1st Griffin Gathering- Book Club Discussion July 12 7:00PM ET
Hello everyone, I am excited to invite you to our next Class Book Club meeting on Sunday July 12th at 7:00 ET/4:00 PT to discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Sandy Jones and I will lead the discussion, and here is what Sandy has to say about the book:
Have you ever wondered what it is about some stories that makes them very special? It is a fairly safe bet to pick up a book that is on a best sellers list or choose a movie that has gotten rave reviews from multiple sources, but what is it in certain cases that creates such broad appeal for so many people? We have found a relatively new tale for the next ’77 Zoom Meeting that is available in both written and cinematic forms. The good news for everyone is that you can access this narrative by reading it or just kick back and watch the movie. You have the option of choosing either presentation or both, and we can talk about whatever people want to discuss. You are also more than welcome to join us for the conversation if you have not sampled either one and just want to hear what we say about them. The Web is loaded with synopses if you want crib notes. (I have to confess that I did that for the last meeting because I could not get the book on Libby in time to read the whole thing.)
The book, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was published in 2022 by Harper Collins. The Netflix movie (~90 minutes) with the same title just came out (May 2026). The screenplay was cowritten by John Wittington and the film’s director Olivia Newman. I happened to see the star Sally Field doing an interview that prompted her to discuss several of her previous roles. I laughed when she told the interviewer that she hated playing a Flying Nun when she was 18 years old. Even though she was obviously on the promo tour for this film, she promised that this is one of the best parts she has ever had. I trusted her recommendation because she was so good in Norma Rae and Steel Magnolias, so I watched it right when it came out. Then, I ordered the book and liked it just as much. One rainy day I let the dogs on my bed and indulged in my retirement freedom to just read and read (see photo below!).
I would be hard pressed to say whether people might want to read or watch the movie first. That depends on you and your timeframe. You may want to sample this tale both ways before our discussion because it is absolutely fascinating how such a deeply captivating book could be shortened so effectively into a wonderful motion picture without losing the essence of the connections between these characters. If that is not enough to tempt you, one of the main characters is a giant Pacific octopus whose “thoughts” the author has used to provide insightful narration and commentary about human nature.
Below is the Zoom information:
Liz Gershon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Class of 1977 Book Club Meeting
Time: Jul 12, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 897 9289 4729
Passcode: 475109
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Hope everyone has a good beginning of summer, and I can’t wait to see you and talk about this great book.
Fondly,
Liz
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