Where the crawdads sing
The Details
- Author: Delia Owens
- Series: N/A
- Published: August 14, 2018
- Page Count: 370 pages (Hardcover)
Personal
- Reading Start Date: September 26, 2022
- Reading End Date: September 27, 2022
- Format: Audiobook
- Rating: 6/10
Quotes
“I wasn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.”
“His dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.”
“What d’ya mean, where the crawdads sing? Ma used to say that.” Kya remembered Ma always encouraging her to explore the marsh: “Go as far as you can — way out yonder where the crawdads sing.”
Tate said, “Just means far in the bush where critters are wild, still behaving like critters.”
Awards, Trivia, &
By December 2019, the book had sold over 4.5 million copies, and it sold more print copies in 2019 than any other adult title, fiction or non-fiction
it was also No. 1 for 2019 on Amazon.com’s list of Most Sold Books in fiction. It topped The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2019 and The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2020.
In late December 2020, The New York Times listed it as the #6 hardcover bestseller that year
In April 2023, it was reported that the book had sold 18 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.
Nominations:
Since “crawdad” is a regional term, it sparked a rise in online queries about the word’s meaning.
Aspects of Kya’s life and the novel’s narrative choices are said to be reminiscent of Owens’ time in Zambia, where she, her then husband, and his son are still wanted for questioning in the killing of a poacher captured on film in a 1996 report by ABC News. Owens is not a suspect, but is considered a potential witness.
Genre
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Adult
- Romance
Trigger Warnings
- profanity
- child neglect and abandonment
- child abuse
- attempted rape
- violence
- allusion to murder
- sexual situations
- alcoholism
- racial slurs
- bullying
*There may be spoilers in this review. I will try to avoid major spoilers but some need to be brought up to be discussed.
Summary
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.
But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life’s lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and 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.
Characters
- Kya Clark – “Catherine” The Marsh Girl who feels closer to the land than to people, she is the protagonist
- Tate Walker – A scientist who loves the land as much as Kya does
- Chase Andrews – Town darling whose murder is being investigated
- Jumpin’ – One of the few people who helps Kya and allows her to live freely while keeping an eye on her
- Jodie Clark – Kya’s older brother who teaches her about the marsh
- Jackson “Pa” Clark – Kya’s father and raging alcoholic who abandons her at age 10
- Scupper Walker – Tate’s father a fisherman
- Tom Milton – Kya’s Defense Attorney
- Ed Jackson and Joe Purdue – Sheriff and deputy
Setting
The body of Chase Andrews is found by two boys next to an abandoned fire tower in the swamp outside of Barkley Cove, North Carolina on October 30, 1969.
Overview
I picked this up because everybody and their sister was reading it. And the movie was coming out and avoiding spoilers is on par with an extreme sports so I decided to read it while my aunt was doing the same.
It was pretty good.
The coming of age stories are easy to fall into and I found myself letting the story flow around me. Some things felt predictable but not in a bad way but more of an organic way.
I liked the dual timelines and appreciated the layers of the story as they came to light.
Pros
Coming of age stories are involved and entertaining. With the Southeastern backdrop it felt like home. Kya’s isolation and loneliness are constants in the human condition and your heart goes out to her in her situation. She’s tough but still empathetic and she struggles on no matter the circumstances.
The mystery aspect was well done. I thought I had things figured out but it kept you guessing and doubting yourself.
I have heard some complaints about writing style but there is something to be said for accessibility. It doesn’t require a lot of effort to get through it and shock and surprise that means more people get through it. Any book that can get people that don’t normally read to read is a winner to me.
Cons
Overhype was the worst part about this experience. The book itself was good but the sheer volume of everyone saying how good it was was… loud. It was as good as they said but not knock-your-socks-off-change-how-you-see-the-world-your-life-is-not-complete-until-you-read-this good. Having so many people clamoring to read something can be off-putting.
It was an entertaining read but to me that was all it really was. It was more like the gossip of a small town, which again I do like knowing the tea but my tastes look for a bit more. The characters don’t stand out too much and past Kya I didn’t care much about anybody else. Bits of it felt formulaic but again it is natural for this type of story and there are some things that readers are expecting.
I can’t say it is as good as everyone is saying but it is still engaging and accessible. There are some overall messages that made me nervous, you know like literally getting away with murder and deserving to. The technicalities can be distracting, especially if you know about the area. For me it was the seagulls. Please stop feeding birds bread. It’s just not good for them.
Final Thoughts
So would I recommend it? Yes? If you are interested you would probably like it. To be honest I am late to the party and you have probably already read it. The negative reviews seem to come from the people intimate with the area and the avid readers. Many had issues with technicalities and writing style but looking at the numbers they are in the minority. For me, it wasn’t super distracting. I liked the story and felt for Kya and her situation. The whole get away with murder thing was a bit concerning to be honest though.
It’s a small town story with a small town mindset. It is an entertaining read but there isn’t too much else to take away.
I have yet to see the movie but I haven’t heard anything crazy negative so that counts for something.
