Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Some books open up a new world to you. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one of those books. It’s pure book magic in its combination of the beautiful, poetic language, the way nature plays such an important role in the story (Delia Owens is a wildlife scientist and you can really feel her love and respect for nature in the book from the way she describes the marsh and its flora and fauna) and the fascinating, multi-dimensional characters that you immediately root for. This book left me both speechless and breathless, and full of every emotion from overwhelming joy to a broken heart. It’s a book that I will never forget.

I’ve had this book since it was selected for Reese’s Book Club in 2018, but for some reason, I’ve delayed reading it. Perhaps I was afraid that it would be overhyped, having received such amazing reviews and being so talked-about, but let me tell you it’s not! I’m kicking myself for not reading this one sooner! It’s worth every praise, every love, every mention it has received. It was love at first page for this book. I read it feverishly in one sitting, not able to put it down for a second, until I’ve finished it all.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a mix of a coming-of-age story of an abandoned child–a Tow Sawyer in the marshlands–a murder history keeping you in suspense, a beautiful and tragic romance and a celebration of nature. Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl, has survived for years alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her mother and siblings, and tormented by her sadistic father. From the age of ten, she’s taught herself cooking foods, motoring boats, striking deals with tradesmen to fill her stomach, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Seen as an outcast and being loathed by the dwellers in the nearby town, she’s learned to avoid almost all human contacts. Thinking she knew what loneliness meant and how to handle it, she was proved wrong when Tate, a boy from town, entered into her life, teaching her to read and write and treating her with respect and love, only to leave her grief-stricken when abandoned her for his better future. Experiencing a new painful loneliness, Kya vowed herself not to allow anyone else in her life anymore. But fate had other plans and her life took an upside-down turn with the entrance of handsome and famous Chase Andrews, followed by his suspicious death, for which Kya is accused.
 
I can’t even try to express how much I love this book! Actually, ‘I love this book’ is such an understatement. This story has absolutely blown me away. Delia Owens has managed to paint a beautiful picture and story unlike any others. The writing is so beautiful and poetic. The characters are so fascinating, authentic, original and loveable. The descriptions, the world-building and the wild setting of the marsh teaching us that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps is absolutely amazing. Simply put, this book is pure magic and I cannot recommend it enough!

Find out more about the book and the author here: Delia Owens