Finally read ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’

[MsAmerica]

I wasn't particularly interested, but became mildly curious, as it's been a best seller for two years now.

So I finally read it, because a friend bought a copy and offered to loan it to me - and I'm amazed that something so mediocre has stayed on the best-seller list for so long. It's not actually a bad book, although there is some stiltedness that had me guessing that it's the author's first book, and I endured the excessive landscape description, but I didn't give a damn about the characters nor even about who the culprit would turn out to be.

I'm thinking that maybe it's just popular because it's so middling? Not much sex, not much violence, not much intellect.

Like many of you, I was put off by the hype. I was taken in by Normal People and A Man Called Ove. Normal People is a particular dislike - not using punctuation doesn't make a book more edgy and interesting.

But I picked up Crawdads when it was 99p on Kindle deal, and it wasn't terrible. I wouldn't rave about it as the best book ever read, but I've read worse. Quite why it lauded the way it is remains a bit of a mystery to me though.

I quite liked the writing and tone of it, esp the nature writing. But the plot was dreadful, particularly towards the end. I was actually quite angry at the denouement, just felt implausible and clichéd.

It was a toss up between finishing it, and taking my eyeball out with a rusty spoon.

I am getting used to only having one eye.

Does that help.

Oh no, I absolutely adored it! I loved the slowness and I became so attached to the main character. But I also loved Hamnet and The Dutch House and they are also really slow books so that's obviously just my style.

I am about halfway through. I bought it because a good friend who I respect told me it was the best book she had ever read. I didn't enjoy the beginning but now I'm up to where she starts a relationship with Chase I'm not finding it too bad.

I like literary fiction and this felt more like pap from the get go, but I'm not a snob and will read books that aren't intelligent if they have plot pace and character. This doesn't have well written characters, it barely has a plot its just meandering along and pace is deadly slow.

Sad to hear midnight library is bad. I liked how to stop time or whatever its called so I bought it for a holiday read.

Recommendations gratefully received for something worth reading. Most fiction I've read lately have been rereading classics: Brideshead, Gatsby, remains of the day, never let me go. I'm considering persuasion.

I really like Jonathan Franzen and Thought Celeste Ng had come close with little fires everywhere. But then her next book was not as good.

I also love historical fiction.

So, you only like books with sex and violence?

I loved this book and can't wait for the film. The narrative was so descriptive that I could picture everything so well.

I can't wait for the film to come out.

First half was fine but second half utterly dreadful, especially anything involving dialogue. Awful.

I loved Normal People though

I read it and enjoyed it. I don't think it's one I'd pick up and read again though.

@GingerAndTheBiscuits

First half was fine but second half utterly dreadful, especially anything involving dialogue. Awful.

I loved Normal People though

Yes I quite enjoyed the first half. Once I realised how the story was going, and read the description of her strange beauty I thought, whoops. It was pretty shit and totally unbelievable from then on.

It’s been very popular. Reese Witherspoon is currently filming it.

In spite of the excessive description I just could not envisage anything.

The only good thing about Crawdads for me was that the court scene prompted a re-reading of To Kill a Mockingbird which remains perfect.

I quite enjoyed it. Liked the descriptions, the freedom she felt in the marshes, and the claustrophobia she felt when away was well done. But the way things went, and the poetry bit were a bit daft. But in general, I enjoyed it

I thought it was awful.

And the poetry was woeful

My book club all loved it. The more I thought about it, the more incensed I got cos it could have been interesting if she hadn't been incredibly beautiful and talented and in the end of was just a bog standard woman kills man who wants to sleep with her!. An interesting start gave up utterly and became predictable. Now if she had just stayed a sort of wild marsh woman that would have been more interesting!.

Yes I agree, if she'd stayed wierd and wild it could have been half decent. Oh I'm stunning and I've taught myself quantum physics. Fuck off

@ineedaholidaynow

Just started to read it, this thread is not filling me with much confidence!

Well, thanks, because that certainly made me laugh.

@Bryonyshcmyony

It was one of the worst books I've ever read. It has actually put me off reading altogether as I can't trust any reviews now.

Totally unbelievable and the sex bits were beyond bad

The question would be, Where do you get your reviews? Maybe the trick is to find a reliable source, although that's easier with movies than with books.

My goodness - I never expected so many responses. I'm glad I'm not the only one who found it over-rated.

I wasn't even aware of any hype, which is odd. It only came to my attention when I saw a big article about its longevity (which I posted here, if you're interested). I can just be pleased that an older novice managed to get such a break with a first novel, but I'm not interested if she writes any more.

I think there's a chance the movie might be better than the book...

I’m reading this atm and actually enjoying it. I didn’t think it would be my cup of tea at all. However, I was really excited to read the Binding. but I had to give up. Life’s too short. It had loads of excellent reviews too so I was disappointed. It was just tedious.

The question would be, Where do you get your reviews? Maybe the trick is to find a reliable source, although that's easier with movies than with books

Amazon. Goodreads (full of people pushing their own self published rubbish)

Occasionally a radio or newspaper review - more reliable but only expensive brand new books!

It was ridiculous.
Someone who grew up alone in the wilderness, the only two guys her age she knows she ends up in a romantic/sexual relationship with, she's drop dead gorgeous, extremely intelligent and of course ends up making a fortune from making books...all the while living in a swamp....umm yeah, that's gonna happen.

I thought it was annoying. I had to try three times to get into it but decided to preserve. But it was really badly written and cliched. I did get quite into it but was also cringing at some of the passages. The bit where she gets her period is awful. And yes, beautiful and mysterious is a very dull premise.

The sex scenes were just horrible. And the fact she slept with the only two other people she met was gross. It was misogynistic as well, no female friends, all the girls her age were horrible, why couldn't she have met another girl as a friend rather than having a fuck buddy at 14. Interesting to see how they show that in the film.

Yeah, I thought it was quite a 1 dimensional portrayal of a woman.

@Bryonyshcmyony

The question would be, Where do you get your reviews? Maybe the trick is to find a reliable source, although that's easier with movies than with books

Amazon. Goodreads (full of people pushing their own self published rubbish)

Occasionally a radio or newspaper review - more reliable but only expensive brand new books!

Exactly!

I look mostly to newspaper reviews, but I don't feel at all that they emphasize expensive books - just new ones. Then I often gravitate to old books, and I hear about them along the way.