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Strane creature
Strane creature | Tracy Chevalier
il 1811 a Lyme, un piccolo villaggio sulla costa meridionale inglese. Le stagioni si susseguono senza scosse in paese e il decoro britannico si sposa perfettamente con la tranquilla vita di una provincia allinizio del diciannovesimo secolo. Un giorno, per, sbarcano nel villaggio le sorelle Philpot e la quiete subito un pallido ricordo. Vengono da Londra, sono eleganti, vestite alla moda, sono bizzarre creature per gli abitanti di quella costa spazzata dal vento. Margaret, diciotto anni, riccioli neri e braccia ben tornite, sorprende costantemente tutti coi suoi turbanti verdolini sconosciuti alle ragazze di Lyme, che se ne vanno in giro ancora con grevi vestiti stile impero. Louise, meravigliosi occhi grigi e grandi mani, coltiva una passione per la botanica che incomprensibile in quel piccolo mondo dove alle donne dato solo di maritarsi e accudire i figli. Ma soprattutto Elizabeth, la pi grande delle Philpot, a costituire uneccentrica figura in quel paesino sperduto sulla costa. Ha venticinque anni. Dovrebbe comportarsi come una sfortunata zitella per let che ha, ma se ne va in giro come una persona orgogliosamente libera e istruita che non si cura affatto di civettare con gli uomini. In paese ha stretto amicizia con Mary Anning, la figlia dellebanista. Quandera poco pi che una poppante, Mary stata colpita da un fulmine. La donna che la teneva fra le braccia e le due ragazze accanto a lei morirono, ma lei la scamp. Prima dellincidente era una bimba quieta e malaticcia. Ora una ragazzina vivace e sveglia che passa il suo tempo sulla spiaggia di Lyme, dove dice di aver scoperto strane creature dalle ossa gigantesche, coccodrilli enormi vissuti migliaia di anni fa. Basata sulla storia vera di Mary Anning, la ragazzina che a Lyme Bay port alla luce il cranio del primo ittiosauro e rese cos possibile quella svolta negli studi sullevoluzione che trov il suo coronamento nel 1859, con la pubblicazione dellOrigine delle specie di Darwin, Strane creature una delle opere pi riuscite di Tracy Chevalier: unavvincente storia di donne che lottano contro le ottuse convenzioni di unepoca per aprire la strada al progresso e alla conoscenza. Questa una storia vera. Vera, poetica e sorprendente. Una storia con cui Tracy Chevalier ha voluto ancora una volta rendere omaggio a eroine che vogliono sottrarsi al loro destino e spiccare il volo. Susanna Nirenstein, la Repubblica
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kspenmoll
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Lynnsoprano Loved this. It‘s one I‘ve recommended often. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
60 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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LapReader
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

Book club last night equals headache this morning! Too many delicious chilli margaritas for this working girl who has to sit alone with her bitch boss today triangulating data on which kids to put in intervention this semester. Kill me now! The weekend can‘t come soon enough. Here we are at QT rooftop. I enjoyed the book and found it funny that my other book club read the Australian version of this book recently, The Fossil Hunter by Tea Cooper.

Chrissyreadit Did you ever get your staycation in time swap? ( @DinoMom ) 2y
32 likes1 comment
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canbku
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Mehso-so

Pretty slow and a bit maudlin about women's"place", but really enjoyable fossil info and interesting and quirky historical figures

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elisebarker
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

I liked this book. It was an easy, fast read and I read it when I had Covid back in January so it was a perfect book after Dune.

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CaramelLunacy
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Napoleon Bonabear is proud to have conquered the latest bookhaul

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Cuilin
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Mystery solved!! My husband was convinced that I had ordered it and just forgotten. Thank you @Helen19 It‘s a perfect summer read. ❤️ #litsylove

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kspenmoll
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Up next. Feeling the ocean and its sandy shores calling me.

LeahBergen I liked this one (but I like anything to do with Mary Anning 😊). 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty ❤️ 4y
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Lynnsoprano
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel based on the lives of two women who are important to the history of paleontology, but who did not gain recognition in their lifetimes. Beautifully written, I could so clearly picture being on the Dorset coast, digging for fossils in the early 1800s. I‘m amazed that this was my first book by this author, who I‘ve heard about for years. It won‘t be my last.

rubyslippersreads I‘m looking forward to Kate Winslet‘s new movie about Mary Anning. 4y
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Lynnsoprano
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Thanks to @Andrew65 for hosting the #FabulousFebruary readathon. Own goal readathons are just my speed. My goal for the nine days is to finish the tagged book, read the materials on nine plant families in the botany book I‘m currently working my way through, and make some progress on the other novel I‘ve started, The Winter Palace.

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😊👍 Thanks for reposting 😍 4y
34 likes1 comment
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Lynnsoprano
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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“Lightning has struck me all my life.”

Now there‘s an opening line that will catch your attention!

#FirstLineFridays

SelinaTrethewey There was a thing waiting in the darkness. 4y
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Lynnsoprano
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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The post from @Mitch about the biography of Mary Anning reminded me that I bought this a couple weeks ago, when it was a Kindle deal. Since I‘m ready to start a new novel, it seemed like a sign of what I should choose 😄. Amazingly, this will be my first by this author. How did that happen?

Mitch Love that cover ! 4y
Lynnsoprano @Mitch I know! I think my posts about this book will feature lots of shells from our collection 😂 4y
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kellock
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

A lovely fictionised tale of Mary Anning, easy to visualise after a brief trip to Lyme. Off to see if I can add another Chevalier to my collection I think.

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kellock
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Lightning has struck me all my life.

rockpools Ooh. That‘s quite a first line! 4y
kellock @rockpools it's followed by . . . Just once was it real 4y
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kellock
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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And next up . . . Chevalier is becoming a firm favourite for me, I've heard good things about this one.

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Bookworm54
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Day 20 of #30DaysOfGratitude

Today‘s prompt: Great Women. Post about a unique great woman in history. @jb72 posted about Gladys Ingle (pictures on the plane).

I have chosen to highlight Mary Anning, a fossilist from Dorset, who made many important discoveries in the field of palaeontology. These discoveries became key pieces of evidence for the idea of extinction!

(The tagged book is a historical novel based on Mary Anning)

Bookworm54 Today I am grateful for: 1) The amazing women in history 2) The amazing women still making groundbreaking discoveries and pushing the boundaries we still have today! And 3) How far we have come with women‘s rights (even though we still have a way to go) and acknowledging their contributions :) 4y
jb72 Wow 🤩 that‘s awesome! 4y
Lucy_Anywhere Do you have Instagram? Follow The Female Lead - they have a #knowhername tag which highlights amazing women and the work they have done 4y
Bookworm54 Thanks @Lucy_Anywhere I will give them a look :) 4y
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EadieB
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Day 20 - #Remarkable #WordsOfOctober
#RemarkableCreatures #TracyChevalier

I own this book but haven‘t read it yet.

CaitZ If you like historical fiction this is a good one. The information about fossils is given in a way that is easy for everyone to understand and doesn't overwhelm the story of the two women 4y
Ruthiella This has been in my list forever! I liked The Girl with the Pearl Earring. 4y
EadieB @CaitZ Thanks for letting me know! 4y
EadieB @Ruthiella I liked that one too! 4y
OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 4y
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tenar
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Mehso-so

I ate up much of this fictionalized tale of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, historical English fossil hunters. Two women with disquiet in their hearts about both what society is telling them to be and what the church is telling them is true. How isolating it is to feel you are the only one who questions.

