Review: Where the Crawdads Sing
Title: Where the Crawdads SingAuthor: Delia Owens
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Pages: 379
Source: Library
For: Personal Interest
Rating:
Sexual Content:
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Goodreads Synopsis
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.
My Thoughts
I’ve been wanting to read read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING ever since I saw the trailer for the movie release in 2022. I started reading it back then, but I got sidetracked by some health issues and stopped reading altogether for a little bit. About a week ago, I checked for available audiobooks I could listen to while I was waiting for a hold from my library and started reading it once more.
While I’m a little miffed at the ending, I’m still glad I read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. I really loved Kya and I was fully invested in her life. I loved that she not only survived, but thrived despite the hardships she faced. I thought her story was beautifully told and very emotional.
I loved the dual timeline in WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING and thought it was the perfect vehicle for the story, especially the mystery aspect of it. I liked getting snippets of Kya’s life in the past while I watched the events unfold in the present. It actually reminded me a bit of Christopher Nolan’s MEMENTO.
His dad told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry in his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.
I really loved the characters in WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, especially those that showed kindness to Kya instead of shying away from her because they thought she was trash. I adored Jumpin’ and Mabel. They did all that was within their power to help Kya survive, feel loved, and succeed despite facing the racism of the south during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I also loved Tate. I love that he saw Kya as more than just the “Marsh Girl.” He wasn’t perfect, but he took responsibility for his faults and did what he could to help her.
I truly loved WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING until the last few pages. I feel like the last few pages undid what the author was trying to say and/or show about who Kya grew to be after the trial. View Spoiler »
Have you read WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING? If so, what did you think?
Trigger Warning
There is a trigger warning for racial slurs, sexual assault, bullying, child abandonment, spousal abuse, and child abuse.
I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy this book. I think I found it overwritten and I figured out the “mystery” right away being a mystery reader. Mostly everyone else in my Book Club loved it, so I was the outlier.
I can totally understand that that would cause you to dislike the book. I often figure out the mystery before the end and it usually doesn’t bother me because I still enjoy seeing how the book gets there. I knew Kya killed Chase. I just really disliked that she didn’t confide in Tate during the 40+ years they were together.
I was surprised at how much my book club enjoyed this book.
It seems like this would make an excellent book club book. There’s so much to discuss and I don’t think it would be a universal fave or pan.
That was a great book
🙂 It was. At least until the ending for me. Lol.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this book, despite the ending! I loved it myself, but I definitely also agree with you about the ending.
Thanks! 😀 I’m glad you liked it too and I’m glad I’m not alone with my feelings about the ending.
I did enjoy the movie of this, don’t know if I’ll ever get around to reading the book though, now that I’ve seen it. Great review!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2024/08/09/e-galley-review-northern-twilight-the-highlands-5-by-samantha-young/
I really liked the movie as well. I watched it before I read the book. I’m glad I read the book despite my issues with the ending. I think it’s better than the movie, which is the case with most books, lol.