Hi dear friends,
In today’s #BestBooksof2018 the prompt is “Best Historical”.
I confess that this one was quite easy for me as I don’t read many historicals nowadays. I used to be an historical junkie ranging from prehistory through antiquity etc but not anymore.
BUT
I do read some of them from time to time and this year I’ve read a fantastic book that is part of the Goodreads Awards!
My winner of the day is
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.
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Where The Crawdads Sing by Delian Owens
This story is a story of savage beauty, of cruel destiny for a little girl faced with countless rejection and immense solitude. This is a story of survival. Of deep love for a wild land. Of yearning for acceptance and love. This is a story of courage, strength, brutality and hope.
This is a unique story.
I love it when a book is like looking at the universe with magnifying glasses. You discover how the world is full of life and how even the plainest creature is gorgeous and hides surprising beauty.
Delia Owens simply made me fall in love with the marsh, this forgotten, wild and rude piece of land.
The story itself may seem simple yet cruel. A poor family living in a shack without running water or electricity, at the fringe of civilization, on the marsh. The day the mother leaves after years of abuse is the last day of that family. One by one every kid will leave to have a better life elsewhere, leaving only Kya barely six years old with her drunk of a father.
Can you imagine that little girl, waiting on her porch or at the end of the lane or later on the beach, every day of her life. Because her mother had to come back for her right? And her favorite brother would come back too right? And I have to clean up the shack, try to cook so that mommy will be welcomed when she comes backβ¦
This book happens many many years ago hence my choice in the historical category.
This is a story of courage, strength, brutality and hope. It is a land singing its beauty to who can truly ear and see. I would recommend this unique story to everyone looking for something just beautiful.
Favorite quotes
βShe knew the years of isolation had altered her behavior until she was different from others, but it wasn’t her fault she’d been alone. Most of what she knew, she’d learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would.β
β Where the Crawdads Sing
βI wadn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.β
β Where the Crawdads Sing
I mostly read Tudor fiction in this genre but for some reason this year I didn’t read any! I’ll be putting that right next year I hope.
I was so excited about this one, and finally yesterday it went on sale <3 So i have a copy now, yay!!
Yepeeeeeeee! Happy reading Norrie!
I haven’t gotten this one yet but lots of great reviews for it. I will have to check this one out.
Mary
Day 6 – https://stackingmybookshelves.blogspot.com/2018/12/day-6-blogmas-best-historical.html
I hope you’ll get to read it one day Mary!
Heard great things about this book! I too love when an author immerse us into a world we know nothing about. Love reading an unique POV. Iβm an army brat and we moved every three years, so only recently have put deep roots down. β€οΈβ€οΈ Thanks Sophie!
You are so welcome Dani! And one day you could post about your youth π
I used to read a lot more historical fiction too! I have heard a lot of good things about this one around the blogosphere, so I think a lot of people agree with you that it’s special!
I know it is the other bloggers who made me read this!
I just read another glowing review for this book. It’s on my Santa list!
I hope Santa will be generous Laura!
I just saw another blogger singing the praises of this book. Sounds like it can only be super emotional.
Exactly Sam! And now it will be a movie!
I so want to read this one, because I feel I will have an affinity to the story and character. And yes, I have it on my list because of you. π
I am glad to know I pushed you to add it to your list Alexandra!
I’ve been reading a lot of great stuff about this book!
It is fantastic Jacquie!