Remarkable Creatures

By: Tracy Chevalier

Narrated by: Charlotte Parry

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

A voyage of discovery, two remarkable women, and an extraordinary time and place enrich this New York Times best-selling novel by Tracy Chevalier, author of At the Edge of the Orchard and Girl With a Pearl Earring.

On the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast, poor and uneducated Mary Anning learns that she has a unique gift: "The eye" to spot fossils no one else can see. When she uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious community on edge, the townspeople to gossip, and the scientific world alight. After enduring bitter cold, thunderstorms, and landslips, her challenges only grow when she falls in love with an impossible man.

Mary soon finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster who shares her passion for scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy, but ultimately turns out to be their greatest asset.
Remarkable Creatures is a stunning historical novel that follows the story of two extraordinary 19th century fossil hunters who changed the scientific world forever.

©2010 Tracy Chevalier (P)2010 Penguin

Immerse yourself in Mary Anning's world

Very well-drawn characters based on historical figures that really takes the reader to the times and places of Victorian-era England. It's a lot of fun to "meet" Charles Lyell and William Buckland as well as, of course, Mary Anning. I'm going to insist that my daughter read/listen to this and, if you have a daughter at all interested in the natural sciences, this is a must-read.

The narrators were superb. One reads the chapters from Mary Anning's point of view with a Cockney accent and the other reads the parts of Elizabeth Philpot with an aristocratic tone befitting the character's high-class background.

I could have used more of the science and a little less of the drama but I recognize I'm a little more science-hungry than your average reader. It's probably about right for most folks? Definitely will get you Googling various fossils and the Lyme Regis.

Excellent narration, less than compelling story

The title pretty much sums up this one. The history in the plot wasn't all that compelling, and somehow the characters were a little flat. It felt to me that the author was struggling to incorporate the historical backdrop that she so obviously researched diligently, with the characters. The narrators really made the story come alive, though, like listening to a radio drama.

Wonderful Story

I have previously read this book and loved the story. Because I tend to read fast and sometimes before I sleep, I miss so much. The reading of the story makes the books come alive.

This one took a while

My husband and I listened to this book during a 14 hour round trip. At first we weren't sure that we liked the story. It took us both almost the first 1/4 to say that we were enjoying it. I thought having the story told from both Mary and Elizabeth's points of view made the story more interesting. The narrator did a very good job of depicting both main characters so it was easy to identify who was talking.
I had forgotten that this was based on actual people and events. After listening to the story, I find myself wanting to visit Lyme.

A good find.

I have a soft spot for fossils and feminism, and thus, this book didn’t have to work hard to win me over. The denouement was a little less impactful than I had hoped, but overall a good read with the right amount of realism and hope.

Enjoyable Read

Where does Remarkable Creatures rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed this historical fiction about Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot in their search for fossils on the shores of England in the early 1800's. The story was alternately told by both women as it revealed the prevailing attitudes of the scientific community against women. We take so much for granted in our day and age. Back in the early 1800's, people were driven by class and convention. It was unheard of a woman to leave the house alone. It was necessary for her to be accompanied by other women or by a man.

I grew up about 40 miles away from Dinosaur Provincial Park in Southern Alberta and spent many happy hours searching for fossils, climbing hills, and picking cactus spears out of my feet. Perhaps that is why this book appealed to me. I could relate to joys of hunting fossils.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook narration by Charlotte Parry. She gave distinctive voices to each of her characters. I've added her to my list of favorite narrators.

Unique!

Unique story, and very well-read! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and was sorry when it ended.

Unusual warm hearted story

Unlike most historical dramas this one is neither a romance or a mystery, but instead a tale of the development of a deep friendship between two women of different classes who share a common interest. They are fossil hunters at the dawn of the study of archeology. This novel subject is refreshing. Well written, both in verbal style and structure. The reader never fully knows what will happen next. The performances of the two readers make it come alive.

Natural and Human History

The novel retained my interest throughout. There are some repetitive themes but I kept looking forward to the outcome of each encounter. This book, based on a historical figure, appealed to my interest in nature and history.

Wish it didn't end!

I loved this story, I enjoyed that it is reminiscent of Jane Austen and wished it continued, I'd like to know if Mary ever married and what else her future held. Such a fascinating story!