Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

Author: Delia Owens

Publication Date: 14 August 2018

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pages: 379

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Books

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps

One of the biggest reasons why I’m hesitant to read books that are massively popular is because there’s this expectation that these books are going to mind blowing. The problem is when these books don’t blow you away because not only is it disappointing, but it makes you feel like there’s something wrong with you for not having the same reaction as the rest of the world (Again, that’s how it seems. Not saying that it’s rational or true) . That being said, that is exactly how I felt after reading Where the Crawdads Sing.

I’ll start with what I enjoyed, which is Delia Owens’ writing style. I think her writing is lyrical with beautifully lush and descriptive scenes that makes you feel like you’re outside laying under brightness of the full moon whilst listening to the night creatures of the marsh. Her use of vernacular adds a great touch because it really allows yourself to become immersed into the climate of the South.

However, the plot itself was where I struggled. I just got fed up with how much Kya was sh*t on by everyone surrounding her. Her family members leave her one by one because of her abusive, alcoholic father, who ultimately leaves her as well. The townspeople treat her like she has Lyme disease. The men who finally show interest in her life, use her and leave her the way everyone else does. I just wanted to scream at everyone.

Don’t get me wrong, Kya is fiercely independent and overcomes her circumstances. The final straw for me was when she’s accused of a murder with planted evidence. At that point, I just wanted the book to be done.

Have you read Where the Crawdads Sing? What are your thoughts?