by bones, stones & fossils
As so many of us do on seashores everywhere, I like to pick up interesting shells and stones and take some home. This time, on our recent little vacation on the west coast, I discovered small stones that seemed more like weathered bone fragments. Our geologist friend agreed. Of what creatures, fish, whale, bird, I wondered?
Oddly synchronous was a fascinating novel I was reading during those days, an historical fiction called Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier:
In 1810, a sister and brother uncover the fossilized skull of an unknown animal in the cliffs on the south coast of England. With its long snout and prominent teeth, it might be a crocodile – except that it has a huge, bulbous eye.
Remarkable Creatures is the story of Mary Anning, who has a talent for finding fossils, and whose discovery of ancient marine reptiles such as that ichthyosaur shakes the scientific community and leads to new ways of thinking about the creation of the world.
Working in an arena dominated by middle-class men, however, Mary finds herself out of step with her working-class background. In danger of being an outcast in her community, she takes solace in an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Philpot, a prickly London spinster with her own passion for fossils.
The strong bond between Mary and Elizabeth sees them through struggles with poverty, rivalry and ostracism, as well as the physical dangers of their chosen obsession. It reminds us that friendship can outlast storms and landslides, anger and and jealousy.
My findings were not fossils, of course, but I found the story resonated for me and was the perfect enjoyable read for this trip. I’m glad that I learned about this book from a review by Wandering Coyote. She also wrote about another novel about Anning, Curiosity by Joan Thomas, a Canadian author. I’d like to read it sometime later when Chevalier’s book fades in my mind.
Odd how these things happen together. A few days ago I read about this latter book in our local newspaper: What happens when two novelists have the same idea?
Such fascinating connections! And to think I’d never heard of Mary Anning before!
Added 22/11/2010 – more Mary Anning
June 2, 2010 in Books, Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks by Marja-Leena
I love that picture of the shell, stone, & fossil spiral. Both of these novels sound like something right up my alley: thanks for the recommendations!
Wonderful finds, and so beautifully arranged like a petroglyph!
Lorianne, thanks! Hope you enjoy the books.
Leslee, thanks to you too!
Two authors, same idea. One of them ends up with egg on his face. A couple of years ago David Lodge wrote “Author! Author!” and Colm Toibin wrote “The Master” – both about the latter days of Henry James. I have read most of Lodge’s novels and enjoyed them but Toibin’s (his surname lacks an accent on the second i) was greatly superior. And Lodge, I think, realised it. I believe “The Master” won a prize. What did Lodge do? He wrote a long essay, perhaps even a book, about two authors writing novels about the same subject published simultaneously. All writers recycle their experiences, good or bad.
At first glance, I thought some of the smoother ones were petrified wood. Fascinating! And nice spiral, which lends itself to storytelling.
It’s odd the way we learn something new, that we never before heard of, and then come across the same thing immediately, maybe more than once in a short time. Mary Anning sounds interesting.
Fine picture, as usual.
More things to think about! I never thought of some of those “stones” I see on the beach as being bone fragments. And I will look up the novels you and Barrett recommend.
BB, even visual artists have made images that another artist has also done without knowing. And we do recycle them too! Sorry I can’t think of examples right now, as you’ve done.
R, thanks, I’d taken photos of these individually but the spiral somehow recalls the sea for me.
Anne, yes, it happens often, doesn’t it?
Oh, Hattie! Your comment just came in as I was writing this! Enjoy the revisiting of those stones, and the books!
Life is full of coincidences or, as I prefer to call them, Signs
the trick is to recognise and follow the right ones, n’est-ce pas?
Julie, yes, they could be called Signs! I do pay attention to them to see if they are telling me something I need to look into more! Even it’s only a blog post 🙂
beautiful spiral of stones! The book you read sounds interesting; the excerpt you posted is a teaser!
Taina, glad you like the spiral. I think you’d like the book too!
One of my dearest friends recommended this book to me. I’m glad that you mention it again, because I had forgotten. I’m looking forward to a day trip to the Dorset coast this summer. I shall read Chevalier first, to get into the proper frame of mind!
Your “gifts from the sea” make such a pleasing image. I think that Chevalier could use that for a book cover.
Bee, enjoy the book and the coast! Find some fossils for me!
I love these unusual fragments.
Most of my early childhood holidays were spent near and around Lyme Regis, looking for fossils and visiting the museum so Mary Anning was quite a household name. I like what I’ve read of Tracy Chevalier’s books, I’ve another ‘Falling Angels’ in the ‘to-be-read’ pile…
Lucy, how amazing to know someone who has spent time at Lyme Regis and knows of Mary Anning! I hope you’ll add this book to your must-reads!