Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Oh, that’s a long boring story. Mostly I sold mussels, oysters, and smoked fish for Jumpin’”.
That is a quote on page 239 of this book that encompasses basically the first 200 pages—Kya cooked grits, she hunted for mussels, she smoked fish. If you are interested in reading about those actions repeatedly, this book is for you.
I realize I’m in the minority; this book is one of the best selling books of all time. But oh my god was I bored for the 2/3. I think this book would have benefited so much from different structuring like more back and forth between past and present. Interweaving the court case with the events leading up to it would keep the reader more engaged. I also didn’t find including the poems beneficial, and many times they removed me from the story.
I did find the last 1/3 of the book more captivating, and I do think the author did a great job in her nature descriptions (which makes sense since she is a zoologist).
Maybe I don’t like “coming of age” stories or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book. But this book was a bit of a slog to get through for me and I would put this at “fine”, aka 3 stars.
That is a quote on page 239 of this book that encompasses basically the first 200 pages—Kya cooked grits, she hunted for mussels, she smoked fish. If you are interested in reading about those actions repeatedly, this book is for you.
I realize I’m in the minority; this book is one of the best selling books of all time. But oh my god was I bored for the 2/3. I think this book would have benefited so much from different structuring like more back and forth between past and present. Interweaving the court case with the events leading up to it would keep the reader more engaged. I also didn’t find including the poems beneficial, and many times they removed me from the story.
I did find the last 1/3 of the book more captivating, and I do think the author did a great job in her nature descriptions (which makes sense since she is a zoologist).
Maybe I don’t like “coming of age” stories or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book. But this book was a bit of a slog to get through for me and I would put this at “fine”, aka 3 stars.
i liked this book! The god-awful southern accents used in the audiobook really enhanced the experience for me. Big fan of a book that follows the characters entire life, and this one was so sweet and so sad. I felt PROUD of Kya as the book went on.
Gripping plot, lovely descriptions of nature, not sure how I felt about the ending. Both Tate's second chance and the series of flash forwards. generally liked it though!
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I liked it. With all the hype around it, I stayed engaged waiting to see what was going to happen. While the twist at the end was a bit unexpected, overall, I don’t know if I thought it was that phenomenal. A fine read. Probably won’t read it again.
I listened to this one and hearing the narration amplified the vivid beauty of the story and the world of the marsh. And, the murder mystery in the background is a balancing bit of spice to offset the often sad beauty of Kai's life and experiences. I was reminded of Pat Conroy's Prince of Tides throughout and, also, perhaps surprisingly, Stephen King's Dolores Claiborne. I would move the rating needle to 4.5 if this was an option. Highly recommended especially in audio format.
Het duurde echt even voordat ik in het verhaal zat en aan de schrijfstijl gewend was, maar na een tijdje was ik er compleet door gefascineerd en kon ik niet meer stoppen met lezen. Het is een prachtig verhaal met fantastische beschrijvingen van de natuur. Ik leefde ontzettend mee met Kya en soms was ik echt bang om verder te lezen - het was ontroerend, fascinerend en ook gewoon echt heel erg mooi.
Toevoeging: ja, er waren wel wat elementen die niet helemaal in het verhaal klopten of naar mijn idee vrij onrealistisch waren. In die zin helpt het misschien dat ik niets van moerassen of North Carolina afweet en vooral kon genieten van het verhaal.
Toevoeging: ja, er waren wel wat elementen die niet helemaal in het verhaal klopten of naar mijn idee vrij onrealistisch waren. In die zin helpt het misschien dat ik niets van moerassen of North Carolina afweet en vooral kon genieten van het verhaal.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One-Line Summary: Sondering and sentimental journey of self-discovery and survival amid the Carolina swamps.
Mood in Three Words: Lonesome, sentimental. Maybe a bit twee.
What Stood Out: Owens' prose and world-building.
Aesthetic or Voice: Southern US pastoral, nature, lyrical.
Structure: Braided timelines
What I Felt Most While Reading: Melancholy, longing.
Themes or Ideas: Themes of isolation and abandonment, nature vs society, coming-of-age, survival and morality.
Not For Everyone If: You're not into romance or courtroom drama.
My Verdict (1–2 lines): Owens envisions a lush and tangible world, where the dramas of abandonment, survival and womanhood play out on the verge of society and wilderness. Enjoyable read, though while the nature of the world comes to palpable life, some of the characters, their development and relationships don't feel as fully fleshed out.
Content Warnings (optional): S.A.
Mood in Three Words: Lonesome, sentimental. Maybe a bit twee.
What Stood Out: Owens' prose and world-building.
Aesthetic or Voice: Southern US pastoral, nature, lyrical.
Structure: Braided timelines
What I Felt Most While Reading: Melancholy, longing.
Themes or Ideas: Themes of isolation and abandonment, nature vs society, coming-of-age, survival and morality.
Not For Everyone If: You're not into romance or courtroom drama.
My Verdict (1–2 lines): Owens envisions a lush and tangible world, where the dramas of abandonment, survival and womanhood play out on the verge of society and wilderness. Enjoyable read, though while the nature of the world comes to palpable life, some of the characters, their development and relationships don't feel as fully fleshed out.
Content Warnings (optional): S.A.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes