Wednesday 5 October 2011

Remarkable Creatures

I was between two serious books and I needed something light from the to-be-read pile to refresh the mental palate. I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't remember who gave me 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracy Chevalier but it was a good choice. Fossils, feisty Victorian women, the beautiful Dorset coastline and a trip to the Geological Society...what's not to like? I enjoyed the assured way that the characters were developed and the confident handling of the two narrative voices. Now I am almost tempted to brave the hordes of schoolchildren in the Natural History Museum to look at the fossil collection and that is a real achievement because it is not my favourite museum...I always get distracted by the prospect of the ceramics gallery in the V&A as soon as I walk down Exhibition Road.
Posted by alice c at 00:01

17 comments:

  1. maryOctober 05, 2011

    But the Natural History Museum is such a stunning building. Though I admit that the V&A's contents are more alluring.

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  2. JuliaOctober 05, 2011

    Remarkable Creatures gave me the fossil hunting bug; I've wanted to go to Lyme Regis ever since!

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  3. the veg artistOctober 05, 2011

    I read this a year or so ago, and really enjoyed it. I'd be going to Lyme Regis to draw the fossils - all those wonderful shapes and bones!

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  4. MrMOctober 05, 2011

    I think that I may have bought this for my father a year ago - MrsM was slightly surprised at the time but appears to have come round to the idea now.

    Perhaps I should read it myself now - before we go to Lyme Regis

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  5. menopausalmusingOctober 05, 2011

    BBC4 are to be showing a programme on ceramics at the V & A starting next Monday evening (I think). Deep joy!

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  6. Susan TOctober 05, 2011

    I bought this book some time ago and I still haven't read it. I will put it on my to do list.

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  7. PaolaOctober 05, 2011

    I did tell you, I am sure, that I spent 4 hours in V&A ... and I could have easily stayed there much more.

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  8. AnonymousOctober 05, 2011

    Funny how things keep coming up once you hear about them. This was my reading group's choice for the month so we spent a couple of hours discussing it last night. I wouldn't otherwise have read it, but I suppose that's one of the benefits of reading groups.

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  9. UnknownOctober 05, 2011

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. ThomasOctober 05, 2011

    You should also read the book on fossils by Simon Winchester which I lent to Mr M recently. I too enjoyed Peculiar Creatures.

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  11. JulieOctober 05, 2011

    I bought this book--in Lyme Regis-- when it first came out, because I can't resist these kinds of marketing tactics.

    I finished the book on the long flight back to the U.S.--and was so glad I succumbed to the temptation!

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  12. GinnieOctober 05, 2011

    My mom, sisters, sisters-in-law, niece, and I read this a year ago to discuss during our summer family vacation. Some loved it, some couldn't get through it. I loved that the main characters were the most remarkable creatures of all.

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  13. UnknownOctober 05, 2011

    Why don't you try Cambridge - www.sedgwickmuseum.org and then visit Vermeer's Women at the Fitzwilliam afterwards.

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  14. AnonymousOctober 05, 2011

    Thank you for the push, I meant to get this some time ago but forgot. I will make the effort.

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  15. trashOctober 06, 2011

    Oh! I just saw this this a.m. in my local Hilltop bookstore. It had vanished this afternoon. Now I know where it went. I am glad you enjoyed it but my word you are a fast reader!

    Should you be bored around dino bones at the NH again I suggest a trip to The Vault. Oh my!

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  16. erleichdaOctober 08, 2011

    ...by the way i like your blog and since you don`t have a follow button i`ll put you on my bloglist. i don`t want to loose you among this huge blogworld ; )

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  17. silverpebbleOctober 09, 2011

    Oof. I loved this book. How strange that you blog about it because it is our book club choice this month.

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