I was first introduced to Della Owens and the novel Where the Crawdads Sing while engaging in my Sunday ritual of watching CBS’s Sunday Morning. This particular morning, they featured an interview with Della Owens and discussed her recent bestseller. My interest was piqued.
The story follows the life of a young girl Kya and crisscross’s her life course. We learn about resiliency and survival, but also alienation. The reader is drawn into her hardships as a young abandoned girl left in the hands of an abusive drunken father in the marshlands of North Carolina.
Kya learns to navigate the world on her own. The story then focuses on her status as an outcast and sense of abandonment as she is forced to fend for herself; she turns to nature and her surrounding habitat. I, as a Nature enthusiast, enjoyed Kya’s love of the natural environment around her and how she found comfort and solace. This is conveyed through detailed descriptions of the plants and animals and her special relationship with the birds. As she heads into her teenage years, the romantic storylines begins with new found emotions, and the real internal struggles begin.
Kya’s story has elements of mystery, romance, unrequited love and even a murder that results in a courtroom thriller. The reader is fully engaged and drawn into the story and silently roots for Kya and a happy ending.
More to come.
Vote for your favourite book and community library. At the end of the Grey County Reads contest in April, three winners will be chosen randomly from among all voters to receive gift certificates for Speaking Volumes Books and Audio and one library will win $200 worth of books.
Grey County Reads is supported through advertising by these local businesses and organizations:
Amanda Bible - Rock Capital Investments Inc., The Mortgage Centre
Bayview Escarpment Fine Furniture and Cabinetry
The Bicycle Café
The Bookstore
Chapman's Ice Cream
The Colour Jar
ColourPix Graphic Design Services
Graciela Robertson, Grey County Real Estate Inc. Brokerage
Grey County Apparel/Hello Country Magazine
Grey County Public Libraries
Grey Roots Museum and Archives
John Tamming Law
Alex Ruff, MP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
Lyn Grant Financial Services Inc.
Mullin Bookkeeping
Nature's Path Osteopathy and Alternative Healing
The Restaurant - Leela's Villa Inn
Speaking Volumes Books and Audio
Bill Walker, MPP Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
