Remarkable Creatures

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Elizabeth and Mary faced social exclusion for their unusual interest in fossil hunting. When have you pursued a passion that others found strange? How did you stay true to your interests despite outside pressure?

2. Mary describes feeling the “lightning” of excitement when making a discovery. What experiences in your life have given you this same electric thrill?

3. The novel portrays a friendship that bridges class divides through shared intellectual passion. What unexpected friendships in your own life have crossed conventional social boundaries or expectations?

4. Mary’s discovery of Lady Mary Jackson’s body forces her to confront mortality. How have your own encounters with mortality shaped your perspective or priorities?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Remarkable Creatures portrays how 19th-century England’s class hierarchy shaped lives and opportunities. What similar social or cultural barriers exist in today’s world? 

2. The novel explores the tension between religious doctrine and scientific discovery during a period when Darwin’s theories had not yet been proposed. Where do you see similar conflicts between established beliefs and new discoveries in our current time?

3. Mary Anning’s contributions to paleontology went largely unrecognized during her lifetime due to her gender and class. What progress have we made in recognizing overlooked scientific pioneers, and what work remains?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Chevalier alternates first-person narration between Mary and Elizabeth. How does experiencing the story through both perspectives enrich your understanding of their individual challenges? How does this narrative choice bring the historical period to life?

2. Mary survives a lightning strike in her childhood, and she later describes feeling electrical currents at pivotal moments. How does the symbol of lightning evolve throughout the novel, and what does it reveal about Mary’s character?

3. The physical landscape of Lyme Regis shapes the narrative and reflects the characters’ inner lives. How does Chevalier use this setting to illuminate character and advance thematic elements?

4. How does Colonel Birch serve as a catalyst for both conflict and growth in Mary and Elizabeth’s lives? What do their different reactions to him reveal about each woman’s character and values?

5. The fossils themselves function as both literal objects and rich metaphors throughout the novel. How do they comment on time, mortality, legacy, and knowledge?

6. The novel portrays various forms of love: friendship, romantic yearning, familial bonds, and intellectual kinship. Which relationships felt most significant or transformative?