We learn the story of The Marsh Girl, Kya, whose mother and four siblings left her with her drunken, brutal father in the early 1950s when she was six years old. She and her father live in a little shack, miles from the nearest town, in the marshes of North Carolina. Her father comes and goes, leaving Kya to fend for herself for weeks at a time. Eventually, he leaves her too. It is fascinating to see how Kya learns to take care of herself. She is good at hiding, so after going to school for one day, she is able to escape the truant officer's repeated attempts to find her. Even though there was hot food at the school, Kya couldn't take the other kids taunting.
She eventually makes friends with Jumpin', an older black man who runs a little place that sells gas and supplies. His wife begins to provide Kya with some donations of clothes and food. As she grows, she makes friends with Tate, a young boy from town who is as interested in the marsh as Kya is. He teaches her how to read, and thus begins Kya's entrance into adulthood.
Tate goes away to college, and Kya is courted by Chase, the town stud, who is determined to be the first one to get Kya into bed.
We also get the story of Chase's mysterious death in 1969, which the sheriff determines is murder. Eventually, Kya is charged with his murder.
Like I said, the story is really interesting. But sometimes Owens goes on and on about things like Kya's life, day after day, in the marsh. It just took too long for things to happen. Although she writes beautifully, losing some of those descriptions about every detail of the nature of the marsh would have strengthened the book.
The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, was great. Her voices and expressions were perfect. It is worth noting that I am very patient with slow-moving stories when on audio--but this book was even too slow for that.
A good story with beautiful writing, but just too much of it!
Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2018
Audiobook obtained from the library.
384 pages
Rating: 4/5
I mostly liked this book too. I didn’t mind the details, but I could have done without the terrible poems. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Oh gosh. I have had this book on my TBR shelf for so long that it taunts me. I think I am intimidated by it. But, I know I'll eventually get around to reading it. Perhaps during all this shelter in place!
ReplyDeleteI really loved this book but it didn't stay in my mind as long as I hoped.
ReplyDeleteI started reading this book, but it just didn't hook my attention. I quit after a chapter and haven't gone back to it. So many people have raved about this book that I feel like I need to give it another go. I'm just afraid it's going to drag for me as well.
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