Living with nature, loneliness, social criticism and family challenges. The book “The Song of the Crayfish” covers a lot of topics and captivates readers.
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A small hut, lots of nature and a little girl – that is the starting point in “The Song of the Crayfish”. Kya is the little girl, she is left behind by her family and from now on has to fend for herself in loneliness. The novel is the debut of Delia Owens.
Delia Owens “The Song of the Crayfish”
The book initially takes place in the 1950s: Kya lives in poverty in a small hut with her parents and siblings. First, the mother leaves the family because of her violent husband. Little by little, the siblings also disappear from the marshland on the North Carolina coast. Kya stays behind with her father, but at some point he doesn't return to the hut either. The girl survives alone, learns to cook, grow vegetables, collect mussels and smoke fish. In return, she exchanges them for food and gasoline for the boat. She is not integrated into society. Her family is nature and animals – actually.
Chase Andrews dies, and the residents of the quiet coastal town of Barkley Cove agree: it's the marsh girl's fault. Kya Clark lives isolated in the marshland with its salt marshes and sandbanks. She knows every stone and seabird, every shell and plant. When two young men become aware of the wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - with dramatic consequences. Delia Owens talks intensely and atmospherically about how we will forever remain the children we once were. And cannot oppose the secrets and violence of nature.
Blurb/hanser blue
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Do you prefer reading thrillers that are about the climate and the forest? Then you should pick up “The Forest” by Tibor Rode.
How should “The Song of the Crayfish” be classified?
It's about detailed, beautiful descriptions of the natural and animal world. However, isolation and what that does to people are also discussed. The protagonist Kya develops from a disturbed, abandoned child into a strong woman who masters her own life. She learns to read, tries to form tentative bonds, she loves, lives and learns from disappointments. The book also contains elements of crime and court novels. However, the focus is on development, nature and love. The crime story is embedded in descriptions of everyday life and Kya's experiences - both narrative strands alternate chapter by chapter.
Conclusion “The song of the crayfish”
The sad story about Kya's young life, nature and the easy bonds that the protagonist forms with Tate, who teaches her to read, is heartwarming. Kya has no other choice; she copes with her life alone - excluded from society. It makes you think and sad, but at the same time it's beautiful. However, the first part of the book described is significantly stronger than the second part. When it comes to the legal issue, the investigation against Kya and the process, the plot seems lengthy and a bit confusing. Some things are predictable, but at the end there is an amazing punch line. Overall, a reading recommendation.
Author Delia Owens
Delia Owens studied elephants, lions and hyenas as a zoologist in African countries for over twenty years. “The Song of the Crayfish” is her debut novel and was on the SPIEGEL bestseller list for more than 91 weeks as a hardcover. The book was made into a film in 2022. Owens lives in North Carolina.