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A review by thatswhatshanread
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Wow. This book is such an incredible journey led by perseverance, love, and survival. While it was slow to start, I felt entirely taken in by the story and held in its palms as if I, too, were finding my way through life amongst the marshes of 1960s South Carolina.
Owens’ writing is poetic and strong, beautiful and sad, honest and rhythmic in a way not often associated with works published in the last ten years. I felt the nuances of Harper Lee coming back to me while reading this one, as Kya’s story of resilience, prejudice, loss, and heartbreak reminded me in ways of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In both acclaimed novels, there is a clear distinction and cowardice in regards to class and upbringing especially, but also race and education.
“Where The Crawdads Sing” is first a celebration and clarification of nature and its constants, every little piece of the earth that gives and takes, ebbs and flows. I’ve never before read such lyrical accounts of nature and its secrets.
But this is also a book about love, how it flourishes and wants and haunts and disappoints and endures. The emotion over rare feathers easily coincides with the years of affection between friends, lovers, family.
The heavy weight of murder and death hangs over all elements throughout the story, though it never takes away from the poignant, beautiful account of life.
Owens’ writing is poetic and strong, beautiful and sad, honest and rhythmic in a way not often associated with works published in the last ten years. I felt the nuances of Harper Lee coming back to me while reading this one, as Kya’s story of resilience, prejudice, loss, and heartbreak reminded me in ways of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. In both acclaimed novels, there is a clear distinction and cowardice in regards to class and upbringing especially, but also race and education.
“Where The Crawdads Sing” is first a celebration and clarification of nature and its constants, every little piece of the earth that gives and takes, ebbs and flows. I’ve never before read such lyrical accounts of nature and its secrets.
But this is also a book about love, how it flourishes and wants and haunts and disappoints and endures. The emotion over rare feathers easily coincides with the years of affection between friends, lovers, family.
The heavy weight of murder and death hangs over all elements throughout the story, though it never takes away from the poignant, beautiful account of life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Classism, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Minor: Mental illness and War