Curiosity by Joan Thomas: The Review

Another novel about Mary Anning.  Yes. But so much better than Tracy Chevalier's.  Now that's not to say I didn't like Chevalier's novel Remarkable Creatures, because I certainly did.  But Thomas's Lyme Regis, her Anning, are better realized, more fully developed.

This novel about Mary Anning focuses on her connection with Henry De la Beche, gentleman and geologist.  He's beyond her in class and money. She's beyond him in integrity and, really, intelligence.  Somehow they connect over curiosities (the fossils she finds on/digs from the beach and sells) and the questions of science and faith raised by those curiosities.  (So, as in Remarkable Creatures, there are issues related to class, religion, and gender. Particularly interesting as we got to compare the various challenges facing both a male and female of the time period)  The novel follows both Mary and Henry and does so pretty seamlessly.  The narrative structure was a strength in this novel, I found. 

I really enjoyed the novel and for pretty much the same reasons I enjoyed her Reading By Lightning.  Thomas knows how to spin a phrase.  Her use of language is what captivates.  Her way of delivering the fictional reality is really far above what one has come to expect from many literary novels.

[A caveat:  I didn't particularly enjoy the skimmed over  references to orthodox views of creation vs Anning's and De la Beche's growing skepticism of those views.  The musings felt forced, a little anachronistic in tone, though not topic (I realize these discoveries forced thinkers of all kinds to ask questions that inevitably led to some doubts about more traditional views of creation so I don't question the relevancy of the musings in general).  Ultimately, I felt that this was more preachy than illustrative of a particular mind set.  Trying too hard to be relevant, perhaps? (since the science vs religion debate has, sadly, never managed to calm down).]