Even those non-bookworms among us have heard of - and great things about - Delia Owens's beautiful debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, promoted by everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Instagram makeup Influencers to your good friend who enjoys fishing in places similar to the book's North Carolina setting. And I most definitely understand the hype and adoration for this lyrical tribute to things, people, and places we know little about.
"Kya" - also known as "Marsh Girl" by nearby villagers - has lived in solitude deep in the North Carolina marsh, learning everything nature has to teach her, since finding herself slowly abandoned by her family and ostracized by the community, surviving and living and loving among the birds. Kya is smart and strong and creative, and though she has accepted and swiftly navigates the life she lives, as she grows into a beautiful, young woman, she wonders how the opposite must feel; to be loved, touched, and kept sacred. Where the Crawdads Sing is a highly emotional, incredibly moving, coming-of-age story, pulled along by a vague murder mystery and frosted by an intelligent courtroom drama, though - ingeniously - the two are not stand-alone stories; one cannot exist without the other.
The writing is melodic and serene, delicately painting the lush swamp and marshland with lustrous talent and intellect for this incredible, mysterious, ecosystem. In her own right, and as a result of her surroundings, Kya is sad but strong, scared yet brave, secluded yet attractive, the story moving as slowly as the marsh waters it honors, not picking up any speed until it reaches the chaotic, open ocean that becomes the murder investigation of the local popular guy, Chase Andrews. The story then slows to a gentle ending that was surprising in the way that it wasn't. Owens leads you through the story as if she were Kya gliding through the still waters, which - as we all know - run deep.
As a nature-lover myself, and as someone who wants to wander into the wild, never to be found, to dwell amongst the deer and bears and bugs of the woods, to forget my unrequited love, I was drawn to Kya's story, her determination, and her knowing enough to believe in herself. This is definitely a great read for when you have the time and are in the mood for a good, hearty tale. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.
