In conversation with Amanda Churchill
Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, is a charming exploration of unexpected friendship and hope. After Tova Sullivan’s husband dies, she begins working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Staying busy has been a coping mechanism for Tova ever since her 18-year-old son mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over 30 years ago. At the aquarium, Tova befriends Marcellus, a giant, curmudgeonly Pacific octopus. A surprisingly astute detective, Marcellus deduces the circumstances around her son’s disappearance and uses every trick he can to unearth the truth for Tova. This memorable novel is a luminous examination of “what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places” (Washington Post).
Remarkably Bright Creatures has spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list, has sold more than two million copies, and is a Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick. Sally Field is in talks to star in the screen adaptation.
TICKET PRICES: Public $25, DMA Member/Educator $20, Student $10
