I finished Where the Crawdads Sing, and suffice it to say, I have a lot of feelings about this book. I’m very excited to talk about it, and I’m going to do my best to avoid big spoilers if you have not read Where the Crawdads Sing. However, I highly recommend you go and read it before reading this review as there will still be some spoilers.
Where the Crawdads Sing has been described as a blend of a coming-of-age story and a murder mystery. As for me, I generally enjoy murder mysteries much more than coming-of-age. However, Kya’s story captivated me.
Kya is left alone and abandoned by everyone she has ever loved. First by her mother, followed by her four older siblings, leaving her alone with her abusive, alcoholic father. Eventually, he disappears as well. Kya has two different lovers over the course of the narrative, and they both also leave her. The sadness of watching everyone that was supposed to love and protect this little girl is felt deeply throughout the story. This sense of wrongdoing is palpable to the reader and creates a deeper sympathy with Kya.
Delia Owens weaves the story so intricately with its setting that the two are inseparable. The marsh that Kya calls home becomes a character in and of itself, the only constant companion in Kya’s life. When everything else left her, Kya had nature. Owens goes to great lengths to paint the scenery of the forest, the swamp, the beaches, and the ocean as vividly as possible. Being indoors, away from the marsh, feels as unnatural to the reader as it does to Kya. The imagery is my single favorite thing about Where the Crawdads Sing.
Due to her strange upbringing, Kya struggles in social situations. She feels much more at home with birds and plant life rather than other humans. The people of the nearby town consider Kya an outsider, someone dirty and unwelcome. This prejudice is what eventually brings the murder mystery to its head. After Kya’s ex-boyfriend is found dead, Kya is arrested and tried for murder.
Near the end of the book, Owens goes into detail about the trial, and it still holds the reader’s attention despite the fact that Kya and the reader are separated from the wilderness she calls home. While I will not discuss the details of the murder mystery’s resolution, I will say that I was completely shocked. My jaw hit the floor, and I simply couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened next. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this mystery unfold.
I would definitely recommend giving Where the Crawdads Sing a try if you are remotely interested in either of the two genres it falls into. I have not yet watched the film, but many friends of mine have told me that it does an excellent job of portraying the story and that it stays faithful to the book. Overall, I give Where the Crawdads Sing eight out of ten stars.
The next book I’ll be reading is a much more whimsical choice. I will be reading Howl’s Moving Castle, and I encourage you to pick up a copy as well. I have listened to this book on audiobook, but after receiving the physical copy for Christmas, I decided to read it as well. As a fan of the Studio Ghibli adaptation, I cannot wait to dive into the story of Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer. Happy Reading!