My prickly padlet by Kalea McCartney

5/7/25

kmccartn000 — 2025-05-07 19:23:13 UTC

In the first two chapters of: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, we get some background information on Marcellus the giant pacific octopus. I am curious about why an octopus is narrating the book; and how the writer will tell a story from an octopus's point of view.

5/9/25

kmccartn000 — 2025-05-09 18:42:58 UTC

I would compare Remarkably Bright Creatures to the movie Shark Tale, a movie about a little fish named Oscar with big dreams. It personifies all of the underwater characters, including Oscar, making him the story teller. Remarkably Bright Creatures also personifies Marcellus and makes him the narrator.

5/21/25

kmccartn000 — 2025-05-21 18:27:27 UTC

Today, I made this meme to show Marcellus's reaction when someone calls him "that guy" instead of his real name: Marcellus. Marcellus hates it when people don't use his real name because it makes him feel less than everyone else, and it makes him feel objectified.

5/28/25

kmccartn000 — 2025-05-28 18:33:36 UTC

I think a surprising plot twist for Remarkably Bright creatures could be if the main character Marcellus the octopus fortuitously escaped his modicum aquarium. I think this would be a very interesting plot twist because the aquarium would then have an octopus on the loose and they would have to catch him and get him back into his home.

5/28/25

kmccartn000 — 2025-05-28 18:52:52 UTC

I think the song "I Just Wanna Be" by Mako Mermaids fits the mood of my book so far. It talks about the mermaids loving their island home, which connects to the book because Marcellus loves his home in the sea and misses it. This song also talks about wanting to be with your friends feeling free, which also connects to the book because of Marcellus's affinity and friendship with the janitor Tova.

Song lyrics:

"I just wanna be swimming in the sea
Now it's just you and me forever, ever, ever
I just wanna be with you feeling free
It's my destiny forever, ever, ever"