A review by alexisgarcia
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

dark mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked the unique storyline and lush descriptions of nature and wildlife. It’s a topic I’m not incredibly well versed in so I appreciated the knowledge. The plot was unique and not incredibly predictable. However, the book fell flat for me in terms of some tropes, writing styles, and the ending. I don’t understand how kya could be the most beautiful girl everyone said she was when she was often caked in mud, with tangled hair and subjective bad hygiene. It seemed a little to on the “main character is so beautiful so she has many men pining after her” trope. I also personally did not like that it was not in first person. I think we could’ve gotten a more solid understanding of kya if it was told from her perspective. The old southern vernacular being used in dialogue also left me a little disappointed. It just made it much harder to enjoy the book. Lastly, I found that the ending really through off all of the work that had been put in the book to establish the character of kya and the reliability of the narrator. 
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