Remarkable Creatures
Ratings19
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings19
Average rating3.7
Mary Anning was facinated by fossils from an early age, realising she could sell them to the gentry who had become avid collectors. She was often ripped off by the buyers and derided by scientists but was rescued by Elizabeth Philpot and their unlikely friendship would take strange twists as the importance of these finds began to spread.
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I question the decision to take the story of a real life scientist woman, who has very little known about her beyond her discoveries, and make a decent chunk of the story about her pining after some man. There is no way to know whether Mary was actually involved with him in reality, but it is telling when the story of a scientist is taken and put a ridiculous romance story in. Is it unfathomable to think a woman might not have interest in men? Or simply prefer her scientific discoveries even if she does have interest? Why must a man take center stage in this story advertised as being about two female friends? Why must the same man be the driving conflict between the two making them get into a ridiculous, unbelievable fight? Why must Mary not only be portrayed as a lovesick, stupid girl but also turn away from fossils because of perceived rejection? Why must Elizabeth be portrayed as jealous of Mary because of the attentions from said man when she herself expresses nothing but annoyance at him? Why when early in the book she seems perfectly content with her lot suddenly she is so upset that Mary might get attention from men, attention Elizabeth recognizes will never lead to anything, and be jealous of her still?
Out of the two fictional books I found about Mary Anning this was the one not labeled romance but about friendship between Elizabeth and Mary. Is it this hard to write a story about two women, two scientist women and not make it about a men and their bickering over men.
Before and after this chunk of the story the book was pretty good. So obviously the author is capable. But writing about women without making it about men is apparently unimaginable to some regardless of talent.
Picked this one up on a friend's recommendation and was pleasantly surprised. Remarkable Creatures was dripping in blustery atmosphere and philosophical discussions of geological history and religion. Really enjoyed learning about this cluster of fossil hunters. I read the majority of it in one long go on a slow rainy night at the library.
