From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens

Start date: November 1, 2020

Finish date: November 30, 2020

Discussion: 2020 Monthly Reads

Why we're reading this: November 2020 group read choice for "by or about a woman in STEM"…more
[close] November 2020 group read choice for "by or about a woman in STEM"

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2020 Monthly Reads

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* 2020 Monthly Group Reads - The Final List of Categories and Books
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What Members Thought

Jul 14, 2019 Gina rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

Kya is abandoned by her family in remote North Carolina at a very young age. She becomes a student of nature and a determined survivor. Known as The Marsh Girl, she is judged and ostracized from society. And Kya is lonely. So lonely. Through the kindness of Jumpin’ and Mabel, she finds a small connection to a family. Through the dedication of Tate, she is taught how to read. Otherwise, Kya is alone in this world, longing for family and friends, but nature is her only companion. Twice she allows ...more

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Aug 27, 2019 Korie Brown rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 23, 2019 Jane rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, family-story, womans-story, geographical, fairytale

I began this book to be part of the Goodreads "Constant Reader" discussion. The discussion had started, and when I looked at comments, the fact that people questioned the author's geographical research, and several plot devices made me hesitate. I tried a few more chapters and gave up...those who found these faults, thought that the writing was often lyrical and that several of the characters were compelling. A friend had listened to the audio version and loved it, so I gave it another try. When I began this book to be part of the Goodreads "Constant Reader" discussion. The discussion had started, and when I looked at comments, the fact that people questioned the author's geographical research, and several plot devices made me hesitate. I tried a few more chapters and gave up...those who found these faults, thought that the writing was often lyrical and that several of the characters were compelling. A friend had listened to the audio version and loved it, so I gave it another try. When the main character, Kya's friend Tate begins to teach her the the sounds that letters and letter combinations make, with Tate's help she makes out her first sentence..."There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot." Kya simply says, "Oh." "You can read, Kya. There'll never be a time you cannot read." "It' aint just that," Kya whispered. "I wadn't aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full."

That may be my favorite passage in the book. Even though the phonetic difficulty of that sentence is pretty astounding. Several people in the discussion had trouble believing Kya learned to read so quickly. She's quickly reading on her own. But Tate is sitting beside her day after day "teaching her how to read the words.." Yes, she learned quickly but she's reading from a book about the animals and the land where she lives. It's her life. No family, no TV. Just this friend and a few books and a pencil and paper to copy the words in the book. Pretty high intensity learning.

Soon I began to read the book as though it were a fairy tale. I think some of the lack of realism fits with the romantic hero and the evil villain, the magical pace at which Kya learns; her abandonment in the wild; the way she discovers to protect herself from the animals and insects; her "fairy god-parents." The mystery is also somewhat implausible. But it was a fairytale ending...satisfying in exactly that way. So glad I stayed with it.

I often find best sellers far too light-weight to enjoy...although occasionally, after a particular dense piece of non-fiction, or a literary masterpiece I want to read a fairly simple page-turner. Where the Crawdad Sings feels like its own kind of book, neither high-brow, nor light weight. Very much like the books I loved from the time I was eight until I was a teen. My expectations were simply too narrow and too rigid. Thanks, Anne, and Constant Readers for encouraging me.

Sort of Spoilers

Other excellent passages: the description of Kya's father, Jake, who had high hopes for himself, his life and his family. "Blending in with the fighting, drinking, cussing renegades of the marsh was the easiest thing Jake ever did." The description of the way the villagers treated the Marsh Girl, the way boys talked about her sexually. Tate realizes that she inspires a sweet love for his lost sister and also a fiery live for a girl. 124 Going to Ashville for the bike that Tate's parents couldn't find locally. 276 probably the worst of the poems 163, Chase shows interest in Kya. 279 Tate shows Kya a drop of marsh water through the microscope. "I had no idea there so many and so beautiful." Tate watches her: "She feels the pulse of life, " he thought, "because there are no layers between her and the planet." and Kya whispers, "It's like never having seen the stars and then seeing them."

As I copy them, I realize some will view this as trite, sentimental writing. The poems sprinkled through the book are much like the ones I wrote in high school. Very emotional and autobiographical. No real sense of music or the surprise of language. When Kya's poems rhyme they are cringe worthy. I think the author was trying to be realistic about how Kya would write poetry, not write beautiful poems for her. There's evidence for that. ...more

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Aug 15, 2019 katy rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-club

Mixed feelings about this one. I loved the imagery with it and the mystery, but so much of it was frustrating, but that's just a want for a happier ending I think. In the end though, it was touching and such a beautiful placement, creating a sort of world that was something all too real ...more

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May 05, 2019 Debbie rated it really liked it

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Over the years, Kya has been deserted by her family members, one by one, as they escape her abusive father. First, her mother goes, and then each of her siblings. She learns to survive in the marsh at a young age and gradually builds a life for herself amongst the creatures there. She eventually forms a few friendships with people from the town, but when handsome and popular Chase Andrews is found dead in the marsh, the locals immediately suspect Kya.

If you loved Prodigal Summer by Barbara King ...more

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