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m0czy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
A beautifully descriptive journey into the marshlands of North Carolina.
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!!
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!!
Content Warnings
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
witchleaves's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Minor: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
bellaiu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Violence, Child abuse, and Racism
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, War, Sexism, Hate crime, Drug abuse, and Cursing
avacronin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Where the Crawdads Sing was undoubtedly a 5 star read in my personal opinion. I was encouraged to read this book by my wonderful English teacher, who stated I just had to read it before seeing the upcoming movie, and boy am I glad she gave me this book. I can't wait to see how they adapt this beautiful piece of work for the big screen.
I won't go too much into the nitty gritty details of the plot, as I just advise you to read it for yourself. This story follows Kya, the 'Marsh Girl' as she lives her life in the marginalised areas of the Marsh, and how she came to be prime suspect in the murder case of Chase Andrews.
I didn't expect myself to get so drawn into the story, through both the suspense of a murder mystery, and through the beautiful nature of the language. While I don't support Delia Owens, it would be unfair for me to completely disregard this piece of work based on my opinion of her as a person.
The Pros
- One thing I ended up loving was how unpredictable the story was. I had heard from others about how shocking the ending was, and while I thought multiple times through the story I had figured it out, I learned that I was completely mistaken. Besides from the ending, other aspects of the story happened quite shockingly, yet satisfyingly.
- This wonder of story is writing through the beautiful, captivating writing of aesthetics and descriptions. I could spend hours listing off of my favourite quotes, the ones that left the biggest marks, yet I'll limit myself to one.
“She knew the years of isolation had altered her behavior until she was different from others, but it wasn't her fault she'd been alone. Most of what she knew, she'd learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would.”
- Keeping with the previous point I mentioned on the language, the characters here are written in such a way that I felt true connections to many of them. And with the unfavourable characters, the author found a way to create a intentional anger and hurt inside of me in sympathy for Kya and her life.
The Cons
- The main reason that people have been turned away from reading this book is the problematic actions from Delia Owens, the author. This is seen in this book, as Owens, a white woman, uses a slur commonly used to degrade people of colour (which she has no rights to reclaim).
- The only other slight issue I found with this book was that I have to agree with others in saying that the first one or two chapters of the book came off more slow, and filled with sometimes complicated, detailed descriptions. And while I did actually enjoy these vivid descriptions, I even found myself having to read over certain passages more than once to understand what was being said.
- I also want to mention here that although I didn't find it to be a major problem, all of the character dialogue is written in a southern dialect, making some of the words an adjustment to understand, yet creates a more vivid atmosphere of the area.
Overall, I would definitely recommend to anybody who can to read this book, and to stick through the first couple chapters until you get drawn into the steady flow of the Marsh.
I won't go too much into the nitty gritty details of the plot, as I just advise you to read it for yourself. This story follows Kya, the 'Marsh Girl' as she lives her life in the marginalised areas of the Marsh, and how she came to be prime suspect in the murder case of Chase Andrews.
I didn't expect myself to get so drawn into the story, through both the suspense of a murder mystery, and through the beautiful nature of the language. While I don't support Delia Owens, it would be unfair for me to completely disregard this piece of work based on my opinion of her as a person.
The Pros
- One thing I ended up loving was how unpredictable the story was. I had heard from others about how shocking the ending was, and while I thought multiple times through the story I had figured it out, I learned that I was completely mistaken. Besides from the ending, other aspects of the story happened quite shockingly, yet satisfyingly.
- This wonder of story is writing through the beautiful, captivating writing of aesthetics and descriptions. I could spend hours listing off of my favourite quotes, the ones that left the biggest marks, yet I'll limit myself to one.
“She knew the years of isolation had altered her behavior until she was different from others, but it wasn't her fault she'd been alone. Most of what she knew, she'd learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would.”
- Keeping with the previous point I mentioned on the language, the characters here are written in such a way that I felt true connections to many of them. And with the unfavourable characters, the author found a way to create a intentional anger and hurt inside of me in sympathy for Kya and her life.
