Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Review

If you're looking for a lush, beautiful, immersive read this one is for you.


Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Audiobook Fiction
Listening time 12+ Hours
Released August 2018
Goodreads | Better World Books 

How long can you protect your heart?

For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens. 

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.


These Are My Thoughts:

This is such a beautifully told story and I feared it was going to break my heart because books like this usually do. It didn’t and I’m glad for that. It gets all five stars because it never let me down.

Kya is just a child when her mother, older sisters and eventually her abusive father abandon her in the marsh. She has no education and must use her wits to survive and despite all of the odds she does. She’s strong, smart and resourceful and even though the church going townsfolk cruelly call her “Swamp Trash” and other unsavory names, as they hold their beautifully clean children close, she doesn’t let it get her down and finds help and friendship in the most unexpected of places.

I adored this book so much and think everyone should read it. It’s uplifting and gorgeous and also very gritty and down to earth. Kya is my kind of kid who grows into a woman who doesn’t abide any crap from the people and the men who continually let her down. At one point she calls one a “Chickenshit Asshole” and I wanted to hug her as I laughed because she was so right and I was thinking the same thing for pages and pages on end.

It’s a lovely read about the strength of spirit, the mistakes of youth, of friendship and kindness, resilience, prejudice and forgiveness and also the strange alluring beauty of the swamp and all that surrounds it. I recommend it with all that’s left of my heart.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell who does a lovely job of bringing Kya's story to life.

Comments

  1. Sold! Of course, I had it on my watchlist anyway and now that I've read your review, I definitely want to check it out. I know my library has it too which is a plus!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, that's a win for you! My copy came from the library too :) I'd be so broke without my library. I think you're really going to love this one.

      Delete
  2. That sounds so sad. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was sad but the heroine never dwells on her situation and I loved her for that.

      Delete
  3. I'm sold too. Just reading the title made me want to read it. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been thinking about trying this one. You've convinced me:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw, that sounds like such a great read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was and a nice change of pace from all of the horror :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It by Stephen King | A Retro Review

Between Naps (9)

Review: Dark Stars: New Tales of Darkest Horror edited by John F.D. Taff