Last minute as ever, I needed a book for my trip abroad as I was flying the next day. Thankfully my wonderful lodger family had “Where the crawdads sing” on their bookshelf. I’d heard about the film and liked Daisy Edgar-Jones so gave it a go, with little expectations.
I went to volunteer in Poland, Malta and Prague so needed something relatively easy to read, that I could dip in and out of. As soon as I started reading it in Malta, my fellow bookworm roommate said that it’s a brilliant book! Instantly reassured I had made the right decision, I began to read it amongst the sweltering Malta heat.
Set in the Deep South of the 1950s, WTCD was reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. A coming of age fiction about a dilligent, misunderstood protagonist (Kya Clark) who was accused of murdering the Prince Charming of the small town- Chase Andrews- due to her being an outcast, infamous as The Marsh Girl. I was alarmed at first, for it began with young Kya enduring domestic abuse by her alcoholic father which led to her family members leaving her bit by bit. She was completely alone, forced to survive independently on her labrynth of a marsh. As a young child, she learnt how to cook grits like her mother and sell mussels from her father’s small boat to the black community nearby. Inspired by watching her mother run the household, she remained in her shack with the hope that her family would return and save her. Without the ability to read or write, she chose nature as her teacher, observing the natural beauty surrounding her. Until, a kind boy, Tate, was encapsulated by her gentle demeanour and taught her to read and write despite judgment from the town. As their relationship developed, the narrative cleverly flicked between the past and future, providing possible suspects for Chase’s murder. Chase was also interested in Kya’s naive lust for life, but was she the murderer?
I really do hate romance books but there’s something gripping about this one. The way Delia Owens entwines formational friendships, loss, generosity of strangers alongside a murder trial is very effective. No wonder it became a film! As Kya became entranced by words, she recited poetry which was a recurring theme throughout. As was her love of nature, with powerful metaphors of the animal kingdom reflecting her stages of life. It was a genuinely beautiful book to read, reminding me to appreciate the natural wonders of the world.
Despite the gripping story, there were copious amounts of imagery so I did find the book a bit too long. This meant that the court case could have been developed more as opposed to the vivid details of her childhood. Although once you read the ending, it does all come together! My favourite part truly was the representation of Tate, as a young man,encouraging Kya to be her authentic self, aiding her self-sufficient ways and learning from his own mistakes. I’ve hardly come across this depiction of a love interest therefore I was really impressed.
If you like unusual romance, murder mystery and have an appreciation of nature then it’s so worth reading. I’d give it a 4.5/5, a not-so-hidden gem
Amber Reads something 