While trying to make a living, he meets Tova at the aquarium.

Between the loss of Tova’s son Erik, the loss of her brother Lars, and the entrance of this young, wayward boy, Tova takes a liking to him and the two form a bond.

This is a beautiful story. There was one part where Marcellus’ secret hits me and I gasped. Out loud. Gasped. Nearly shed a tear. What a wonderful story! I had heard great things about this book but the magical realism turned me off. Boy, was I wrong. I ADORED this book. It will be on my fave list for sure but you all need to read it! It’s been out for a long time but hey, just pick it up. Trust me.

Highly recommend.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Same As It Ever Was
By Claire Lombardo
Doubleday Books, 9780385549554, June 2024, 512pp.

The Short of It:

One of the most frustratingly, endearing reads I’ve ever read.

The Rest of It:

Let me explain that sentence above. Julia Ames walks us through her life as a married mother of two. She includes it all, the doubts, the flaws, the insecurities. We meet her as a young woman, and then a married woman and then a mom. We are taken back and forth in time to when it was good, and when it wasn’t great. And how a brief slip of common sense sends her down a disastrous path. But does it?

It took me a really long time to read Same as it Ever Was. The back and forth nature of the storytelling is necessary but also a bit exhausting. Julia is a frustrating character. She second-guesses too much. There is a lot of internal dialogue as she navigates life and basically, everyday interactions. Sometimes I wanted to shake her and tell her to be more confident but then other times, you just want to give her a hug because she is the definition of a hot mess.

Julia is deeply flawed but also relatable. Her flashbacks of raising her children reminded me of my own experiences raising tiny humans. The overall not-knowing if what you are doing is right, or if you could be doing it better. Her relationship with her husband Mark, is tenuous at best. So there’s not a lot of encouragement going on there.

What is the story about? LIFE. It’s about leaving your single self to become part of something larger. It’s about all the missteps you take as you figure out the kind of life you want to live. It’s about mistakes, forgiveness, and the people who come into your life to help you navigate the ups and downs.

Lombardo’s writing is clear and authentic. Genuine, you could say. As I was reading, there were a million moments where I caught myself saying, “I get it.” Especially the sections about Julia’s adult children and their evolution from sweet toddlerhood to moody teens. It all made me a little sad though, that empty nest thing and the “what’s next?” aspect of life. Life is a series of next steps and this story is entirely that.

As you get towards the end of the story, there is a lot going on, so many feelings as Julia figures out how to interact with her very difficult mother, I mean, who can’t relate to that? But the awkwardness and sarcasm hits you before the sense of loneliness and loss does. This section felt a little long. Perhaps, because it was uncomfortable.

This is not a story you will love. It’s not that kind of story but it’s a story you will appreciate, no matter what stage of life you are currently in.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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