Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
on August 14, 2018
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
on August 14, 2018
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Length: 370 pages
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Literary Awards:
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction (2018)
Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel by an American author (2019)
Synopsis:
A novel about a young woman determined to make her way in the wilds of North Carolina, and the two men that will break her isolation open.
For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark.
But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world--until the unthinkable happens.
For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark.
But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world--until the unthinkable happens.
My Thoughts:
When Kya was six years old, her mother put on heels, left home, and never returned. One by one, her older sisters and brothers left as well, leaving her alone with her father on the edges of a North Carolina marsh where she spends most of her time, barefoot, learning from the world what she knew she couldn't in a schoolroom.
Isolated and lonely, she wishes for friendship with her Pa and with Tate, the friend of her kindest brother, Jodie, who had taught her a little about taking care of herself. Still, no one seems to stick around Kya long but everyone needs someone to love. Fast forward a few years when the local golden boy Chase Andrews is found dead, all fingers point to the Marsh Girl.
This is a very 'hyped' book right now and I'd been seeing such polar-opposite opinions about it that I decided that I just had to read it myself. After a considerable wait on hold at my library, I dug right in and had a hard time putting it down. It's worth the hype, in my opinion. I love stories with outdoor/natural settings as well as historical fiction. There is also a mystery element to this story that gave it a little something extra.
Kya is abandoned by her family when she is just a little girl. She lives on her own, off the land, immersing herself in the wonders of the natural world around her. Her story is raw and emotional. She is tough and resilient and thrives in her solitude but eventually, she longs for love and companionship and that is where her world gets turned upside down.
My only issue with the book was that courtroom settings aren't really my cup of tea, so I didn't love the portion of the book that included a murder trial but it was woven into the story quite well.
This book has an incredibly interesting characters, a wonderfully described setting, complicated romance, and a hint of mystery to tie it all together. I found it relatable, enjoyable, and even a bit of a tearjerker at times!
This is a very 'hyped' book right now and I'd been seeing such polar-opposite opinions about it that I decided that I just had to read it myself. After a considerable wait on hold at my library, I dug right in and had a hard time putting it down. It's worth the hype, in my opinion. I love stories with outdoor/natural settings as well as historical fiction. There is also a mystery element to this story that gave it a little something extra.
Kya is abandoned by her family when she is just a little girl. She lives on her own, off the land, immersing herself in the wonders of the natural world around her. Her story is raw and emotional. She is tough and resilient and thrives in her solitude but eventually, she longs for love and companionship and that is where her world gets turned upside down.
My only issue with the book was that courtroom settings aren't really my cup of tea, so I didn't love the portion of the book that included a murder trial but it was woven into the story quite well.
This book has an incredibly interesting characters, a wonderfully described setting, complicated romance, and a hint of mystery to tie it all together. I found it relatable, enjoyable, and even a bit of a tearjerker at times!
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