Mangroves Book Club
2026 picks
February 2026
Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Genre: Fiction
Goodreads Rating: 4.36/5
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Original Publication Year: May 3, 2022
Why We Picked It: Recommended by a friend, this novel explores themes of grief and unusual friendships that will likely resonate with many readers. It is a New York Times bestseller that has been adapted to film and scheduled for release on Netflix in May 2026.
Plot Summary:
From SparkNotes: The novel opens with Tova Sullivan, who works as a night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She is grappling with the loss of her son, Erik, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when he was eighteen. Tova's life takes a turn when she befriends Marcellus, the aquarium's octopus, who possesses remarkable intelligence and a unique perspective on life. Marcellus often escapes his tank to explore the aquarium, and their bond deepens when Tova helps him out of a dangerous situation.
Parallel to Tova's story is that of Cameron Cassmore, a young man searching for his estranged father, Simon Brinks. Cameron's life is tumultuous, marked by job instability and a recent breakup with his girlfriend, Katie. As their paths cross, Marcellus becomes a bridge between Tova and Cameron, revealing family secrets and connections that
intertwine their lives in unexpected ways.
Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Genre: Fiction
Goodreads Rating: 4.36/5
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Original Publication Year: May 3, 2022
Why We Picked It: Recommended by a friend, this novel explores themes of grief and unusual friendships that will likely resonate with many readers. It is a New York Times bestseller that has been adapted to film and scheduled for release on Netflix in May 2026.
Plot Summary:
From SparkNotes: The novel opens with Tova Sullivan, who works as a night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She is grappling with the loss of her son, Erik, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when he was eighteen. Tova's life takes a turn when she befriends Marcellus, the aquarium's octopus, who possesses remarkable intelligence and a unique perspective on life. Marcellus often escapes his tank to explore the aquarium, and their bond deepens when Tova helps him out of a dangerous situation.
Parallel to Tova's story is that of Cameron Cassmore, a young man searching for his estranged father, Simon Brinks. Cameron's life is tumultuous, marked by job instability and a recent breakup with his girlfriend, Katie. As their paths cross, Marcellus becomes a bridge between Tova and Cameron, revealing family secrets and connections that
intertwine their lives in unexpected ways.
Photo depicting First edition (second impression) dust jacket
Illustration by George Sottung. Photo credit: Wikipedia.
January 2026
Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian future
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Author: Walter M. Miller Jr.
Original Publication Year: 1959
Why We Picked It: It's an unusual, short, escapist read to kick off the new year. Although an old book, the themes are relevant for today and reflect the cyclical nature of society. Despite being dystopian, there's an almost paradoxical sense of hope that everything comes full circle.
Plot Summary:
After 20th-century civilization was destroyed by a global nuclear war, known as the "Flame Deluge", there was a violent backlash against the culture of advanced knowledge and technology that had led to the development of nuclear weapons. During this backlash, called the "Simplification", anyone of learning, and eventually anyone who could even read, was likely to be killed by rampaging mobs, who proudly took on the name of "Simpletons". Illiteracy became almost universal, and books were destroyed en masse. Spoiler Alert: read more plot summary on Wikipedia.
Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian future
Goodreads Rating: 4/5
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
Author: Walter M. Miller Jr.
Original Publication Year: 1959
Why We Picked It: It's an unusual, short, escapist read to kick off the new year. Although an old book, the themes are relevant for today and reflect the cyclical nature of society. Despite being dystopian, there's an almost paradoxical sense of hope that everything comes full circle.
Plot Summary:
After 20th-century civilization was destroyed by a global nuclear war, known as the "Flame Deluge", there was a violent backlash against the culture of advanced knowledge and technology that had led to the development of nuclear weapons. During this backlash, called the "Simplification", anyone of learning, and eventually anyone who could even read, was likely to be killed by rampaging mobs, who proudly took on the name of "Simpletons". Illiteracy became almost universal, and books were destroyed en masse. Spoiler Alert: read more plot summary on Wikipedia.