Page 12 - Boca Exposure - March '24

Page 12, Boca Exposure
Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures

By Nils A. Shapiro around my wrist and held It is in the very special chapters throughout the book
When my two wonderful me there in greeting a involving Marcellus’s most important place in the story that
daughters, Brett and Hillary, very long time. this remarkable creature contributes the narrative himself,
surprised me recently with a Soon, realizing that each time announcing the timing of the events taking place.
gift copy of this book it was this was a creature as His first: “Day 1,299 of My Captivity”…
clear they remembered my different from a human Marcellus had spent most of his life in the freedom of the
telling them several years ago as would be a visitor from open ocean, before he was captured 3 1/2 years earlier and
about having had one of the outer space – its mouth is placed in the small, boring “prison” of a tank that shortens
most emotional experiences in its armpit – but is at least the life of these intelligent cephalopods, and he is now aware
of my life. I had just written as intelligent as a human that his own will soon be ending.
a rave review for The Soul in many ways, I began to His only friend, Tova, has grieved for many years over
of an Octopus, a nonfiction choke up at the enormity the loss of her son, Erik, a high school senior who died
book that went on to climb the bestseller lists in 25 countries of the experience and, with mysteriously several decades earlier in a case that was
around the world. Its award-winning author, Sy Montgomery, tears streaming down my officially ruled a drowning while he was in his boat at sea.
whom I had never met before but who has since become a dear face, spoke softly to this Another important character in the book, Cameron, is
friend, called to thank me and invited me to meet her at the New Sy of the sea: “Do you realize what’s happening? Do you know introduced as a 30-year-old man raised by his Aunt Jeanne
England Aquarium to meet Sy, the giant Pacific octopus that that you’re dying? I know it’s to save your babies. I wish I could when his mother abandoned him soon after his birth.
had been named after her. help you.” After a while I was told it was time to leave and had Following a series of employment difficulties and some
She explained to me, however, that I would have to make the to uncoil the tentacle. It was an experience I will never forget. research he now believes that his natural father, whom he
visit soon because, as her book explains, after a female octopus I mention all of the above because an octopus named has never known, has become a wealthy real estate tycoon
lays her 100,000 eggs she instinctively immediately rests her Marcellus is one of the main characters in Remarkably living in Seattle and makes plans to confront the man with
eight tentacles on top of them to protect them from predators in Bright Creatures, a debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt. In her the intent of demanding some financial compensation for all
her natural ocean habitat. From that moment on she no longer acknowledgements she credits Sy Montgomery for what she the years of parental neglect.
forages for her own food and slowly, over a period of weeks, learned in The Soul of an Octopus. When the planned meeting with his assumed father is
starves to death – sacrificing her own life long enough to allow Van Pelt’s novel is itself a remarkable achievement, a delayed, Cameron takes a job at the Sowell Bay aquarium
her babies to be born. highly imaginative and beautifully told story of relationships, temporarily replacing Tova when she is injured, and the two
I knew from Sy’s book that octopuses are among the world’s memories, sadness, family and love. gradually form a genuine friendship.
most intelligent creatures, having been on this planet for millions An elderly widow in her 70s, Tova, works evenings at the While in Sowell Bay, Cameron begins to develop a
of years with almost no evolution because they are almost aquarium in her town of Sowell Bay, Wash., mopping the floors relationship with a young woman, Avery – and author Van
perfect for their environment. They recognize individual human and keeping the glass walls of all the exhibits clear and clean. Pelt adds to the cast of characters Ethan, owner of the local
faces – the one I was to meet already knew Sy the author as a She genuinely cares for all the various creatures within their market. All are interesting and worth getting to know.
friend – and can easily solve complicated puzzles provided by enclosures and often feeds them but has a special affection But it is Marcellus who, with his intelligence, intuitive
the aquarium on a regular basis to prevent their becoming bored. for, and connection with, the giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, understanding and scientifically accurate physical skills
When I arrived, after Sy the octopus greeted Sy the author whose restless nature and renowned intelligence is reflected in ultimately brings together all of the complex strands of
by raising a tentacle out of the water and wrapping it around her his constant successful escapes from his tank to explore – and this book’s imaginative story line to a satisfying, yet
waist and holding it there for quite a while, the author unwrapped sometimes devour – the tasty samples from nearby other tanks. It magical, conclusion.
the tentacle, turned to me and said, “It’s your turn, Nils.” is a secret that Tova does not disclose to the aquarium’s officials As for me, it was after I had read page 250 of this book’s
I was taken aback for a moment, was handed a small fish lest they punish her eight-legged friend. Instead, she always 355 pages, at a special moment in the narrative, that I put
that had been the octopus’s favorite food, then stood and catches him and returns him to his tank. the book down and, feeling all choked up, with the memory
looked down into the tank. A tentacle arose from the water, It is a fact that, because they are gelatinous and have no of my own earlier experience, called both my daughters and
took the fish gently from my hand ... but dropped it. She was bones, even octopuses whose tentacles stretch to 6 or 8 feet wide thanked them for their very thoughtful gift.
already too weak to eat and was starving. But the tentacle are able to squeeze through holes as small as 1 or 2 inches wide. I suspect you will want to thank me for sharing this
came up again and slowly wrapped around my wrist! She They have also been known to figure out how to open locks. wonderful book with you.
was tasting me – she could taste down to my bloodstream
with any part of her skin – and, having accepted me as a
friend of her friend, slowly wrapped a tentacle gripping me Reverse Mortgages/Reverse Purchase Mortgages
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