Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Publication: August 14, 2018
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Group)
Genre: YA Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 379
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
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.
REVIEW:
I am always open to trying out new books, especially the ones that get all the hype. I have to see for myself what all the noise is about. So when this book was offered up as an option this month for my book club I knew that I needed to vote on it. Low and behold it won and I could finally read it.
If I am honest I started reading this book one night, read the first chapter and said oh hell no its another Swamplandia! novel and I put it down and started reading my other book. I am so glad that after talking to my cousin that I decided to pick it back up again and read more. I fell in love with this book. Throughout the entire book, I wanted to give the main character, Kya, a hug. I wanted to be a mother to a motherless child. The ending left me angry and mad at the author for dragging me along on this adventure and then dumping me off at the side of the road. I had three different theories as to who murdered Kya’s one-time love interest, Chase Andrews. By the time I reached the last chapter all three of my theories were shot full of holes.
The author took me on a wonderful journey of Kya’s basically coming of age at 5-6. Her mother left her and never looked back. Her other siblings left as well. This left her with her drunken and abusive father. Kya struggles to make a home for them. Her father responds well to this until one day he gets a letter from his estranged wife and falls off the deep end once more. Kya struggles to make friendships that will last. The descriptions of the marshlands that the author wrote were sweeping and breathtaking. I could smell the sun-warmed sand and taste the spray from the sea. This book showed me all the ups and downs of life. The author even made me cry several times. I will definitely check out the other books by her. I know that those are all nonfiction but based on the way she wrote this one, they will be fantastic.
STAR RATING: 5/5
Pick up your copy of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your local bookstores. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out more from Delia Owens on her website HERE.
