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Air date: July 27, 2025
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Episode 112 - Air date:
JESSICA:
Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I’m the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.
Today's two reading recommendations are a tale of magic realism, and historical horror fiction.
First, we’re going to hear from Collection Development Librarian Lorraine, for a story of small town secrets from an unusual point of view. Take it away, Lorraine.
LORRAINE:
“Remarkably Bright Creatures,” the debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt, is for people who like feel-good stories about dealing with loss, truth, family, and includes an unlikely friendship between a lonely woman and a giant Pacific octopus.
70-year-old Tova grieves the recent death of her husband, and the loss of her only son who drowned 30 years before. To find purpose in life, she takes the job of night cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium in a small town on the Puget Sound. Over time, Tova befriends the octopus Marcellus who frequently escapes his tank at night.
Cam, a failed rock musician, comes to Sowell searching for his long-lost father and joins Tova on the night shift, disrupting her work routine. However, the two realize that Cam’s mother, who disappeared when Cam was nine, and Tova’s son might have known each other. What happened to them remains a mystery that needs to be solved.
The novel begins from the surprising viewpoint of the sentient octopus, and I had many thoughts about if I really wanted to continue reading. I persevered, and after a few chapters, I was drawn into the lives of the characters and couldn’t put the book down.
Van Pelt’s writing is whimsical, humorous, and at times heartbreaking. I hope that she publishes another book soon.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Lorraine! Any story with a clever octopus and that much heart is headed straight to the top of my reading list.
Next, let’s hear about a book that blends folklore and horror, from Programming Service Coordinator Anne. Go ahead, Anne.
ANNE:
In “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones, a forgotten diary from 1912 turns up in the walls of a Montana church. The diary was written by a Lutheran pastor named Arthur Beaucarne, and his anthropologist ancestor thinks it will be her academic breakthrough. But instead of the mundanities of pastoral life she expects, the diary recounts the appearance of a mysterious Blackfeet Indian named Good Stab who claims he cannot die. Arthur cautiously invites Good Stab to share his confessions and secretly transcribes them in his journal.
The violence-filled story Good Stab shares over the next several visits defies belief, and Arthur soon realizes his arrival wasn’t a random coincidence. The journal entries grow more and more paranoid as the details of Good Stab’s story veer towards a past that Arthur has tried to escape. When several town members meet a gory fate, Arthur expects his turn will come soon as his guilt overwhelms him.
“The Buffalo Hunter Hunter“ is based on a real incident, the Marias Massacre of 1870. Stephen Graham Jones reclaims the narrative of history in this brutally compelling tale with a paranormal twist. It’s not an easy read and left me thinking about just who the real monsters are. I couldn’t put it down.
Jones writes horror like you’ve never read before and solidly stakes a claim as one of today’s best writers. If you enjoy horror you’ll love Stephen Graham Jones.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Anne! That sounds like a wild, unforgettable ride.
Our recommendations this week are: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt and “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones.
Join us next time, when we’ll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.
Until then, I’m Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.
Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.
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