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- from someone who *has not* read the book.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a book I have seen on shelves in every bookstore I've entered in the past 3+ years, and yet for some reason I haven't read it. Despite the countless questions from bookish friends, "Have you read it yet?", Delia Owen's novel had come out at a time where my "to be read" collection was really getting out of hand. I was officially on a book buying ban, and that included borrowing from friends as those would be copies they most certainly would not see again any time soon. I find it hard to read whilst at university. I think maybe it's because I spend so much time writing, that looking at more words does not appeal to me as a form of relaxation, as much as I am desperate to uncover the stories they hold within them.
Films, on the other hand, provide my mind with a sense of peace. So, when I heard "Where the Crawdads Sing" was being made into a movie, and that it was starring Normal People's Daisy Edgar-Jones, I knew I had made the right choice of holding out on learning the story so far. I wasn't actually aware of what the novel was about whatsoever - I knew that crawdads were birds, but I found the title vague and indistinct. Where the Crawdads Sing was finally released in cinemas on July 22nd in the UK. My sister was staying with me at the time, so we decided to take a trip to my local Vue to make the most of a rare rainy afternoon in the summer. So, let's talk about the film, but importantly from the perspective of someone who has not read the book. I'm sure that the film has left out many important aspects of the story, as most book-to-screen adaptations usually do. But I am unaware of these differences so they will not be looked at in this review today.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a story which is set in a fictional town called Barkley Cove in North Carolina, US, over a time period between the 1950s to 1970s. The protagonist, Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is a young woman in her early twenties who has been arrested on the suspicion of murdering local quarterback Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson). Kya is known as the "Marsh Girl" as she grew up living in the marsh lands with her family who overtime abandoned her, and she ended up alone. The film jumps back in time to the early 50s where Kya is 6 years old and unfolds the events and traumas that led to the person that Kya is today. Through these flashbacks we are introduced to Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith), a young boy who befriends Kya. The pair's relationship blossoms as they grow up and Kya gets closer to Tate when her family members abandon her as the years go on.
Despite Tate and Kya's emotional and romantic relationship developing strongly, Tate makes the decision to leave Barkley Cove to study at University. He promises Kya that he will return for her, but he lets her down. Kya is now 19 and fending for herself, living alone in the Marshlands. She occupies her time with drawing many of the fascinating creatures and wildlife that she discovers in the marsh, which Tate suggested that she should send to publishers to keep her afloat financially.
This is when Chase Andrews appears on the scene. He spots Kya, a young, shy and vulnerable girl who lives alone, and decides to prey on her innocence to fulfil his sexual desires. The film consistently switches between the storytelling of Kya's past, and the present situation where she is facing trial for the murder of Chase Andrews. His body is discovered in the opening scenes and declared as a murder investigation. As the story of Kya's past unravels, the potential reasons for Chase's death become clear.
"In a world where people are conditioned to follow a set path, it's refreshing to discover a character like Kya who is so content in being who she is, even if that means ending up alone."
Overall, this film surprised me in the sense that I truly was left hanging until the very end to find out the truth of the murder. I will refrain from sharing spoilers as despite only giving it 3.5 stars out of 5, I would recommend watching this film. I enjoyed the unique storyline; the setting had a strong cultural element and the character of Kya was well developed as you could link her childhood experiences to who she had become. There was both a likeness and contrast between the characters of Tate and Chase; at first I thought they were the same person, but they paved two contrasting paths for the life Kya would choose to live.
I believe that Daisy Edgar-Jones was an excellent casting choice. I was cautious about how well she would deliver not only an American accent, but with the added challenge of the southern 70s flair. I feel foolish to have doubted her as of course she delivered exceptionally (just as with her Irish accent in Normal People!)
I think if I had already learned the story as a result of reading the book, I would have been less engaged in what was going on in terms of the storyline as there would be less requirement to stay focused if I knew what was coming, so I'm glad I made the decision to watch the film first. I would be interested to know how much of the book made it into the film and whether there was much similarity, so maybe I will have to buy a copy and see for myself!
If you decide to go and see the film I hope you enjoy and let me know in the comments if you prefer the book or the film!
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