Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

This book is a work of biographical fiction, which made it very interesting to me. It's not at all quick moving. There is not a strong story line to it, just the story of the lives of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot.

These two women, Mary Anning in particular, were pioneers in finding fossil remains along the coast of England. I can't imagine what an upheaval that was to society at the time (early to mid-1800's). To question why some of God's creatures no longer existed (did God make a mistake??) was not something you did lightly. This was pre-Darwin.

It was also fascinating to learn the process of how they hunted for and found the fossils, then removed them from where they were embedded.

I liked it.

Chevalier also wrote Girl with a Pearl Earring, which I also enjoyed (about the painting by Vermeer). She's written some others, some also based on historical events, and they look interesting also. A few more books to put on my list!