Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - La chica salvaje

I loved this book from the moment I started reading it. It wasn’t super thick, but it still managed to last a good length of time which meant that I could savour every bit. It begins as quite a slow and gentle read, but with beautiful descriptions of the marsh where the protagonist Kya lives ~ “slow moving creeks wander, carrying the orb of the sun with them to the sea” These wonderful descriptions of nature continue throughout the book which I really loved. It was also interesting how two stories were being told at the same time: a murder mystery several years in the future getting closer and closer to Kya’s current life as time passes, until the mystery and Kya’s story intersect. At first the murder mystery part seems irrelevant, but gradually you realise it is really not. My favourite parts of the book were seeing Kya grow up and fall in love, but always remaining true to herself and the marsh. Truths are revealed throughout the book, as memories from Kya’s childhood come back to haunt her. Kya’s story is full of mystery, but not knowing is more poignant than frustrating.

I couldn’t fully tell by the end of the book whether Kya had killed Chase or not, because it wasn’t obvious until Tate finds something decades later that I think somehow reveals that she did. I thought it would maybe have been more effective to have the scene where Kya kills Chase at the very end of the book so that it is finally revealed, but the way the author decided to end the book was still effective.

Where the Crawdads Sing was a a rollercoaster of emotions and filled with meaning, but I find it impossible to give any book 5 stars. Though out of every book I’ve read, I think this one has come the closest.

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micaelamariem's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For the past couple of years, it seemed like everyone was raving about this book. Last year, I picked it up because it was on sale and I had heard of it, but not knowing what it was about I put it to the side to collect dust. But now the movie is out and people are talking about it again, and I thought it was about time I give it a try.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (published by Corsair) is a book that’s hard to describe. It’s about the life of Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl” as everyone in the town calls her. It’s about her struggles with abandonment, lonliness, prejudice, and living in the wild. It’s about love and loss and biology. And it’s also sort of a murder mystery.

This was, without a doubt, a good book. I don’t know if it would be accurate to say I “enjoyed” it as it is a sad book that had me tearing up every other chapter, but I like the book. I thought the writing style was beautiful and poetic in a way that connected Kya’s life to the wild marshlife, and to me it seemed like there were nods to Walden or to Rachel Carson here and there. I also enjoyed the nods to poetry. Plus, there were themes of overcoming prejudices, especially in the court scenes, that reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, in some ways. I also really loved Jumpin, and how he became a psuedo-father to Kya. He was easily the best character.

Some criticisms of the book claim that it was genre-confused, and I can see where they were coming from. It is marketed as a mystery, but I think it’s less that and moreso literary and historical fiction. Perhaps that’s why I liked, though, as someone who typically hates mysteries! I also would have liked maybe more hope in the book, though there are threads, and it’s not a completley sad ending. It’s definitley not a book for people who are looking for something lighthearted, that’s for sure.

I do think it is an important book, however. The historical setting can help readers understand past prejudices while also confronting their own. The nature of Kya and her biological interests can cause readers to look at nature with a new appreciation. We can also reflect on characters and what is right and wrong, as well as reflect on the differences between loneliness and solitude.

Overall, I’m rating this book four stars.

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james1star's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I absolutely loved this book so much. I don’t want to say too much as I feel the less you know the better and more rewarding reading experience you will get from ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ but basically, we follow Kya (or the Marsh Girl) who is abandoned as a child in the marsh of North Carolina, ostracised by society and left to fend for herself. The novel interjects the story of Kya’s child-to-adulthood with the investigation into the death of a local man where Kya is the lead suspect. I won’t say anymore about the plot.

What didn’t I like? Honestly nothing. The only thing is maybe a little disparity in terms of writing style between the nature scenes and character interactions - likely because Owens is more experienced in nature writing but overall was still really good. Also, it’s a little bit too descriptive in some parts.

Getting that out of the way, I ab-so-fkn-lutely LOVED the nature descriptions!! They are so dense, so transportive, so beautiful. Honestly the way Owens crafts these sections it truly astonishing and captivating. Also, our protagonist Kya is so damn lovable, she is so pure and just I don’t know?! I loved her so much. And Tate is adorable!! Oh my god - dream man DREAM MAN I tell you!! Yes, they have their flaws but that’s what makes them real. And despite there flaws (very minor to other characters) they are lovely, kind, caring human beings. And Jumpin’ and Mabel - my heart!! Also the message of protracting out natural environments is so vital and put across beautifully.

How the New York Times put it ‘at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature’ perfectly sums up this book. You are invested in every aspect and I felt so many emotions reading this - joy, dread, stress, love, longing, heart broken, heart warmed, betrayed and so many more. I loved this this book! Totally totally recommend, if not for the plot then the admiration of nature.

Easy 5 starts from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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ljustin's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Marsh Girl, Kya. Abandoned when she was a child, as an adult she finds herself the main suspect of a murder investigation. The victim? Her ex-lover chase Andrews, who betrayed her and left her heart broken.

I wanted to read this book before seeing the film, and was really hoping it lived up to the hype. It definitely did, with bells on!

Kya is a great character. Her grit and determination are admirable, and you will her to succeed and find love throughout the book. The side characters Jumpin' and Mabel are wonderfully lovely.

I loved how everything in the book looped back into the Marsh. The events all focused round it, and Kya continued to relate to it and the wildlife that inhabited it throughout her story. Owens manages to make the Marsh sound like a pretty great place to live!

There were a lot of themes through the story; love, bias, isolation, nature, and they all intertwine perfectly to make one excellent story.

Definitely 5 stars for this. I would recommend to anyone, no matter what they enjoy.

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theteamsreader's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A beautifully written and cultivated book. The writing is incredible and the way the author lures you in with a permanent backdrop of nature and unique characterisation is brilliant. However, plot-wise, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I recommend this to anyone who wants a nature-filled story with a murder mystery subplot and a large focus on coming-of-age drama.

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canonically_k's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Changes time setting and tone between a murder investigation and day to day survival. I found the bled difficult and the structure could've been utilised better.

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thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A good and easy read, but filled with a lot of descriptions.

A heart-warming and heart-breaking story of love, loss, and life.

Not hating on this use of a simile, but just as the marsh goes on forever on a hot sunny day, so do the author's words describing the marsh, the sea, Kya's shack, the forest, etc., which is quite a lot of the book.

It could also be seen as slowing the story down by using the multi-worded descriptions, as another simile as to the hot sticky summer days that seem to go slow and drag on.

I did enjoy the book as a whole and would recommend it as an easy read, a summer read, to get out of a reading rut, or just enjoy a casual read.

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