Page 8 - Martin Downs Bulletin - March '24

Page 8, Martin Downs

Book Review

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