Tuesday Tea and Tomes: Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdad's Sing by Delia Owens

Do you like a murder mystery? What about a coming-of-age tale? Perhaps a story of survival?  "Where the Crawdads Sing" has them all and all within a naturalist's dream of a relatively undisturbed environment of water and land on the coast of North Carolina.

The book, written by Delia Owens and published 2018,  follows the story of Kya, a young girl who is left to fend for herself in a remote coastal terrain. It's a lonely, isolated life, but not without  benefits.  Kya not only learns about the wild creatures of her surroundings, but learns from them as well.

Wetlands, be they coastal or inland, provide nature's reality show.

Kya  becomes known as "The Marsh Girl" from the residents in the nearby town.  The label is  meant as a derision, but understanding what the marsh really is, some would embrace it as a compliment. The author makes it clear from the very beginning of the book that there's something special about the marsh:  it's a "space of light".  In contrast, the swamp is where the water is "still and dark" and "life decays and reeks and returns to the rotted duff". An apt place for the deposit, and later discovery of, the lifeless body of one of the town's most popular characters? - maybe or maybe not!  

Aside from the challenges of the coastal wilderness, a menacing fire tower adds another obstacle to navigating the murky swampland.  

Be cautious of the fire tower

There are many parallels to the author's life and Kya's. Delia Owens was an "outside girl" growing up in the south. She loved to hike and study nature, which lead her on the path to earn a degree in Zoology and later a Ph.D. in Animal Behavior.  

She also connects with Kya's isolation, having spent years in off-the-grid areas of Africa with her now ex-husband, studying behaviors of elephants, lions and hyenas.

With "Where the Crawdads Sing", Owens proves not only that she's an expert naturalist, but a compelling novelist as well.

Spotting a pied-bill grebe made my naturalist heart grow 3 times that day

Although leading a Thereau-esque life has not been my "cup of tea", I did feel a kinship to Kya on a recent trip to the Seney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan's upper peninsula. The refuge has acres of woods, wetlands, and yes, even its own fire tower (wisely, it's entrance is securely locked).

Along with my husband, brother and sister-in-law, we hiked a number of miles through the wildnerness, accessorized with jackets, gloves (it was October after all) and binoculars. There's an otherworldly feel to walking through acres of undeveloped land (it was tried almost a century ago, but nature won that battle) without the din of traffic noise or bellows of the madding crowd.

There's entertainment in observing wildlife, a true reality show, and we felt like we hit all the numbers on the weekly lotto when we spotted a pied-billed grebe in the water. We quickly grabbed our Michigan Bird Book when we first caught site of this bird gliding across the marsh, than dunking in for an underwater swim. We found he was text book grebe! Like the Grinch discovering the true meaning of Christmas, my underdeveloped naturalist heart grew three sizes that day.

Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan's upper peninsula

"Where the Crawdads Sing" falls into the "can't put it down" category.  I want to thank Beverly P. for the recommendation and invitation to her book club. Although I couldn't make the book club date, we had a great time discussing afterwards.  For more about the book and author, see Delia Owens

And, for those of you interested in learning more about Seney's National Wildlife Refuge, you can find them on Facebook!