Of course, when expectations are built via critical and popular press reviews and articles, it’s difficult to view a movie, book, theater piece objectively. I did manage to stay away of most reviews after seeing that there was an overwhelming reception to the book.
Whoever wrote the fly leaf copy, comparing this author to Barbara Kingsolver, apparently has read little of her work. Owens’ prose reads like someone trying to emulate Kingsolver, while also given “an assignment” to write a story based on some random American dialect.
The theme is similar to a mashup from “Nell”, “The Glass Castle” and (stretching) “Educated”. I am NOT implying that the author, in any way, borrowed from these books, rather that there was no new approach to an already presented theme in past books.
I was so disappointed, after all of the hype following this book. ( )

What an amazing writer! Right now, this is the most talked about book in Facebook reading groups I follow, and I can see why. The author is a very fluid and vivid, and somewhat poetic, writer. The story is set in 1960's in the marshes of North Carolina but could easily have been in the marshes of Louisiana. You can see and feel like you know exactly where and what she's talking about.

In Louisiana, there are stigmas attached to the marsh people. It's alway been said you don't trespass onto their property way back in there cause they'll blow your brains out. Well, here's a story of a marsh girl, Kya, who was completely misunderstood. People were afraid of her and the rumors abounded and the town people were merciless. The boys harassed her. So, as life would dictate, she found love in nature and in her only friend, Tate, who had her back her entire life, taught her to read, and spent time sharing interests. But, he even let her down and left her for several years when he promised he would come back often, but never did. When on the rebound, in stepped the deceitful Chase Andrews, the most handsome, most popular boy in town who wooed her into a sexual relationship with the promise of marriage. When she realized she was being played, she ended the relationship, then his true self came out and he tried to rape her. Several days later he is found dead, having fallen from a watch tower. Of course, the town is in an uproar on the cherished, beloved death of the golden boy and immediately blame the "marsh girl".

Because of her writing style, I'm interested into reading a couple of her memoirs on what she learned studying the lives of animals while living in Africa:

1. The Eye of the Elephant: An Epic Adventure in the African Wilderness
2. Survivor's Song ( )

Delia Owen’s ‘Where the Crawdads Sings” is a revelation. Not only is the poetic writing stunning, she brings a brilliant romanticism to a page turner mystery that is awe inspiring. It is not surprising this is a number one best seller. We haven’t had a love story mystery to relish in ages and Delia pulls this off magnificently. She is a nature force that brings the reader along with an unforgettable trek.

( )

Atmospheric and rich in detail, I felt myself in the world of the coastal marshlands. I had to check my disbelief more than once as Kya survived repeated abandonment, and then raised herself with a routine or schedule that included meal times, worked to earn an income, and navigated the waters on her own without mishap. Even so, engaging characters and compelling story structure. ( )

I really liked this one, loved the accents you could just hear them coming off the page and the descriptions of the marsh were excellent. I loved that Kya was a part of her landscape and how all the life cycles of the creatures in her home were included, she's such a unique character and I was rooting for her through it all. ( )