Where the Crawdads Sing

Overall, the writing was solid. However, there are more than a few cheesy parts, and the main character is over the top. Ultimately, I felt that virtually all of the characters were one sided but I enjoyed listening to the narrative. The performance was great.

While the title is intriguing, the story is a cliche, made worse by the performer’s pitiful portrayal of the lead.The novel is very uneven, mostly melodrama, with moments of possibility squashed by unending repetition and ponderous detailing.There are a few very likable characters who escape contrivance. Most don’t.The relationship between Tate and Kiah (spelling might be off as I did the audio version) is so overly drawn out in its hesitancy, it makes Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara look like a quickie.The story’s long lead-up to a fast and predictably wrapped conclusion emphasizes it’s unevenness and contrivance. I can’t help but think that even some of the more experienced Romance writers might have woven a better story with the interesting premise.

This book follows a “once upon a time” path where only someone under the age of 8 would be surprised at any of the twists and turns even the spoiler surprise at the ending. Sweet and simple but not much more than a filler. Don’t know how it got on the best seller list.

The author is trying desperately to be Pat Conroy - entirely too many sappy metaphors, horrible story,absolutely horrible narration.I have no idea why people like this book.Painful to get thru.

The information about the natural world and life in the marsh was interesting. The story was weak and went in too many different directions. The narration was almost annoying with the reader trying the different voices.

I had high hopes for this book and it sat in my wish list for a while. It should have stayed there.There are a couple of things I think could have made this book much better, if not good.The book was way too long and filled with so much that editing should have gotten rid of.It could have easily been 8 hours and that would have made it much more enjoyable and in my opinion, better. The author described the same things over and over again very descriptively and unnecessarily.We get it. We're not dumb. Save some for nuance. I almost feel like this book wasn't intended for an adult audience. I wanted to love this book.It was just really slow and predictable and the narrator was like nails on a chalk board. I finished the book so that says something. I feel like I wasted a credit.

I bought this book primarily due to the super high ratings, but really didn't like the book. The characters were unrealistic, absolutely everything was described in too much sappy detail and not relevant to the story (which was perfectly predictable). I'm more than a little sorry that I listed to the entire book - although I got some good eye rolling exercise. If you are a poetry fan, this would probably be a great selection.

I got this one simply because it was on Reese Witherspoon's list. I wish I hadn't.

I really wanted to like this book but the narrator was unbearable. Her fake southern accent and over-enunciating were horribly distracting.

Really, nothing of any consequence happens in this book. It runs at the same monotomous pace from beginning to end. Even the murder trial crawls and the denounment is even worse. I don't know how over seventeen thousand people could have given this book five stars, maybe they like to hear descriptions of southern food, butter beans, warm yeast rolls, blackberry jam and all. Kia's voice is as painfully slow as the story. She sounds as if each word she utters may be her last.