A review by donnawr1
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

3.0

I had expected more from a book that has been talked about for so long and was the best selling book of 2019. The topic hadn't really appealed to me, but after all the hype and finding that the author is a scientist, I thought I would enjoy it as much as so many others seem to. After finding a used copy for $4, I began the journey. I found the writing varied through the book, sometimes excelling and other times dragging and feeling like there was a lot of unnecessary repetition. Yes, we got that she felt lonely and abandoned. The author worked hard to make Kya's survival alone at age 10 seem realistic, but it didn't feel that way while I read it. Other things felt far fetched, like her learning to read sentences on the same day she was learning sounds from her ABCs. The insertion of the murder and investigation from the very start of the story felt disjointed and distracting to me as I was getting to know the main characters. Later it added suspense and I think the time just before and during the trial are the best in the book. I also expected to learn more about a marsh and the wildlife there, but it never quite came to life for me.

But so many people REALLY LOVED this book, I look at it and wonder what was the draw? My guess is the ability of a girl and then a young woman to be a literal survivor and to end up in control of her life. The description of the marsh as her mother was another draw for some people, but again, not enough detail for my taste. I also think the murder mystery enhanced the book and some people's love of it. But for me, I'm glad I spent no more than $4 on it and am happy to pass it on to someone else who may enjoy it more.