Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing, (2018)
This book was a brilliantly constructed work, it is no surprise to me that it topped The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2019 and Fiction Best Sellers of 2020 for a combined 30 non-consecutive weeks. It is fascinating to read and admire the delicacy of unraveling two stories and drawing the reader into understanding how they gradually coalesce. The ending is not only powerful but thought-provoking. Where the Crawdads Sing has significant questions surrounding prejudice taking place over a period of 1952-1969. As the two timelines close together the life of Kya only becomes more complicated and raw as her trials and tests are vividly described.
There is a rawness to her tough childhood punctuated by the other timeline of a murder mystery. This is designated as a number of genres, as much a murder myster as it is a coming-of-age novel. Without wishing to ruin the story there are several threads that a reader will love to follow. Growing up on her own from around 10 years old, Kya is derided as ‘The Marsh Girl’ but through her trials and tribulations reaches a place of happiness. Based in North Carolina her life is apart from traditional civilization and therefore does not take into account the significant social upheaval of the 1950s and 1960s. However, the impact of segregation, prejudice and racism are all felt in ways that are unwritten but experienced by the protagonist.
Visceral elements of both timelines may be upsetting to some readers but it is the hardness of Kya’s reality that make the eventual conclusion a satisfying reward. Without giving anything away the legal case that envelops the latter chapters is gripping and means the book reaches a climax late. This makes the rest of the book a gradual build up punctuated by moments of raw emotion. Owens paces this book wonderfully and manages to involve the dramatic societal changes of the time period even in the story about someone so far removed from traditional society.
This book will in my opinion inevitably become a film at some point and I believe that it offers the perfect story for such an adaptation.
Personally, I found this book one of the best novels I have read recently. I wish I had more time to enjoy the fascinating story. I will re-read this at some point and take in more of the vivid descriptions of the beautiful marshes that Kya calls home.
The Weekly Book Report 