In October 2018 I read and reviewed Delia Owen’s first novel set in the marshes of NC. Since it’s release, “Crawdads” has been RULING all the bestseller lists and I’m pretty sure Reese Witherspoon’s early endorsement didn’t hurt one bit.

To recap, Kya, the main character is a young girl who’s gradually abandoned by her entire family and forced to survive on her own. Within the novel are a murder mystery, love story, and courtroom drama. Woven throughout the tale are themes of isolation and self-reliance.

The “Tree Grows in Chapin” book club pick for May is “Where the Crawdads Sing” so what better way to get pumped up for a great discussion than going on a road trip to meet and listen to the author? Throw in a ladies lunch beforehand and a little wandering around Indigo Books, and you have a recipe for the perfect day.

The event was sponsored the Charleston Library Society and by Julian and Polly Buxton of Buxton Books in historic Charleston, SC. After Owens gave a brief and fascinating talk she took questions from the audience. Due to the excellent planning, every person in attendance was able to get a book(s) signed and to meet Delia Owens. For less than $30 we had great seats at the beautiful Sandcastle overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to meet Owens and have a book(s) signed.

“Kya is intelligent and capable. The lives of the marsh creatures fascinated her, so she started collecting shells and feathers, learning Nature’s lessons as she went. Since she had no friends or family, her only entertainment was to observe, collect and record the wonders around her. And in so doing, she learned a tremendous amount about natural history, and her mind and talents developed. With those in hand, she was able to become a true naturalist and publish numerous reference books. Her collections of marsh life grew into the most complete and profound of its kind.”

Delia Owens (bookbrowse.com)

Owens recently sold the film rights to Crawdads to Hello Sunshine (Reese Witherspoon’s company) and even hinted she’s working on another novel. Our group is looking forward to hearing more from her in the coming years. In the meantime, she’s at Litchfield Books tomorrow (May 6) and Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, NC on Wednesday, May 8th.

Need a book club road trip? Check out the amazing Lunch and Lit series coming to M.Judson in Greenville, SC. For less than $50 you enjoy a wonderful lunch with the author AND a copy of the book. Most events sell out, so don’t dawdle…

Happy reading, my friends!