#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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Not my typical genre, but I LOVED this book. Kya is such an interesting character. I read this book in less than a day because I just couldn’t put it down. A little romance, a little mystery, a little sex, a little coming of age, this book has so many different facets to it. Highly recommend.
Best book I have read in a long time. Wonderful prose with descriptions of wildlife and nature made seeming real. The ending was unexpected but fit like a glove. All hail the little girl who grew up to be a beautiful person.
5+ STARS!
Luxurious prose, a captivating protagonist, and an immersive setting drew me into this fantastic story. The moment I started reading, I was entranced by the perfect pacing and unique narrative. Where the Crawdads Sing will surely be one of my favorite books from this year.
I didn’t like it at all! The beginning held promise but it slowly began to unravel. Unrealistic, poor character development, factually incorrect, even the name is questionable. Crawdads do not live in salt water. Her brother who loved her walked out? Really? Come on y’all.
I’m from the coast of NC we don’t talk like that and we sure as heck don’t act like that. About the trial. Are you kidding me? Have any of you ever set foot in a courtroom? What a waste of money!!!!!
Delia Owens guides us through a girl’s journey through soul-crushing adversity to her growth and development into a person of learning and skill. Her quiet persistence is inspirational, her accomplishments are impressive yet her life still holds cubbies that have never seen the light of day. Don’t blink as you come to the end…
Sense of place and character development outstanding. A formidable woman arises out of the ashes of her childhood. Most, most memorable.
LOVED it,
awesome reading
In my opinion, this book had all the elements of a best seller…engaged start to finish!
Good murder mystery. Strong character development. At little too much of the details related to birds, feathers, shells, mollusks. The author’s poetry was not as good as her literary fiction skills.
I read a lot of reviews that said they didn’t finish it because it was too wordy. I can agree to a point, but she has beautiful way of describing the marsh and the animals etc. I just think some of it could have been edited a little more so that the plot moved along a little faster.
Excellent writing and held my attention. Lots of twists and turns. I couldn’t put this book down. L. Clavin
This novel takes place in a marsh somewhere along the coast of rural North Carolina—perhaps on one of the islands of the Outer Banks—beginning in the 1950s. Kya Clark is the youngest of five children, all of whom, with the exception of Kya, leave the marsh sometime after their beloved mother packs up and leaves. Mother and children go for the same reason: the father/husband in the story is an abusive alcoholic who keeps them living in isolation and poverty. Once her mother and siblings are gone, Kya, who is only six at the beginning of the book, must learn to get along with her father in order to survive, and once he leaves too, a few years later, she must learn to survive on her own.
The plot (which includes a murder mystery and an excellent court scene) and presentation of this novel alone would be enough to win over fans of Alice Hoffman and Karen Thompson Walker. But as a bonus, first-time novelist Delia Owens happens to be a zoologist and bestselling nature writer. Her descriptions of marsh life are as lush and irresistible as the events that bring this book to life.
amazing read ten out of ten
I didn’t want it to end! Beautifully written…, felt like I was there
A truly beautiful book! Kya is a character that will stay in your heart beyond the last page of this book. It’s a beautiful story and a great mystery. This book will bring you to tears, make you angry and make you hopeful! I can’t wait to read more from this author!
This book and it’s main characters stayed with me for days. This richly written, intriguing story will challenge readers to consider the beauty and harshness of both Mother Nature and human nature.
Outstanding!!!!
Loved this book read in 2 days.
Very good reading. Such descriptive words; I felt like I was there.