Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

3 reviews

creationwing's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.75

The story was fine, and the descriptions of nature were quiet good. I found it could be verbose at times, and, as others have pointed out, the dialogue was wasn't the strongest. While I liked the characters like Jumpin and such, the author builds tension only to accidentally deflate it too quickly and too soon. I have mixed feelings about this book. I got emotional at times, but it was lacking something that made the transition between the two (eventually coinciding) timelines choppy. The time jump in the last few chapters felt especially abrupt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Cursing, Hate crime, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Animal death

Minor: Addiction, Medical content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, War, Mental illness, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual harassment, and Self harm

Graphic depictions of domestic violence, including against children.

A (frankly unnecessary) scene involving racist hate crime and slurs.

First period Coercion of sex / dubious consent / wear her down Some injuries are described quite graphically, more than expected, at least Implied painful sexual experiences. Attempted sexual assault.

_eleanorgreen8_'s review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-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

4.75

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Racism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Mental illness

lindasoderlundd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Bullying, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical content, Death, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infertility, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcoholism