#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING PHENOMENONMore than 6 million copies soldA Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club PickA Business Insider Defining Book of the Decade “I can’t even express how much I love this book! I didn’t want this story to end!”–Reese Witherspoon“Painfully beautiful.”–The New York Times Book ReviewFor years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet … 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.
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.
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I really enjoyed this book, especially how the chapters kept jumping forwards and backwards in time to fill in the story. That ending, though…
I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. The story of a “marsh girl” abandoned at the age of 6, who raises herself, never gets sick (even steps on a rusty nail and doesn’t get tetanus), is a little hard to believe. Her shack never needs repairs, she is taught by a boy to read and, on her own, learns college level subjects, and is beautiful, sensitive, and artistic. All that seemed a long reach. That being said, the descriptions of the land and the marsh were beautiful, and I could envision how they all looked from the detailed narrative. The murder mystery added a lot to the story; I had to keep reading to find out whodunnit. Delia shifted seamlessly from the past to the present melding this murder mystery, love story and coming of age story into one.
This is now one of my favorite books.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I cried and laughed. Can not imagine this kind of life but definitely read this one!!
I recently discovered my local library’s app and put this down as one of my first books. I loved this book. So many feelings with this story. I can’t imagine how hard life was for Kya and it’s amazing that she allowed Tate in to her life to teach her to read. After that, she truly became master…er, mistress of her own fate. The ending had me on pins and needles and I loved it. There are so many characters that weren’t good or bad, just humans that do the best they can with what they have. Highly recommend if you’re on the fence!
Where the Crawdads Sing is a triumph of naturalism, tender feeling, and vulnerability. Kya is the protagonist I’ve always longed for, completely strange yet relatable, broken and rejected, yet longing for love and acceptance, transported to places beyond in her love for the world around her. Even those who are prejudiced against her eventually come to respect her role and revere her. And the ending was the bittersweet finale I knew it was going to be. Best book I’ve read so far in 2021.
This tells the story of Kya the “Marsh Girl”—her beginnings and the difficulties of being a very poor, isolated outsider. Her growth into a skilled naturalist and smart, independent woman and author, and her honed survival instincts in the wake of being accused of killing Chase Andrews makes for a very interesting and entertaining story.
I really loved this book!
Favorite all time book. Great leading character, great story, great writing. Will read it over & over.
This book brought up some emotions.
Kya is the Swamp Girl who, from too tender an age, has learned to accept abandonment as her lot in life. But she’s resilient, and she rises time after time.
We’re privileged to watch her grow from a hungry child fending for herself in the marsh, to a young girl with her first brush with love, to an accomplished young woman, still more at home with the gulls than with people. And we see her stand accused of murder.
Kya’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
I loved Where the Crawdads Sing! It kept me on the edge of my seat and by the end, I was a puddle of tears. It’s a family drama/love story/murder mystery and if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it.
I finally broke down and purchased the book after all the great ratings. I didn’t think it was as good as people thought. It was okay but I have read much better books.
A beautiful read.
I loved this book. It transported me in a way I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. The characters are beautifully written and I couldn’t put it down.
I’m late in coming to this book, but glad I finally made it. The protagonist’s circumstances are heartbreaking, but her resilience and connection to the natural world, as well as the few human connections she is able to form, help her to rise above and not only survive but thrive. Great characters who will definitely stay with me for a while!
I wish I had a grand vocabulary to describe the beauty and depth of this book. Only the nature that plays a central part of it could really do that well.
This book is reviewed as “coming of age” and “mystery”. It is that. It is much more. It is a book about loss, abandonment,betrayal, and prejudice. I am reminded of the book of James and his instruction on showing favor. We are all guilty of this at some point. We look at someone differently or as less because of how they grew up, the clothes they wear, or the state of their house. None of those things truly matter. We reach out to those who are the needy. This is not necessarily a Christian thing, but it is necessarily a human thing.
This story pulls you right in to the marsh and immerses you in the life of the one who is embraced by it and embraces it in return. My emotions were taken to the highest of highs and then plunged into the valleys of darkness. I felt Kya’s pain. I felt for Kya. I had no choice.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. A must read.
I loved this book from the first page, the world looked so vivid on these pages and the characters just leap from the pages, fun read!
Aside from the story of Kya and the few people in her life, this book is a love letter to the marshes of the North Carolina coast. The book is slow moving and hard to read, but so worth it. Not to be missed.
This was my favorite book in 2020. I wanted to befriend Kya, protect and grow with her. The other characters were well-crafted, but other than Kya, the most stunning character of the book was the vivid beauty of the setting. Months later I can still see the marsh, birds, foliage, and other animals as if I were sitting there among them.
Another of my all-time favorites!