Book & Movie Review: Where the Crawdads Sing

I had heard about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, but it never really piqued my interest. Fiction isn’t my go-to, though I do make exceptions—after all, To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book, play, and movie. Lately, I had been reading some heavy topics, and my brain needed a break. That’s how I ended up watching the movie before reading the book, and let me tell you, it was an experience.

The Movie: An Unexpected Pick

One rare day, my oldest and dearest friend, Susan, and I found ourselves with uninterrupted time—no kids, no responsibilities, just us. We decided to embrace our inner rebels and catch a movie at 9:45 in the morning. Our choices were limited based on timing, so when Susan suggested Where the Crawdads Sing, I agreed, despite knowing nothing about it.

Casting & Performance

The lead actress, Daisy Edgar-Jones, was phenomenal. She truly captured the essence of Kya, and the movie did a fantastic job bringing her character to life. David Strathairn (from The Bourne Ultimatum, We Are Marshall, and The Firm) played her attorney, while Garret Dillahunt (Pa from Raising Hope) played her father. Most of the cast was unfamiliar to me, but their performances were top-notch.

Trigger Warnings & Impact

Some scenes were difficult to watch, especially if you have a background of trauma. The execution was well done, but the content was brutal at times. Even so, Susan and I both thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I knew then that I had to read the book.

The Book: A Deep Dive

After watching the movie, I ordered the book immediately. It has a To Kill a Mockingbird vibe, which made it easier for me to get into, despite not being a fiction fan.

Book vs. Movie

For the most part, the movie stayed true to the book, with only a few differences in timeline placement. Of course, the book had more details—something the movie could have benefited from, though it would’ve made it 10 hours long (totally worth it, in my opinion).

Processing the Read

I finished the book in a day, and when I turned that last page, I was wrecked. In my “wrecked state,” I called my daughter at 10:30 at night, ranting about a minor detail that, to her, didn’t matter—but to me, it was a What in the Sam Hill just happened?! moment.

I was so worked up that I needed to decompress. Weight Watchers went out the window, and I grabbed a Coke. I needed snacks, a nap, a shower—something to calm my emotions. This book had me feeling all the things.

Final Thoughts

For a girl who doesn’t usually do fiction, Where the Crawdads Sing was an excellent read. If you haven’t seen the movie, watch it. If you haven’t read the book, read it. And if you’ve done both, call me—I need someone to talk about it with!