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mgbelen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Misogyny, Murder, Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs
Minor: Stalking
juliamakena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Stalking
laurajgx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Addiction, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, War, Stalking, Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
lapluie8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, Cursing, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcoholism
Minor: Cancer, Stalking, War, Infertility, and Mental illness
m0czy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The real stand out content of the novel is the way that nature and its inhabitants are described with such detail, and such reverence. Delia Owens truly captures the beauty of the environment, and creates a love letter to the southeastern coast.
The main character, Kya, is a protagonist you can root for, weep with, relate to, and cherish.
The mystery itself is one that will keep you guessing and puzzling until the very end.
I did feel that the novel had a bit of a slow start, but the exposition is useful later on in the overall storytelling and world building that occurs. Once I hit my stride, I could not put it down!!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Hate crime, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Stalking
samflowerv6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Classism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Abandonment, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Racism
purplehulk713's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Rape, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
rachaelreads92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Where the Crawdad Sing has been on my bookshelf since it was published. I remember all of the hype on Booktube and Goodreads back then, and I kept putting off sitting down and reading the book (probably because I have a hardback edition and I hate reading hardbacks, too heavy).
With the movie soon to be released, I figured I had better give it a go before it was spoiled by the film, and I am so glad I did!
I fell in love with Kya. Her story is both astounding and heartbreaking. The resilience she faced against insurmountable odds is remarkable.
Delia Owens has done a fabulous job in bringing the marsh to life, making me feel a part of Kya's world.
I almost wish the book finished at the end of the court case as the rest felt a little rushed.
Overall, an amazing read.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Abandonment
beaubaggins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Stalking, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, and Bullying
Minor: Gaslighting, Death of parent, Cursing, Murder, Death, and Animal cruelty
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I think that this type of racism (White Savior and ever-so-grateful Black people who cannot be the architects of their own salvation) is inherently harmful, but bearing the author’s personal history in mind, it takes on a new level of sinisterness. It reeks of White guilt and fragility, and bears entirely too much resemblance to the author’s life to be coincidence.
I previously gave this book a 2.75, but it truly deserves a zero for the author’s real life sins.
Original review: The author has such a distinct style of writing, and her prose can be strikingly beautiful—intermittently simple and abstruse. However, I have two main issues with this book. Chiefly, I felt like certain aspects of this book weren’t consistent in conveying the social mores of the time, or their severity. I understand that racial inequality is difficult to convey and a sensitive topic, but I always have to wonder why an author chooses a time period in which this is a salient issue, only to not effectively capture its essence. It very much felt like a White person trying to portray the experience of Black Americans at the time. For instance, despite being a small and deeply segregated town,
My second main issue was the ending. Massive spoiler ahead.
Anyway, I enjoyed parts of this book but I don’t see myself re-reading it. There are so many books out there, and I’m almost frustrated that I spent time reading this one.
Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Racism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, and Stalking
Minor: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
A note on the sexual violence and harassment tags, which contains a significant spoiler but is not detailed: