On January 27, 2020, our club met at Marg Bisch's home to
discuss Carla’s book choice, Where the
Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. In attendance were Marg, Shirley, Carla,
Colette, Betty and Beth. As there were four members missing from our group this month, it was decided that the announcement of the Muse & Views Academy Award for the 2019 book of the year would be postponed until April when attendance would be back to normal.
For her debut as a host, our newest member received rave
reviews for preparing a delectable buffet of foods that appear in the novel:
shrimp with sauce, hush puppies and corn fritters, tiny chicken pot pies, and
finally, a marvelous buttery peach cobbler. Marg added to the ambiance with a
display of feathers, shells and 'fireflies', evoking Kya's
collections from the marsh!
Where the Crawdads
Sing has been a bestseller for over a year. It is written by a woman whose
first career was as a zoologist (PhD) who spent 23 years living in remote areas
of Africa with her husband, observing and writing about the social behaviour of
lions, elephants and hyenas.
Owens says she grew up in South Georgia as an ‘outdoors girl’,
whose mother encouraged her to venture into wild places and learn about them,
often using the phrase, "go out where the crawdads sing". Her family
regularly vacationed in the outer marshes and swamps off the North Carolina
coast, the setting she chose for this novel.
When she was planning the book, Owens says she was intrigued
by the idea of a character who combines some of her own experiences and
interests: living alone without one's group; living closely attuned to the land
and wildlife and learning their secrets; trying to adapt and survive with the
knowledge and instincts we have. The book has elements of several genres:
orphaned child; coming of age; survival in the wild; love story; murder mystery;
courtroom drama; social criticism, etc.
The novel moves back and forth between the present, a mysterious
death in a small town on the North Carolina coast, and the past, where
we follow the story of a six year-old girl who lives in a shack in a remote
part of the coastal marshes and has to fend for herself after her dysfunctional
family abandons her. These two plot lines converge in a suspenseful courtroom
drama and shocking conclusion.
Almost everyone loved this book. Many members described
their intense sympathy and awe for the main character, Kya, and her
intelligence, resourcefulness and resilience in a hostile world. Other
characters who help and care for Kya (Jumpin', Tate) were felt to be
well-rounded and memorable. While a couple of readers found parts of the
scenario unbelievable, one admitted that there are some real-life examples and
all felt it is well-written and easy to read. Members commented on how vividly
the writer brought the marsh region to life, especially because it's not a
typically ‘beautiful’ landscape for many. The descriptions of the sky, lagoons
and the insects' behaviour are all poetically, and sometimes disturbingly,
drawn for us. Most of us liked the clever plot line and compelling suspense of
the murder trial with its push and pull as we are expecting one verdict and one
answer, but are surprised by the eventual outcome. However, a couple of us
picked up subtle clues Owens leaves early on. Our lawyer member said she
enjoyed the crime story aspect but we all found much to enjoy and ponder - most
movingly, the theme of loneliness and the long-term effects of living in such
pain and isolation, looking for something to love and trust.
