A review by purplehulk713
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

In elegant and eloquent prose, Delia Owens tells a story so lush and complex, she might have pulled it out of the marsh itself. You follow cute little Kya, subjected to the horrors of the home that no child should have to face, watch her mother walk down the lane without waving goodbye, the first time in Kya's life that she would be abandoned. The book sings a love song to the marsh, one of the most diverse sources of life and where one's true nature cannot be denied, as you see with her father, Chase, and Tate. Kya grows, loves, and loses, but always comes back to the marsh, to the sand and sea which have been her family far more than any blood. The greater setting of Barkley Cove is likewise fascinating, especially with the dynamics between Jumpin', Mabel, and Kya, and Kya and the rest of Barkley Cove. The trial sequence is incredible, flowing back and forth through time as naturally as the tides. Kya seeks for life that will remain with her, in the waters of the marsh, feeding gulls and herons, collecting shells and other samples, and eventually opening her heart up to find the raw, intense, and sometimes shattering experiences of human connection, which lurk just beyond her marsh. What does it take to earn someone's trust? What would make you abandon your love? Can anyone protect themself from heartbreak? Follow me way out yonder, where the crawdads sing. 
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