Scan barcode
calliopie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
kayesomething'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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and War
heatherb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Bullying, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Abandonment
bellajade'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
2.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
19becky97'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Hate crime, and Infertility
mashleys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
[Reasons it might not be for you: abuse, neglect, abandonment, death/murder, sexual assault scene (and referenced in a few chapters following), shitty sex (very little), race issues of the 1950s]
WTCS in a few words: Intricate, strong woman, To Kill A Mockingbird-like, Nature-Celebration, murder-mystery, overcoming
- - - -
I’m in awe of Owens’ debut novel! Every detail is so well thought out and executed with such intention even to the last page. It makes me excited for any future works Owens might deliver.
Kya is a strong independent female in 1950s North Carolina, whose life brought on extreme hardship at a young age. She finds very little support from the town she resides in save for a black couple and a single friend a few years her senior. As a result, she finds refuge in nature and the animals of the marshlands.
- - - -
I appreciated Owens’ attention to detail concerning nature as well as the interpersonal challenges of Kya and other characters. Because of the complexity of the characters and setting of WTCS becomes a believable tale of overcoming hardship as Kya, the protagonist, ages, loves, loses, creates, discovers, and builds bonds with what’s around her.
- - - -
Having had my own challenges of growing up, I found Kya a very relatable and empowering character, despite the differences in our stories. The complexity of her emotions and personality I believe sets WTCS apart from most novels and it’s a refreshing change in literature.
- - - -
As a white woman, a lot of the racial issues, albeit not a main focus of the novel rather more a point of setting, seems reminiscent of To Kill A Mockingbird, but in some aspects may be in better taste for our current day and age. Although the writing style and plot seems to lend itself to that comparison as well. I would love to here a BIPOC individual’s take on the portrayal of race as mine will be inadequate. However, I do appreciate how one of the main supporting characters Jumpin’ and his wife Mabel are black in the 1950s, but are still business owners and are portrayed a kind, capable human beings with the same complexity that the other supporting characters have. But their experience doesn’t seem to whitewashed or diminished from what I can tell, although I am happy to be corrected as my knowledge and perspective is limited in comparison to others who have lived it.
- - - -
I would love to read more novels similar to Where The Crawdads Sing not only in manner of writing but also with regards to nature and character complexity.
- - - -
I’m dyslexic and chose to read the physical book of WTCS and I was pleased with the ease that I was able to read this book and enjoy the well written imagery by Owens. My experience with dyslexia will never be universal because each person’s experience is unique.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual content, and Violence
jmf27'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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, and Xenophobia
ellietodd08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Abandonment and Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder
valerie455'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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Hate crime
nothingrhymeswithrachel's review against another edition
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence