Reviews

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

maximeprenger's review against another edition

informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

annie_lulu's review

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

missyjohnson's review

2.0

I am really not much of a Tracy Chevalier fan. I cannot really pinpoint what it is about her books that do not excite me in the least. In this one, some of the characters are ok but aren't really fully developed. There is just enough information to get an idea about them but not enough to really care about them. The scene at the end with Elizabeth and Mary hugging and crying caused a giant eye roll. boring.

han2709's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

aruarian_melody's review against another edition

Very cool concept but the book just didn't manage to pull me in. I'm nearly 50% in and I just don't feel like picking it up again. DNFing to move on to other books. 

tdk's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

nickylizzy's review

informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

toocuterunner's review

4.0

The story of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot can bring a reader to tears and just as quickly to laughter. It is uplifting to read of women pushing the boundaries of religion to learn more of the world. Through many obstacles they find the true beauty of the world. A life full of mystery with something new to discover each day.

gilliske's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Ik heb genoten van dit boek. Sowieso heb ik een zwak voor historische fictie gebaseerd op waargebeurde feiten. En ik vind de schrijfstijl van Tracy Chevalier heel aangenaam en vooral rustgevend om te lezen. 
Ze schrijft over realistisch aanvoelende personages, niet geïdealiseerd maar met hun kleine kantjes die hen net menselijk maken. 
Ze slaagt er in om, met schijnbaar gemak en zonder overbodig gedetailleerde en langdradige beschrijvingen, de sfeer van weleer op te roepen... 
Het resultaat is een boek dat vlot leest, en dat ook zonder grootse spannende verhaallijnen toch weet te boeien. Omwille van de personages, maar ook omdat het interessant is om te ontdekken hoe de vondst van deze fossiele 'monsters' een verandering teweeg bracht: enerzijds in de manier waarop men kijkt naar de schepping (waarom zou God bepaalde dieren geschapen hebben om ze vervolgens te laten uitsterven? Waren deze dieren minderwaardig? Wil dit zeggen dat God toch niet feilloos is? Of wil dit gewoon zeggen dat de wereld gecreëerd werd, maar continu verandert- zij het dan traag?), maar ook wat betreft respect voor de vrouw als wetenschapper.
Dit boek vertelt immers ook het verhaal van twee vrouwen die in een vooral door mannen gedomineerde wereld hun spreekwoordelijke mannetje weten te staan en erin slagen om erkenning te krijgen voor hun bijdrage aan de wetenschap.

tegmo's review against another edition

4.0

I was originally drawn to this book because I've studied paleontology which I both love and loath and there are not that many novels about women in early science.

I really enjoyed reading this story, which was made all the better when I found out that it is based on real people, Mary Anning is amazing. I loved the descriptions of life during the period and the somewhat precarious position of women, even of those from well to do backgrounds such as the Philpots, during the period. It's amazing to think that Mary did what she did and received the recognition she did with the disadvantages that being a woman and from the working class were at that time.

A few days after I finished this novel I actually visited the Museum of Natural History in Berlin and actually saw an ichthyosaur fossil that had come from Lyme Regis, it was incredibly exciting moment for me.