Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt

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Tova Sullivan spends her nights cleaning the local aquarium, despite all her friends encouraging her to finally retire at the age of 70. She feels the need to keep busy however, her son’s death at the age of 18 leaving her with a lingering grief, the recent loss of her husband to cancer, and even more recent, the loss of her estranged brother, has left her feeling more alone than ever. She enjoys her work at the aquarium and talks to the creatures in their tanks as she makes her way around the building. One night, however, she gets a surprise when she discovers Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus that resides there, out of his tank and tangled in cables. She helps him back to his tank and thus begins a friendship that will have major impacts for both of them. Marcellus is not merely a side character, he narrates parts of the novel, counting his days of captivity, aware that the end of his life is drawing near. He observes the humans who come to see him and marvels at the things they miss that seem so obvious to him. The third main focus of the novel is  30 year old Cameron Cassmore, recently fired, again, and newly single after his girlfriend unceremoniously kicks him out. He finds himself back on the couch of his two childhood best friends, now married and expecting their first child, there is a sense that he has been left behind. His aunt Jeanne gives him a box of items from his mother, who he hasn’t seen since he was nine. He plans to pawn anything of value, but an old class ring and photograph leads him to believe he might finally be able to track down his father. When Cameron and Tova’s paths cross they have the opportunity to find what’s missing for them both, but will they see it before it’s too late, and can Marcellus help reveal what remains hidden to them?

Sowell Bay is a small community and everyone knows everyone else’s business, in no small part thanks to Ethan, the owner of the local grocery store. He may like to gossip, but his heart is in the right place. When Cameron turns up in a falling apart camper he helps him fix it up, and lets him park on his drive, offering him a sense of home in a strange town. Tova is quite private and doesn’t appreciate her business being shared, especially when it encourages others to think she needs to take life slower. She’s very conscious of the town knowing about her personal tragedies and not really knowing how to be around her. At a large gathering we see first hand how awkward conversations quickly become with a thoughtless comment. She’ll always be the woman who lost her teenage son, and although it’s painful, she would actually like people to talk to her about their memories of Erik, something they’re generally reluctant to do.

Cameron is introduced to us in a way that makes him seem irresponsible and a bit of a liability, but as we get to know him we see that he really does want to do the best he can but struggles to get past a low sense of self worth. Life in Sowell Bay seems to agree with him however, he manages to hold down a job at the aquarium for longer than any other job he’s had, and he even meets someone. Finding his father proves difficult however, and when he finally does meet the man he’s looking for things don’t fall into place as easily as he’d hoped. He almost lets his anger and disappointment get the better of him, but the people he has met in the Bay have taught him about responsibility. Tova spends time at the aquarium while he is there, and although he finds her very particular way of doing things somewhat frustrating to begin with, they form a friendship, and share the secret of Marcellus’s night-time wanderings.

Marcellus himself is an interesting character, causing slight chaos on his wanders, eating the other exhibits, although he thinks he’s careful never to eat too many. His narrative is amusing and very interesting as an alternative viewpoint. When we finally learn of how he came into captivity it also makes you question whether being ‘rescued’ is really the best outcome. He was injured and no doubt benefited from the opportunity to recuperate in the safety of the aquarium, but in doing so he was condemned to spend the rest of his life in captivity. We see the arrival of a new octopus toward the end of the novel, also injured and afraid, the owner excited to have a replacement for Marcellus when his inevitable end arrives. Throughout, the owner is shown to be knowledgable about the lives under his care, and that he genuinely wants to do his best for them, but it is important to think about how the living exhibits really feel. 

This is a warm book, with characters that you fall for. Central characters such as Erik and Cameron’s mum never appear directly but we see much of them through the recollections of others. They are important characters despite, or perhaps because of, their absence. It will make you think about family and friends and how easy it is to lose important connections in life, encouraging you to make the effort. You see the full range of life, from absent parents to loss, and concerns about what the end of your life will look like. Despite this, it doesn’t feel like a heavy book at all, but is emotional at times. A warm hug of a book, with a wonderful, unusual narrator.

