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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
I wanted to like this a lot more than I ended up doing. Being a nature writer, Owens knows how to paint the marshes of North Carolina wonderfully. Sensuous and detailed, I was quickly drawn in. Based on this realistic setting, I was more than ready for an above average story. Indeed, the young life of Kya as her family crumbles was compelling.
However, clumsy plot and cardboard dialogue started to take over and after a particularly cringing exchange between Kya and her prodigal brother, I was realising I had seen the best of the book already. The latter half is a rush of plot with dialogue from a second-rate TV show, a courtroom drama inspired by just about any version you have seen before, lazy characterization, and a sign-posted reveal with a 'poetic' twist that goes nowhere.
Overall, Owens' first novel is sold on her expert nature writing, and bombed by her inexperience with fiction. It looks like she got a lot of bad advice about storytelling, and a lot of good advice about turning some worthy nature writing into forgettable paperback dollars.
However, clumsy plot and cardboard dialogue started to take over and after a particularly cringing exchange between Kya and her prodigal brother, I was realising I had seen the best of the book already. The latter half is a rush of plot with dialogue from a second-rate TV show, a courtroom drama inspired by just about any version you have seen before, lazy characterization, and a sign-posted reveal with a 'poetic' twist that goes nowhere.
Overall, Owens' first novel is sold on her expert nature writing, and bombed by her inexperience with fiction. It looks like she got a lot of bad advice about storytelling, and a lot of good advice about turning some worthy nature writing into forgettable paperback dollars.
It is a slow burn but I liked it because I’m seen the movie so I was sort of just imagining the scenes from the movie. It would have probably been quite a different read if I hadn’t seen the film. I loved the characters (most of them anyway) but the story does seem a bit unrealistic. How did a 7 year old get left alone like that?? But all in all I really enjoy the story and am so happy Kya went to her death bed with the secret of killing chase andrews. I love that she died on the marsh. Iconic.
This beautifully-written story paints simultaneously realistic and poetic pictures of the natural surroundings. The Marsh is almost as much a main character as the “Marsh Girl,” and I loved that a compelling murder mystery is strung through the recounting of her life story from childhood to adulthood. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
emotional
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
Really enjoyed the audiobook version of this! It had been a while since I’d read it so it was nice to listen too.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
5/5! The imagery in this book is superb. I felt like I was in the marsh. I could picture it so clearly. The main character is complex. It’s a story of trauma, loss, and resilience. Even better, it’s not a predictable story. Loved this book so much. It was the best one I read that year.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this book! It took me forever to actually start this book, but once I actually started to read it, everything changed. I love how you can see the main character grow and really become her own person. You can really feel the pain that she goes through, but you know she will get the ending she deserves.