Where I Fall in Love With Something Beautiful and Moving

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful novel. Highly recommended.

It is not my usual type of read. My daughter finished it and loaned it to me. I'm glad I accepted her recommendation.

The language is wonderful, poetic, inspired, and is often used to illuminate the setting, the unspoiled marshes of North Carolina's outer banks: "And just at that second, the wind picked up, and thousands upon thousands of yellow sycamore leaves broke from their life support and streamed across the sky. Autumn leaves don't fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar. Reflecting sunlight, they swirled and sailed and fluttered on the wind drafts."

Even when the image is common, the language is special: "A full bank of windows, framed by hurricane shutters, covered the front of the Barkley Cove Diner, which overlooked the harbor. Only the narrow street stood between the building, constructed in 1889, and the soggy steps of the village pier. Discarded shrimp baskets and wadded-up fishing nets lined the wall under the windows, and her and there, mollusk shells littered the sidewalk. Everywhere: seabird cries, seabird dung. The aroma of sausage and biscuits, boiled turnip greens, and fried chicken thankfully overtook the high smell of fish barrels lining the dock."

The book is filled with Kya's appreciation for the natural world that surrounded her, and her wonder is revealed in beautiful prose.

But... the story is excellent. It is a love story and a mystery tale and a survival story, entertaining and surprising and engaging, that happens to be told in a lyrical way. Unlike so many novels with fine language, this story isn't precious, and it isn't plodding; it doesn't dwell on descriptions or tortured metaphors. It's a novel that tells a good story. In truth, it would make a fine movie. (IMO. I mean that as a compliment.)

A quick note on characters: First of all, Kya is great, an empathetic MC, and almost every moment is from her POV. She carries the weight well. But there are some other well-drawn characters: her mother and father, her favorite brother, Tate and Chase and some of the people in town. My favorite by far is Jumpin', who runs a sort of run-down marina in town. He's one of her few friends, and (slight spoiler) one of the few who is truly loyal from beginning to end. I enjoyed his part of the story.

This book is a pleasure to read. I seldom find that an exciting plot and superior language end up in the same novel, but they do here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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