Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Fiction • 2022
Short synopsis: Tova is a 70-something woman who has been working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, doing basic maintenance tasks. She befriends all of the animals, but is specifically drawn to Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus.
This book has been recommended to me over and over again, and sometimes when that happens, I become stubborn and refuse to read it because the hype is too much. Once the fervor for this book died down, I decided to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did! This book was exceptional. It was sweet and heartwarming, and I completely fell in love with Marcellus. (There are chapters interspersed through the novel with his thoughts, which is a little weird at first but I grew to love his perspective so much.) Tova was such a wonderful character, too, and so easy to root for. I wanted good things for her always. This is largely a character-driven novel so it could feel slow and meandering at times, but it’s the perfect book for people who do love a character-driven story.
White Tears/Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color by Ruby Hamad (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Library • Nonfiction (Social Justice) • 2020
Short synopsis: This explosive book of history and cultural criticism argues that white feminism has been a weapon of white supremacy and patriarchy deployed against Black and Indigenous women and all colonized women. Hamad starts from the slave era—when white women fought in court to keep “ownership” of their slaves—through the centuries of colonialism—when they offered a soft face for brutal tactics—to the modern workplace.
This book is not an easy read and it is not for white women who get their feelings hurt easily. I have come to a place in my anti-racism journey when I want to be challenged and I want to listen to how women of color feel about the way white feminism has halted their progress. This book talks about all sorts of different aspects of white feminism that have centered white feelings rather than listening to what women of color have been saying for generations. Hamad talks frankly about the ways white women slaveholders had an active role in punishing their enslaved people, the way women politicians of color have endured so much more vitriol than their white counterparts, and all the times white women have called the police on Black people who are just trying to live their lives (BBQ Becky, anyone?). It is an outstanding book and I am so glad I read it.
About That Night by Julie James (★★★★☆)
E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2012
Short synopsis: Rylann has just moved back to Chicago, accepting a job offer to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney, after her long-term relationship ended. The last thing she expects is to come face-to-face with the man who stood her up nine years ago—and he’s the defendant in her case.
This is a reread for me, as I’m slowly working my way through all of Julie James’ romances again. I love her writing style and the way she writes her characters, and rereading her books has been so much fun. This one was no exception; it was smart, funny, and super sexy. I loved the banter between Rylann and Kyle, and the sweet way they began falling in love. Are there some jokes and slightly misogynistic comments that haven’t aged well in the 12 years since this book was published? Oh, yes. But all in all, I still loved this book and enjoyed my time with it.
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Oh that Hamad book looks like something I would find fascinating, going to put it on my list.
I know we have had some differences in taste lately, and I have to tell you that I did not like Remarkably Bright Creatures AT ALL. I think I am the only person who didn’t! So it’s not you, it’s me!
Oh, wow! What didn’t you like about Remarkably Bright Creatures? I thought it was such a sweet book, but maybe it was too cutesy for you?
Can’t wait to hear what you think about White Tears/Brown Scars. So good!
I was the same way about Remarkably Bright Creatures! I avoided it for so long because it couldn’t live up to the hype I was seeing everywhere. It was super cute and I appreciated how it cycled through perspectives.
I’m glad I finally gave Remarkably Bright Creatures a chance because I really enjoyed it!
I enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures too. I actually had not heard the hype; I just picked it because it had a bright cover! I know, right! But it ended up being very fun, and as you said, I liked the characters and was rooting for them the entire time!
I have been reading up a storm in the form of audiobooks lately and have had some good ones! I finished the Exiles and enjoyed it! I also enjoyed The Women, The Phoenix Crown (SF, Chinatown, the 1906 earthquake, deceit and greed) and The Teacher (thriller) recently.
I just finished The Women – so good! A hard book to read, but a perspective I’ve yet to come across. I wonder if we’re going to start getting more Vietnam stories. I’m here for it!
I picked up The Phoenix Crown on a whim at a bookstore recently! Glad to hear it was good.
I am reading a book about an older woman (70+) who chooses to stay on a planet by herself when her colony, the only one she has ever known, was disbanded by its corporate controller. I am really enjoying this character who is by turns grouchy and brave. It’s rare, I think, for a book to have an older character at its center and I’m enjoying it greatly. Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon. So far I’m loving it.
General consensus on Remarkably Bright Creatures in my book club was: Fine. It was fine. It was meh. It had a great cover.
Oh man, our book clubs are so different! This was a 4 or 5 star read for most of us! Haha.
I love that we’re getting more books with older protagonists! Most of them are a little on the saccharine side, so probably not for you, but I love them!
I have been up and down about whether I would enjoy Remarkably Bright Creatures, but your review makes me want to give it a try! Like you, I sometimes get very stubborn about “hot” books. That’s how I’m feeling about The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store lately — I feel like people keep pushing it and it makes me resist, which is silly… but I am still going to wait and see if it appeals to me more when the hype dies down.
I was up and down about Remarkably Bright Creatures, too! But it turned out to be a great book for me – hopefully you will enjoy it, too, if you end up giving it a chance!
I tried The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store but I was having a hard time with the audiobook.
I liked remarkably bright creatures but didn’t love it. I gave it 3 stars. I think it was overhyped for me! You sound like Kaytee Cobb when you say you couldn’t read it until the hype died down!
I started ‘come and get it’ and am actually enjoying it so far! I was very skeptical after hearing several poor reviews about it! But it is working for me but also making me feel uncomfortable. I like the different points of views and storylines though! Next I will read the frozen river which is historical nonfiction, I think about a midwife.
Oh nooo, our book twinness is wearing off. I saw you gave Come and Get It four stars! We are diverging opinions on that book, but I’m glad it worked for you. Just goes to show you that not every book is for every reader!
I’m interested in White Tears/Brown Scars. In my desire to understand more, I listened to White Fragility, and it felt like it was just her describing white people getting offended when she told them they might want to examine the world they are in. Which I guess is the definition of white fragility, so I guess that’s fair. But I wanted something more to sink my teeth into. This sounds like maybe it’s that.
I’m listening to The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, and I’m enjoying it. I think I could do with a little bit less exploration into the characters, but it’s good otherwise.
I really liked White Fragility but now I’m trying to read more antiracism books from POC. White people have talked enough, lol. I also recommend anything Ibram X. Kendi writes!
I have Remarkably Bright Creatures on my TBR and feel the same. Hyped books usually move down on my TBR. But its keeps popping up so I will read it eventually … and when I finally get my hands on it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It was a really sweet story.