But quite a lot is set over to potential suitors and social impropriety, treading well-worn ground. I had less patience for those segments.

tenar I think I‘ll try my luck with a non-fiction book on Mary Anning! 4y
LeahBergen I really enjoyed The Fossil Hunter. 4y
tenar @LeahBergen I‘m excited to hear that! Such an interesting time, place, and especially person. 4y
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Gogobooks
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

Remarkable story of Mary Anning, the British fossil collector. This recounting of her story contains so many ideas. #tracychevalier #historicalfiction #womanpaleontologist #lymeregis

Centique I loved this one too. And Girl with a Pearl Earring. Also plan to read All her books (I‘m going to need to live till 150 to read everything I want to read 😂) 4y
Gogobooks Talked about it on podcast, reading envy #207 w jenny recently. 4y
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parasolofdoom
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Just started! Pretty much caught my attention right away. Mary Anning, fossils, 1800s England-- yes please.

RachelAmphlett I saw them filming the adaptation of this on Charmouth beach last year! 4y
charl08 Love this book. I didn't know there was an adaptation @RachelAmphlett sounds good! 4y
Bookgirl I liked this one 4y
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andrew61
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

My bk club met on zoom in apr + this is our rd for may. A joy to read and evoked a grt hol we took last yr in beautiful lyme regis (pic is my finally opening a LR brewery porter and nancy hunting for fossils). This is a reimagining the life of Mary Anning, a lovely sense of place, character which had me totally involved in her story in which a humble woman is expert in a science which causes stirs in a victorian society dominated by religion.

Anna40 I read this book years ago it also was a book club pick. Liked it. I think I'm in a reading rut. Everything I pick up is so-so... 5y
FlowerFairy I absolutely loved this story. 5y
Cathythoughts Lovely review 5y
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andrew61 @Anna40 it's not easy at mo, hope you find a good read soon ☺ 5y
Anna40 Thank you! Yes, I've got the weekends to read, now that I finished my diploma but I MISS the library so much where you can just browse and return the books - if after a few pages you find they are not for you. ... and I don't like Kindle... 5y
andrew61 @Anna40 no i don't like the kindle but had to resort to it this time as libraries are shut. I have 6 to be returned and similarly miss browsing the shelves although am getting through a stack of books in piles around the house ☺ 5y
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smilingshelves
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Time for a good book and a glass of wine.

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Eggs
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Booksnob
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Fitz recommends Remarkable Creatures. I love learning about remarkable women in history.

WanderingBookaneer I enjoyed this one. 6y
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VeganCleopatra
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Panpan

#MakeMeReadIt I'm really tired of HF novels about women involved in science at a time period that it is unheard of to be reduced to a story about a man. The first third is slow character building and some fossils. The second third of this novel is entirely about the two women being jealous about a man. The last third tries to go back to fossils but feels off after all the man obsession. Authors please stop diminishing incredible women.

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VeganCleopatra
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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After all the votes came in for #MakeMeReadIt, I decided to read the top six. I've read the first two and have begun the third. However, I finished an audiobook and decided to start the sixth selection as I don't have the others in AB form. I'll be reading the others, just obviously out of order. #sorrynotsorry 😏

Also, I hated the other book I've read of this author so that doesn't bode well. 🤷‍♀️

Andrew65 I enjoyed this one. 6y
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Centique
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

This is a lovely atmospheric little novel about real people in the 19th century. Mary Anning a working class girl with an eye for finding fossils and Elizabeth Philpott a gentle lady spinster. They are true forgotten discoverers of some famous fossils in museums today. I read this a little too fast I think and some of the magic in it was lost to me. Not quite as emotionally gripping as The Girl with the Pearl Earring but still very good.

Centique My 7yo son took great joy in decorating this picture with his favourite rocks and gems for your viewing pleasure 😋 7y
rubyslippersreads Great photo! 😍 7y
LectricSheep I am extremely intrigued by the fossil box! 7y
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Centique @LectricSheep you buy them at the museum here, they‘ve got tiny sharks teeth and little fossils in them. 😍 7y
LectricSheep I love it! I would‘ve wanted a dozen of them when I was a kid. 😂 7y
Dragon A very well decorated photo! 👍😀🐉 7y
batsy I was obsessed with shells and fossils (or the idea of fossils 😆) when I was young. Love your pic and I'm also interested in the book... 7y
Centique @batsy i know right?! They‘re fascinating 😍This was one of those books where I liked the concept so much I wanted more - more pages, more digging, more fossils 😂😂 I think I just need more “women doing science” books in my life. 7y
batsy Exactly! "Women doing science" needs to be its own genre. It's why I'm obsessed with Flavia de Luce ? 7y
Centique @batsy BFF Bless Flavia Forever 😍 7y
LeahBergen I really enjoyed this! If you are interested in a nonfiction read about Mary Anning, I highly recommend 7y
Centique @LeahBergen thanks L I‘ll stack that 😍 7y
lucylovestoread My 3 year old is so excited about fossil hunting and Mary Anning at the moment. She's got her eye on a fossil hunter doll 👍💷♥️ I think I'd enjoy this so am stacking! 7y
lucylovestoread @LeahBergen I've stacked too, thanks for the recommendation! 7y
Centique @rubyslippersreads thanks lovely! 7y
Centique @lucyinedinburgh oh that‘s gorgeous! I‘d love to see the fossil hunter doll if you end up getting it 😍 7y
lucylovestoread @Centique I'm trying to resist but it's very hard when it's a toy I approve of so much! The range is Lottie dolls and they have some great models! 7y
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Centique
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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“He had little of use to say, though he made sure to say every word of it.”

😂 Oh, don‘t we all have an experience like that!

CarolynM 😂😂😂 7y
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MamaGina
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

I‘ve spent a snowed-in day reading this amazing story about a woman who discovered fossils of "creatures" leading to an understanding of extinction and a questioning of religious and scientific concepts. At this time in the early 19th century, women weren‘t acknowledged as able to understand let alone significantly contribute to scientific discourse. It is also a lovely story about female friendship and how immeasurably affirming it can be?

Libby1 I enjoyed this one and was delighted to see some of Mary Anning‘s discoveries at the Natural History Museum in London. 7y
LeahBergen Mary Anning is fascinating! If you like nonfiction, I recommend 7y
MamaGina @Libby1 Just saw the photo you posted from the museum ... Amazing! 7y
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SassyBookworm Sounds interesting I‘m gonna add it to my TBR list 🤓 7y
MamaGina @LeahBergen Chevalier didn't mention the "She sells sea shells ..." thing, sounds like another great read?? 7y
Kaye Really good book ! 7y
andrew61 I've always fancied this and recently on the radio 4 programme 'great lives' the author was discussing mary anning- its available on their website and as a podcast. 7y
MamaGina @andrew61 Thank you for telling me about this. I subscribe to other BBC podcasts but hadn't tried this one, it looks good🤓 (edited) 7y
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Jerdencon
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Under the covers on a cold snowy night (I hate snow!) so starting this one while I listen to the live stream of a Duran Duran ❤️ concert from Miami on Siriusxm and wishing I was there!

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writerlibrarian
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Two remarkable books about rebel women. And a few gods who don't care if they are a boy or a girl. #septemBOWIE

Cinfhen Well played 😎🎵🙌🏻❤️ 7y
TrishB Great pic 👍 7y
Marchpane Jemisin is a new favourite for me - I have to get to Inheritance Trilogy soon! 7y
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Bluebird
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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I loved this fictionalized story of Mary Anning, a 19th century amateur palaeontologist whose discoveries of Jurassic era fossils at Lyme Regis changed our understanding of the history of the planet. She was 12 years old when she made her first discovery! Dinosaurs!
A five star read for me!
#backtoreading #girlsinscience

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Libby1
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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One of the many creatures uncovered by the remarkable Mary Anning which is on display at the Natural History Museum in London.

Remarkable Creatures, by the author of Girl With a Pearl Earring, is a fictional account of Mary Anning's life. I read and enjoyed this book a few years ago, and was delighted to see this specimen today in London.

