Remarkably Bright Creatures

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does the relationship between Tova and Marcellus develop over the course of the novel? In what ways does nonverbal companionship allow Tova to process grief?
• The circumstances surrounding Tova’s son’s death are not completely clear until the end of the novel. What does this say about the nature of grief itself? Does this late clarity effectively enhance the novel’s portrayal of grief and loss?
• Consider other popular texts featuring a human and animal friendship. How do these texts differ and compare in their portrayals of animal intelligence and companionship? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Connect the book’s themes and characters to personal experiences.

• What instance of isolation in your life can you use to compare with Tova’s? How did an experience of loss or isolation shape you? What unexpected connections did it create?
• Describe the function of chosen and biological family in the text. What does a hybrid family structure in the text offer that a traditional family structure might not? What does family mean to you?
• Which moments of grief, isolation, or loneliness in the text affected you the most? When did you feel hope, and when did you feel despair? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Consider the deep connection between Tova and Marcellus. What does their mutual curiosity tell us about human and animal connections? In what ways is Marcellus a bridge to the natural world, and what does this suggest about the human responsibility of environmental stewardship? 
• How does the narrative challenge and critique societal attitudes toward aging through Tova’s character? Consider Tova’s occupation, level of activity, and process of discovery and exploration.
• How does the narrative challenge societal attitudes toward grief and loss by examining prolonged grief and the long-term effects of loss? How does it advocate for seeking help at any stage of the grieving process, and is it effective in doing so?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• What is the effect of the omniscient narration, which allows the text to travel from past and present and between multiple characters? How does the inclusion of Marcellus’s first-person perceptions alter the text?
• Discuss the importance of having both the sea and the confined space of the aquarium as settings. How does the setting of the aquarium provide a space for complex grieving? While the sea has taken Tova’s son, how does the text establish the sea as the aquarium’s opposite? 
• How does the discovery of their family connection alter the relationship between Cameron and Tova? How does this contribute to plot development and character development?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• How would the narrative differ, particularly regarding healing, if Marcellus had not successfully revealed the familial relationship between Cameron and Tova? How might Cameron and Tova have continued in their journeys with grief?
• Write a letter from Marcellus to Tova, expressing his thoughts on freedom, captivity, and the meanings of his bonds with Tova and Cameron. What messages or feelings would Marcellus want to convey the most?