Page 5 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - March '24

Jupiter Ocean Mile, Page 5
Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures

By Nils A. Shapiro is in its armpit – but is His only friend, Tova, has grieved for many years over
When my two wonderful at least as intelligent the loss of her son, Erik, a high school senior who died
daughters, Brett and Hillary, as a human in many mysteriously several decades earlier in a case that was officially
surprised me recently with ways, I began to choke ruled a drowning while he was in his boat at sea.
a gift copy of this book it up at the enormity of Another important character in the book, Cameron, is
was clear they remembered the experience and, with introduced as a 30-year-old man raised by his Aunt Jeanne
my telling them several tears streaming down when his mother abandoned him soon after his birth. Following
years ago about having had my face, spoke softly a series of employment difficulties and some research he now
one of the most emotional to this Sy of the sea: believes that his natural father, whom he has never known, has
experiences of my life. “Do you realize what’s become a wealthy real estate tycoon living in Seattle and makes
I had just written a rave happening? Do you plans to confront the man with the intent of demanding some
review for The Soul of an know that you’re dying? financial compensation for all the years of parental neglect.
Octopus, a nonfiction book that went on to climb the I know it’s to save your When the planned meeting with his assumed father is
bestseller lists in 25 countries around the world. Its award- babies. I wish I could delayed, Cameron takes a job at the Sowell Bay aquarium
winning author, Sy Montgomery, whom I had never met help you.” After a while temporarily replacing Tova when she is injured, and the two
before but who has since become a dear friend, called to I was told it was time to gradually form a genuine friendship.
thank me and invited me to meet her at the New England leave and had to uncoil the tentacle. It was an experience While in Sowell Bay, Cameron begins to develop a
Aquarium to meet Sy, the giant Pacific octopus that had I will never forget. relationship with a young woman, Avery – and author Van
been named after her. I mention all of the above because an octopus named Pelt adds to the cast of characters Ethan, owner of the local
She explained to me, however, that I would have to Marcellus is one of the main characters in Remarkably market. All are interesting and worth getting to know.
make the visit soon because, as her book explains, after Bright Creatures, a debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt. In But it is Marcellus who, with his intelligence, intuitive
a female octopus lays her 100,000 eggs she instinctively her acknowledgements she credits Sy Montgomery for understanding and scientifically accurate physical skills
immediately rests her eight tentacles on top of them to what she learned in The Soul of an Octopus. ultimately brings together all of the complex strands of this
protect them from predators in her natural ocean habitat. Van Pelt’s novel is itself a remarkable achievement, book’s imaginative story line to a satisfying, yet magical,
From that moment on she no longer forages for her own a highly imaginative and beautifully told story of conclusion.
food and slowly, over a period of weeks, starves to death relationships, memories, sadness, family and love. As for me, it was after I had read page 250 of this book’s
– sacrificing her own life long enough to allow her babies An elderly widow in her 70s, Tova, works evenings at 355 pages, at a special moment in the narrative, that I put the
to be born. the aquarium in her town of Sowell Bay, Wash., mopping book down and, feeling all choked up, with the memory of my
I knew from Sy’s book that octopuses are among the the floors and keeping the glass walls of all the exhibits own earlier experience, called both my daughters and thanked
world’s most intelligent creatures, having been on this planet clear and clean. She genuinely cares for all the various them for their very thoughtful gift.
for millions of years with almost no evolution because they creatures within their enclosures and often feeds them I suspect you will want to thank me for sharing this
are almost perfect for their environment. They recognize but has a special affection for, and connection with, the wonderful book with you.
individual human faces – the one I was to meet already knew giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, whose restless nature
Sy the author as a friend – and can easily solve complicated and renowned intelligence is reflected in his constant Editorial copy appearing herewith is not necessarily the viewpoint of
puzzles provided by the aquarium on a regular basis to successful escapes from his tank to explore – and Seabreeze Publications of Central Florida. Most editorial copy is created by
prevent their becoming bored. sometimes devour – the tasty samples from nearby other the homeowners and is edited by their appointed editor.
When I arrived, after Sy the octopus greeted Sy the tanks. It is a secret that Tova does not disclose to the
author by raising a tentacle out of the water and wrapping aquarium’s officials lest they punish her eight-legged
it around her waist and holding it there for quite a while, the friend. Instead, she always catches him and returns him
author unwrapped the tentacle, turned to me and said, “It’s to his tank.
your turn, Nils.” It is a fact that, because they are gelatinous and have
I was taken aback for a moment, was handed a small no bones, even octopuses whose tentacles stretch to 6 or
fish that had been the octopus’s favorite food, then stood 8 feet wide are able to squeeze through holes as small as Seabreeze Publications
and looked down into the tank. A tentacle arose from the 1 or 2 inches wide. They have also been known to figure
water, took the fish gently from my hand ... but dropped out how to open locks. Publisher
it. She was already too weak to eat and was starving. But It is in the very special chapters throughout the book M. Sean Reid
the tentacle came up again and slowly wrapped around involving Marcellus’s most important place in the story J. Reid
my wrist! She was tasting me – she could taste down to that this remarkable creature contributes the narrative
my bloodstream with any part of her skin – and, having himself, each time announcing the timing of the events Sales
accepted me as a friend of her friend, slowly wrapped a taking place. His first: “Day 1,299 of My Captivity”… Tom English, Laura Berrio, Bret McCormick
tentacle gripping me gently, suction cup sucker by sucker Marcellus had spent most of his life in the freedom of Production Manager Lee Nostrant
that felt like wet velvet around my wrist and held me there the open ocean, before he was captured 3 1/2 years earlier
in greeting a very long time. and placed in the small, boring “prison” of a tank that Production Department
Soon, realizing that this was a creature as different from shortens the life of these intelligent cephalopods, and he Elaine Donholt • Ruth Nekoranec • Katie Heystek
Ballet Palm Beach - Peter Pan Seabreeze 6.75x6.pdf 1 2/20/24 3:49 PM
a human as would be a visitor from outer space – its mouth is now aware that his own will soon be ending. Sherry Whalon • Dianne Strout • Karen Kalisz

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form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, including xerography and
photocopying is forbidden without the written permission of the Publisher.
The Publisher is not responsible or liable for misinformation or misprints
herein contained and reserves the right to accept or reject all copy deemed
unsuitable for publication.
www.seabreezepublications.com
1102 W. Indiantown Rd., Suite 5, Jupiter, FL 33458
(561) 746-3244
FAX (561) 746-2509

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