Louise Wow! 8y
Libby1 Mary Anning was amazing, @Louise . I hope you enjoy the book. 🙂 8y
Louise @Libby1 Thanks! I'm a big fan of Tracy Chevalier's writing but somehow got behind in reading her latest few books. Your post spurred my wish to get back to her wonderful work! 8y
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LeahBergen Oh!! She was awesome. If you want an excellent nonfiction read about her, try (edited) 8y
Eyejaybee I loved this book. I think it may even be my favourite of hers. I have never understood why Tracy Chevalier isn't far more popular than she is. I have enjoyed every one of her books. 8y
Libby1 Thanks, @LeahBergen . It's now added to #MountTBR 😃. 8y
Libby1 Yes, I'm a fan of her work, too, @Eyejaybee . I was delighted to pick up Reader, I Married Him yesterday. 8y
Eyejaybee @Libby1 I shall look out for that one. 8y
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ChrisM
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

This fascinating story looks at the life & discoveries of Mary Anning and her friendship with fellow fossil hunter Elizabeth Philpot. Equal parts celebration of strength and determination of independent women and frustration with lack of acceptance and recognition by the scientific community. I listened to the audio book & was initially put off by Mary's voice but as I became more engaged realized it was fitting for the story.

LeahBergen I enjoyed this one. A great biography about her, if you are interested, is 8y
31 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

A quick read, this was an interesting view into the early years of the discovery of dinosaurs, and the contribution of two British women. I'm not big on fossils etc. so I can't speak to the scientific accuracy, but it was a good story. Not a rave, but better than so-so. #LitsyAtoZ #LetterR

rachaich I read this last year and found it very readable. I'd agree it was a quick one to get through :) 8y
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Lcsmcat
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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#LitsyAtoZ #LetterR Many things seem a bit anachronistic in his book, but some things never change.

BookishMarginalia 😂😂😂 8y
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everfree7
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
Pickpick

It's a leisurely read, but I appreciated the history and science. It was the perfect bath read as I got lost in the slow, quiet coastal town of Lyme. Then I found out that the novel is based on two real women who were mentioned in 19th-century geology and fossil records. It's a part of women's history we don't often get!

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everfree7
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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This is a leisurely read, which fits with the pace of life and fossil hunting for the women of Lyme. I'm enjoying it so far!

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Ms.Story
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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While visiting the Natural History Museum in London, I was pleasantly surprised to see exhibits highlighting the findings of Mary Anning. It just so happens that this is the very book I'd brought along for the train journey! Serendipity indeed.

Donna_sBookMinute Yes. In the stars. 🌃📡 8y
kspenmoll Live when that happens! 8y
bookwrm526 What fun! I would love to see that exhibit. 8y
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hollytucker I really enjoyed this book, though I'm trying to remember the main lines of the plot. It's been a while! 8y
Zelma I love it when things like that happen! 8y
lamaman2boys I would love to see that exhibit as well! I read Remarkable Creatures last month & I'm taking a class on vertebrate origins (heavy on paleontology) right now! 8y
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writerlibrarian
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
Pickpick

This was a wonderful and smooth read. All in undertones and shades of grey. Two strong women trying to survive in the early 19th century. Standing tall when they had very little ground to stand on. Being an old maid doesn't make any difference if you are from the upper classes or the working classes, you have no freedom, no status. This is the story of two amazing women, Elizabeth Philpot and Mary Anning both venturing where few men even dared.

Reviewsbylola I used to love Tracy Chevalier but haven't read her in years. Maybe I'll check this one out. 8y
writerlibrarian It's worth checking out. Chevalier is really good at setting the historical period and painting the difficult dilemma of the search for "monster bones" and the beginning of palaeontology. 8y
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lamaman2boys
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
Pickpick

As a biologist, I loved the fossil discovery aspects. As a woman I was interested in the true parts of the story of Mary Anning. As a reader I enjoyed the storytelling.

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AllieMint
Remarkable Creatures | Tracy Chevalier
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Pickpick

A fascinating gem of a book by Chevalier. It is the true story of two remarkable women at the turn of the century, their findings, their struggle with male dominance in the scientific world but most of all it is a tale of endearing friendship. Loved it!