Overall: 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
Storyline:
Writing Style:
Character Development:
Enjoyment:
“I wasn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.“
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Story:
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.
But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life’s lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world–until the unthinkable happens.
The story asks how isolation influences the behavior of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.
Key Elements:
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Marsh, Family, Wilderness, Nature, Biology, Romance, Education, Court, Independence, Life Experience
Why This Rating?
The was an absolutely stunning read. The way Owens’ takes us into the marsh is captivating. There were moments where it seemed I could look out my window and see the fireflies dancing around the marsh outside that wasn’t there. Her writing made you feel everything within Kya’s world. The detail of sounds and the scenery surrounding the marsh just can’t be praised enough! And the flow of the story was wonderful! I usually don’t like the jump forward in time and jump back in time stories, but this one made a lot of sense. You get to see and experience Kya growing up and the world she became a part of. Then the tension of the murder happening in her present world is building with each of the little glimpses we are given. At the end when were are fully caught up in the timeline, it helped with the seamless transition.
I know for a fact I was crying for Kya when she wouldn’t let herself show any tears. She was always waiting so diligently for those in her life to return. It broke my heart each time. I wanted to scoop her up and give her the life and attention a young girl like her needed. But despite all the hardship that happened in her life, Kya became such a strong and independent woman! If you ever feel like you can’t accomplish something because of your current situation, Kya proves that sticking with something you are passionate about will lead you to great things! The fact that she had Tate in her life also made my heart happy. Even with the ups and downs that they experienced, He was someone who finally showed kindness, acceptance, and just down right love.
I’ve been apart of a seagull “attack” at the beach when those birds see or smell any food you’ve brought with you. Its a whirlwind! And honestly, even if you haven’t had the experience in life, you can through Owens’ writing. Through all of that spinning column of feathers, Kya is in the center of it just laughing and enjoying the closeness of these birds. I think this is easily one of the more captivating moments I’ve found in the book. It is a constant occurrence in the novel, Kya feed the birds, and I think it speaks to a lot of her as a character. She is loyal to those who stay in her life and will provide all she can to keep them near by.
I totally recommend this book for you guys! I know for the most part I’ve gone on and on about the writing, but that was honestly a huge point winner for me. I just found it to be quite a beautiful writing piece! The story was solid and built up the climax wonderfully while never over taxing you as reader. There is no thriller sly moves happening, no anxiety of turning the next page in a hurry. It was just an easy paced story. And since it is a movie now, I am always one for reading before going and seeing, so give it a try before watching it! Owen’s already gives you so much detail and such a beautiful story the screen will hopefully bring out that gorgeous story for you all and do it justice. I did hear that listening to this one was a far more pleasant experience for those who are not as familiar with the southern style/Marsh talk drawl.
Time to get lost in the next story!