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Family Lore, Elizabeth Acevedo

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Flor has the ability to know when someone is going to die, and so when she plans her own living wake, her family naturally worries that there’s something she hasn’t shared with them. The book follows the preparations for the wake while Flor’s daughter Ona, an anthropologist, records her family’s history, exploring each sister’s past and present, the heartbreaks, the family struggles, and the way their sisterly bonds have been built and challenged. Ona’s cousin Yadi also features, allowing a comparison between the generations and an exploration of the ways family lore is passed on and impacts throughout the years.

Ona herself is struggling with conceiving a much longed for child. Having undergone surgery the year before, she has been desperately trying for a baby with her partner Jeremiah, but it takes its toll, leaving them feeling as though the affection and genuine desire has been stripped from their relationship. Her exploration of family is particularly pertinent as she tries to continue her own. Her interviews with her aunts and cousin wear them out somewhat but encourage them all to consider what makes a good life, and to face the possibly imminent loss of Flor. 

Romantic relationships are important throughout, although the book is female led, the male characters are supporting players in their story. For many, marriage has been a challenge, with alcoholism and addiction, infidelity, and separation appearing. There is also sadness in loss for those lucky enough to find a good man. The men in their lives are often selfish, and we see instances in their youth of the dangers of the opposite sex, and their vulnerability, not just to attack, but of the consequences of a society which values purity in women. Ona’s gift is that of an ‘alpha vagina’ which she can control at will, which in some ways makes her inability to control other aspects of her reproductive system all the more painful. Her cousin Yadi lost her childhood sweetheart to prison when he was condemned for a crime he didn’t commit. Their reunion causes a lot of heartache and confusion, and makes her question what took place in the years apart, of the silence between them when others in the community stayed in touch. Their story also raises questions about the criminal justice system. This is one of many examples of how Acevedo weaves multiple layers of meaning and questioning throughout.

The sisters grew up in the Dominican Republic and each came to New York at different times and for different reasons. The values and traditions they grew up with are different than Ona and Yadi, although their parents try to keep them connected to their roots. Indeed, in times of strife, it proves useful to go back and stay with family there, even if some things (having their toilet business inspected, for example) are difficult to adjust to. There is generational trauma however in the way some were treated in their youth, Mamá Silvia and her siblings having left an indelible mark. 

As the wake approaches Flor begins to question whether it was the right choice. She can see the strain it’s putting on her closest family, the worry in Ona’s voice as she asks probing questions, and it’s tiring for her always having to avoid giving too much away. She wanted it to be a happy event, coming together with her loved ones, celebrating a life lived well, she hopes. But she herself also feels the strain, constantly changing the menu, indecisive about her outfit. 

This is an absorbing book, fitting so much life into so few pages. It makes you think deeply about family and how complicated they can be. The narrative shifts, with each new focus being indicated at the beginning of the chapter. Some might find this a bit disorienting, and to be honest when I saw there was a cast list at the opening I was concerned, but each story is so captivating, and each life so entangled with the others, that it reads easily. Each member of the family will go out to bat for the others, yet it’s also clear there are certain aspects of their lives that will always remain a mystery to those around them. A wonderful book with realistically drawn characters who you root for at every turn. 

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The Little Paris Bookshop, Nina George (trans. by Simon Pare)

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Jean Perdu owns a bookshop barge on the River Seine in Paris which he runs as a literary apothecary, prescribing books for customers, and on occasion refusing to sell ones he thinks are wrong for them. His eccentricities seem to extend to his home life, an apartment devoid of life and a locked room which houses the ghosts of his past. He may be perceptive when it comes to the needs of others, but struggles to heal his own heartbreak. A new neighbour, Catherine, is experiencing her own relationship breakdown, arriving without any furniture, and in need of comfort. She is nonetheless headstrong and encourages Perdu to engage, and ultimately to face the past he has been hiding from for the past twenty years. A couple of months earlier, Max Jordan, author of a viral book, moved in to the building, relieved that his fans haven’t found him, he spends his days trying to avoid being recognised as he battles with the struggle of what to write next. Soon he is embarking on a voyage to Provence in the book barge with Perdu, one seeking to find something that has long been lost, the other trying to find their future.