The Cons
- The main reason that people have been turned away from reading this book is the problematic actions from Delia Owens, the author. This is seen in this book, as Owens, a white woman, uses a slur commonly used to degrade people of colour (which she has no rights to reclaim).
- The only other slight issue I found with this book was that I have to agree with others in saying that the first one or two chapters of the book came off more slow, and filled with sometimes complicated, detailed descriptions. And while I did actually enjoy these vivid descriptions, I even found myself having to read over certain passages more than once to understand what was being said.
- I also want to mention here that although I didn't find it to be a major problem, all of the character dialogue is written in a southern dialect, making some of the words an adjustment to understand, yet creates a more vivid atmosphere of the area.
Overall, I would definitely recommend to anybody who can to read this book, and to stick through the first couple chapters until you get drawn into the steady flow of the Marsh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
Wow. This book is such an incredible journey led by perseverance, love, and survival. While it was slow to start, I felt entirely taken in by the story and held in its palms as if I, too, were finding my way through life amongst the marshes of 1960s South Carolina.
Owens’ writing is poetic and strong, beautiful and sad, honest and rhythmic in a way not often associated with works published in the last ten years. I felt the nuances of Harper Lee coming back to me while reading this one, as Kya’s story of resilience, prejudice, loss, and heartbreak reminded me in ways of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In both acclaimed novels, there is a clear distinction and cowardice in regards to class and upbringing especially, but also race and education.
“Where The Crawdads Sing” is first a celebration and clarification of nature and its constants, every little piece of the earth that gives and takes, ebbs and flows. I’ve never before read such lyrical accounts of nature and its secrets.
But this is also a book about love, how it flourishes and wants and haunts and disappoints and endures. The emotion over rare feathers easily coincides with the years of affection between friends, lovers, family.
The heavy weight of murder and death hangs over all elements throughout the story, though it never takes away from the poignant, beautiful account of life.
Owens’ writing is poetic and strong, beautiful and sad, honest and rhythmic in a way not often associated with works published in the last ten years. I felt the nuances of Harper Lee coming back to me while reading this one, as Kya’s story of resilience, prejudice, loss, and heartbreak reminded me in ways of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In both acclaimed novels, there is a clear distinction and cowardice in regards to class and upbringing especially, but also race and education.
“Where The Crawdads Sing” is first a celebration and clarification of nature and its constants, every little piece of the earth that gives and takes, ebbs and flows. I’ve never before read such lyrical accounts of nature and its secrets.
But this is also a book about love, how it flourishes and wants and haunts and disappoints and endures. The emotion over rare feathers easily coincides with the years of affection between friends, lovers, family.
The heavy weight of murder and death hangs over all elements throughout the story, though it never takes away from the poignant, beautiful account of life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Classism, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Minor: Mental illness and War
melissabythesea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book sits with you, hurts you, charms you. It makes you feel a lot and sometimes numb but the end is rewarding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Rape and Hate crime
jademrosas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Delia Owens is really good at describing nature, which isn’t surprising given her past works. I thought at times the writing was beautiful and poetic and the story overall was interesting. I liked the contrast between her descriptions of the marsh and the courtroom/jail. However, this book fell really short for me and I’m surprised by how much acclaim this book has received. I found Kya and Tate’s relationship to be cringe-worthy since Tate is a few years older than her and he also took on the roll of teaching and educating her. Because of this, I felt their relationship was kind of inappropriate. I also have a hard time believing that she was able to learn to read and write so quickly. Not only this. I mentioned before that Owens was able to write nature beautifully but I think her dialogue definitely needs work. I often thought that when characters were talking to each other, how stilted and unnatural it came across. Also, another major issue of mine with the book, were the racist tropes included in the book. Mabel and Jumpin’ deserved better.xbernadette's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Domestic abuse, Classism, Violence, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Child abuse
sophie_theresia_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Death, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Alcoholism
mayasydnee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
“where the crawdads sing,” will leave you shell shocked and in awe with a passionate story line and characters you can’t help but fall in love with— literary fiction at its finest.
memorable characters and an even more memorable story.
memorable characters and an even more memorable story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Hate crime, and Rape