#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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This book blew my mind off. Went under my skin. Beautifully written.
Well written – I’d like to read her nonfiction. I think white authors should abandon the trope of “magical negro”.
Beautifully written, a story to get lost in. It pulls at your heartstrings and makes you feel every emotion, and remains with you long after the last page. Highly recommend.
Being a science nut, the story about the flora and fauna of life in the bayou captivated me. The author draws the reader in with wonderful characters and settings. I thought the author had missed an opportunity; however, in the section of the ending. Regardless, this story has much to offer the reader.
I’m not writing a review, as I never bought this book (I couldn’t afford it) I got it at the library. But you will not be disappointed. I would love to own it and maybe I will someday! Such a good book’!!
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What I will always remember about this book (and why I gave it five stars) is the main character who tells her story. One by one, her poor, unhappy family leaves her in the swamp. Mom, then the older kids, finally Dad. We watch her grow up alone, get smart, learn about life, all while a related murder gets solved. I wasn’t fooled by the mystery. And I did not enjoy all the poetry, thank you. But I’ll never forget the little girl who became a woman and the unimaginable swamp life she lived. Wow.
a memorable portrayal that is discusible.
A beautiful, haunting story. I listened to the audio version, performed by Cassandra Campbell, one of my favorite narrators.
CRAWDADS is such a supernova success that this pan is completely irrelevant. But it’s only happened once before that I and my four closest reading buddies all loathed a book, so here it is. The book’s author has written some good nonfiction, and her descriptions of nature in this novel are pleasing. Otherwise: a heroine so utterly unbelievable as finally to be unbearable; a plot that is not merely unbelievable, but counter to any remotely credible version of reality; cringe-worthy African-American dialect (if it matters, my friends and I are white); stereotypical and/or fantastical minor characters. I can’t resist mentioning the episode in which the heroine gets her first period and doesn’t realize what is happening; but the sisterless boy who’s been teaching her to read gets it without visual evidence, and an unremittingly compassionate black woman who hasn’t seen her up close lately somehow knows to wordlessly come up with menstrual hygiene supplies. The world is full of good books. You don’t have enough time for this.
Amazing story!! Great characters. It started a bit slow but keeps you reading as you learn more about the characters. Very well written and keeps you guessing til the end.
Loved this book
Loved the protagonist, the Marsh Girl, and her entire world. Heartbreaking at times, but you can’t help but be drawn into her strange, lonely world. Both a coming of age story and a murder mystery. An extremely well-written page turner!
In my top ten. I loved it so much I gifted it twice. The story was so alive. I’m sure it will be optioned for a movie. Everyone should read this book. You’ll thank me later.
Best novel I’ve read since To Kill A Mockingbird!
I loved this book! The prose painted real characters that you got to know and care about. I thought the author’s storytelling was almost lyrical. Highly recommend this book
Beautiful discriptive passages. The story line was both interesting and heartbreaking.
Loved it, opened up the world of nature, interwoven with family, intense living conditions, human spirit and love, with a twist of mystery and history, and classism… all themes I love..
I’m really glad I had the chance to read this novel. The author did a great job of sliding between the two timelines. Sometimes it was frustrating to get pulled away from one timeline just as new information was revealed or deeper connections were beginning to build, but that’s one way of knowing you’re becoming invested in the story. I will say that I did not connect personally to the main character Kya, but for this book that worked. Normally if I can’t relate to the main character in some way, I don’t care as much what happens to them. Kya’s character was separate from other people but I still rooted for her to find her place in the world and to have that sense of belonging that she was seeking. A big win to the author for creating that desire in me the reader while never losing Kya’s uniqueness.
Great ecological information. Creatively developed. I recommended it to several others who bought the book.
Very overrated