Remarkably
Bright Creatures is that rare blend of unique perspective, solid storytelling,
humor, and craft.
It captivated me from the opening lines of Marcellus, the
Octopus, and carried me along on a gentle, fun, and masterfully structured
story. As a writer, I marveled at the author’s sure-footedness in her
debut novel.
As a reader, I delighted in Van Pelt’s ability to draw me into
the characters' surroundings, lives, and dreams, all while
cheering for an Octopus.
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK
'Full of heart and humour . . . I loved it.' Ruth Hogan
'Will stay with you for a long time.' Anstey Harris
'I defy you to put it down once you've started' Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who…
This book is a masterpiece of humor and humanity. I
delighted in the sharp wit and perspective of the main character, Patrick
O’Hara, a once-famous actor who has retired to Palm Springs to avoid, well, as
much of life as possible.
The novel takes off when his young niece and nephew arrive in his life
and home. The humor continues, but the humanity pulses
to life. This book took me from laughing aloud to crying with joy, all while
cheering on Patrick and his connection with the kids.
The book is masterful in
its pacing, breezy wit, and delicate dance between laughter and love.
National Bestseller • Wall Street Journal Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller An NPR Book of the Year Semi-finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor Finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards
From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor comes a warm and deeply funny novel about a once-famous gay sitcom star whose unexpected family tragedy leaves him with his niece and nephew for the summer.
Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out…
Sometimes, a book comes into your life at a time you
precisely need it. For me, this was The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.
This book
captured my attention for many reasons: it’s set in a bookstore, in a remote
location and involves the power of books to change lives. Yet as it evolves, it
also reminds us that we never know fully what our story really is.
I loved how
the main character discovers life through the eyes of a child abandoned in his
store, and the child in turn uncovers life through books. It’s an uplifting, heartfelt,
humorous story that kept me cheering for the characters through every chapter.
“Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love.” —Library Journal (starred review)
A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when…
A love letter to books, travel, and the
people we meet along the way.
This charming, humorous, warm-hearted novel follows the extraordinary
adventures of an extraordinary book.Entitledis
told from the perspective of a book as it reluctantly travels from San
Francisco to Paris, London, and New York in search of a home.
As it is read,
misplaced, loaned, and abandoned, our book, like its Readers, discovers love and
heartbreak, loneliness and friendship, and ultimately becomes the author of its
own journey. In the end,Entitledreveals
the pull between the story we are born with and the one we wish to create for
ourselves.
