Tova’s Swedish Dala horses are some of her most treasured possessions.In the middle of the novel, on page 177, Cameron says to Tova, “conscience does make cowards of us all.” What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree with this?.How do you view the role of community and family in caring for older people? How did Tova’s views on this change throughout the book, and why do you think they did? Tova reflects on her experience caring for her husband through his illness and eventual passing, and with no surviving family to do the same for her, she worries about being a burden on her friends as she ages.What do you think keys symbolize in this novel? I remember all keys, too.” From the house key Tova loses to the ring of keys Marcellus finds at the bottom of the sea, the novel is filled with various types of keys. Marcellus remarks on page 59 that “fingerprints are like keys, with their specific shape.The watery Puget Sound setting plays a major role in the plot, but how else does the setting inform the novel? How do you think the novel would be different if it were set somewhere like Arizona or Minnesota? 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' takes place in a Pacific Northwest coastal town in the recent past.Have you had encounters with animals - octopuses or otherwise - who demonstrated surprising levels of intelligence, emotional or otherwise? Have you felt “seen” by an animal or felt a relationship with an animal deepen upon earning their trust?

Marcellus is extremely smart - smarter than any human he encounters.Why do you think he sabotages himself? Have you ever had someone like this in your life? In contrast to how Tova keeps busy, Cameron emerges as a character who deals with grief by remaining stagnant, refusing to even try to reach his potential, much to the frustration of those who care about him.On page 9, Tova empathizes with the sharks in the big aquarium tank, musing that she “understands what it means to never be able to stop moving, lest you find yourself unable to breathe.” Why do you think she feels so compelled to keep busy? What would happen if she simply stopped?.What qualities bind these characters to each other? Are they connected by loss, grief or something else? Each of these characters - animal and human - need each other in a specific way, even if they don’t realize this at first.What kind of person do you think Marcellus would be if he were human? What qualities do Marcellus and Tova both share that make this remarkable friendship a success?.After reading, use the discussion questions provided by the publisher to start a conversation with family and friends.

Remarkably bright