Literary Fiction · Free kit
Remarkably Bright Creatures
In the coastal town of Sowell Bay, seventy-year-old widow Tova Sullivan cleans the aquarium after hours — partly for the paycheck, mostly to keep grief from swallowing the nights. There she forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who sees far more than his captors realize. When a lost young man arrives searching for the father who abandoned him, three lonely lives begin to braid together — and an old mystery about Tova’s missing son starts to surface.
“We are all of us a little remarkable, if only we look closely enough.”
Complete free book club kit
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Plan your meeting
Remarkably Bright Creatures Hosting Guide
A free, printable-minded plan for hosting Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Invite hook
“What if the person who understood you best was only in your life for two years?”
The question you’re arguing about: Can someone who was part of your life briefly leave a deeper mark than the people who stayed forever?
Shopping list
- □Smoked salmon crostini or salmon spread (Pacific Northwest nod)
- □Clam chowder shooters or seafood chowder cups (Sowell Bay coastal vibes)
- □Hot tea with honey in mismatched mugs (Knit-Wits energy)
- □Blue table runner with seashells, driftwood, or sea glass
- □Small octopus figurines or a DIY “Marcellus sighting” centerpiece
- □Printed bingo cards and pens
- □Index cards for favorite Marcellus quotes at wrap-up
Day-of timeline
- 0–10 minWelcome & icebreakers
- 10–20 minTrivia warm-up
- 20–45 minMain discussion (debate starters + deep dives)
- 45–55 minWould You Rather or Speed Debate
- 55–65 minBingo + rate the book & pick next month
Surprise touch
Place a small “Marcellus was here” card under one guest’s mug or plate — a tiny sucker-print doodle or note saying he rearranged something. It sparks laughter and gets quieter members talking before discussion starts.
Wrap-up
- □Group photo (bonus: with a book-related prop — octopus figurine, seashell, or the kit PDF cover)
- □Quick rating round: 1–5 stars and one word each
- □Share a favorite Marcellus quote before everyone leaves
- □Vote on next month’s book