We catch glimpses of Perdu in his younger, more care-free days through the insertion of journal papers written by Manon, his former love. We see how he became the man he is and how his life could have been different. We never meet Manon in-person in the novel and so this is our main source of understanding of her as a person, outside of Perdu’s deep affection for her. Whatever our views on how their relationship played out, it would be hard not to feel the devastation of its ending, and the half life Perdu lived for so long as a result. His burgeoning relationship with Catherine is thoughtfully written, with both vulnerability and independence being shown. Intimacy with someone new is not something either of them have had to deal with for a long time and George writes the scenario realistically, with all the frustrations and misunderstandings of human interaction. There is also a maturity to their relationship, an understanding that they’ve lived full lives and therefore have unresolved feelings and baggage, and are able to give each other variously the space and support they need to work through them. 

This is a book about love, grief, and finding yourself. It’s also a love letter to books. Perdu understands the power of reading, and although his journey is deeply personal, he also hopes to discover the author of a book that touched his life profoundly, whose author writes under a pseudonym and whose true identity is unknown. For those looking for some literary healing too, the book closes with a list of books (an ‘emergency pharmacy’) for those in need, as well as some recipes for anyone whose tastebuds were tingling from the rich descriptions of food and drink throughout.

This is a lovely read, with a host of eccentric yet well-rounded characters. It deals with serious and sad topics but manages to retain an overall sense of lightness. It had sat on my bookshelf waiting to be read for quite some time and I finally picked it up in need of something light hearted and cheerful. It wasn’t exactly that, but it was beautiful, whimsical yet philosophical. I loved it. 

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Once Upon A Time World: The Dark and Sparkling Story of the French Riviera, Jonathan Miles

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The French Riviera, famed for its pleasant climate, turquoise waters, and the rich and famous that have long been attracted to it. Miles takes us on a whirlwind tour through its history, the many visitors who have taken up residence there, the artists inspired by the landscape, the scandals, the seemingly endless car accidents, the corruption and glamour. Many have a glamorous image of the area thanks to the likes of the Cannes Film Festival and the luxury yachts that line its harbours, yet Miles reveals the darker side of its history and considers what its future will look like. 

We begin with a look back at the history of the land before it was colonised by tourists, highlighting how inhospitable the landscape can be and how many times it changed hands. It soon becomes clear that since the early nineteenth century its development was very much dictated by foreigners, with the architecture including nods to that of the homelands of those with whom it was most popular at the time. Indeed, it was so heavily loaded with visitors that the local dialect used words more akin to Italian and Spanish than French at times. 

Its mild climate led to many physicians recommending patients wintered there. For those with the money to spend extended periods there, or to return time and again, it really did seem to help, but for many it was a last resort. This led to an underlying tone of chronic illness and death, in stark contrast to the sumptuous landscape and the already luxurious accommodations. As time passed, patients continued to be prescribed time on the Riviera, but more visitors came to be inspired by the landscape, and to mix with the leading lights of the arts.

The roll call of artists and creatives who visited or made their home there is impressive. Artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, and Renoir were all inspired by the quality of light and colours on the Riviera, while Monet struggled with the wildness of the landscape, used to his well tended, carefully planned garden at Giverny. A series of chapels were designed by artists, Miles claiming that the desire for the project came from a sense of not wanting to be outdone. New and unusual ballets were premiered in the area, and costumes were designed by the likes of Coco Chanel. It was a hotbed of creativity with those from different fields collaborating. Writers, too, were drawn to the area, perhaps most famously F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, whose time there is reflected in Tender is the Night. 

A place of great inspiration, but also a place where people could lose everything with the development of casinos, which brought in new audiences. Behind the glitz and glamour we also see the corruption underlying public life. The mayor of Nice, Jacques Médecin has been accused of many dodgy dealings and was ultimately sentenced to a period in jail. The 1960s onwards marked a shift toward a darker side to the area, with the mafia operating locally, and to increased development and pollution from the sheer volume of visitors, no longer just the elite. Nice airport, today the second busiest in France, is perched on the shoreline, meaning planes fly low over popular beaches every few minutes, polluting the once alluring air. 

Arranged chronologically as well as thematically, the book gives you a glimpse into the way the area has changed over the ages, and what particular developments were taking centre-stage when. It covers a lot so you never get too bogged down in detail, which for some may leave you wanting more, but which gives a thrilling overview of a quite extraordinary place. A thoroughly enjoyable read. 

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