Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

We do a gift exchange at Christmas with my husband’s somewhat extended family. It’s always fun and interesting to see what we end up with, especially from those who we don’t know as well or maybe just for as long. This year, my name was drawn by my hubby’s step sister’s daughter in law... and we’ve spent some time together and I like her a lot, but we can’t really say that we know each other well.

She gifted me Where the Crawdads Sing with the aside that it was the only thing that had brought her  real joy last year.

I put it off. I tend to liked the straight romances or mystery. I comforted myself with re-reads during the quarantine, and I’ve never been much for what I would call book club books. While I like to think critically in real world situations , I tend to like simpler entertainment where reality doesn’t much intrude.

I finally picked it up the other day, when stuck at home with a wounded foot. And I read it in a matter of hours. And I’m still thinking about it. Perhaps I need to rethink my book prejudices...

This was beautifully written. Coming of age? Check. Romance? Check. Mystery? Check.

Told in flashbacks, but not too jumpy, Kya is a child of a war vet who has taken refuge in a Carolina marsh. Her family life is problematic, to say the very least. We see her turn from a six year old into a young adult. There is a small town murder thrown in. The heartbreak and beauty of her life is so well written that small phrases will just haunt you.

I don’t want to say a lot more. Just read it. Trust me.