Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt-360 pages

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.   Proving that a cure for loneliness can come from the most unexpected places.

A feel good book..you are pulling for Tova and Marcellus the entire book.  I enjoyed it very much.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams-368 pages

Mukesh is an elderly widower.  His days are pretty mundane.  He always tries to bring his wife back to his mind and one way is through the last library book she read, "The Time Traveler's Wife".  One day he realizes that he should by now return the library book because surely it is long overdue.  He has never actually been to the library before as his wife was the reader.  He bumbles his way through his first visit by forgetting to return the book and looking at a book he's not even interested in...too embarrassed to ask for help.  But then the young library clerk discovers a list of books in a book that was returned.  She decides they look interesting and decides to share the list with him, at the same time reading them herself.  Discovering in the process that books have a way of transporting us.  So begins a friendship; one that helps both of the individuals endure many trials.  To find happiness in new friendships and new beginnings for their community library.  This is her debut novel and I enjoyed it very much.

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

                                         

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout-289 pages

Well, I thought I had better read this because of all the hype.  I am not sure what I was expecting but I did not care for it.  Full disclosure..I had not read the first one. There were many lives that were touched by Olive.  I only cared for one of the people and that was a retired librarian.  Way too brash and fleshly for me.  I would not recomend it.