2023 My Year in Books: Rachel

One of my favorite things about the beginning of the year is seeing the books that others have read and celebrating the reading goals that were met in the previous year. No two people will experience books in the exact same way, so it’s neat to think about what they’ve experienced, and it can also be helpful to build your TBR list for the next year. While I still didn’t use any one set tool (like Goodreads) to track my titles or plan to read a certain number of books, I am glad that I kept a list with a short description of each book to help refresh my memory and think about the journeys I got to go on last year.  

If I had some awards to give out, this is what I’d choose:

Favorite Read: Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd 

This book put me in my feels. We meet a twelve-year-old girl named Olive who dreams of being able to go to school. Her parents have always been hesitant to send her, due to her dealing with osteogenesis imperfecta (what we know as brittle bone disease). However, she gets the chance to go, and learns about the legend of a magical hummingbird that can grant your deepest wish if you find it. While searching for the bird, she learns the lesson, that reminds the reader, that while we think we may know our “perfect” wish, life has a way of surprising us along the way.  

*Honorable Mention: My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen 

I loved this story that was mixed with both salty and sweet moments. Two friends (Helena and Penelope) are in their final year at the Royal Academy. They meet Elijah, and a project unlike any other begins to unfold. Elijah is a lonely street merchant with not much to his name. Penelope’s goal is to turn him into a refined gentleman chef. Will her plan succeed like the perfect recipe, or will things blow up in her face? If you’re a fan of My Fair Lady, you’ll likely enjoy this sweet, clean young adult romance.  

Most Likely to Recommend: The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh 

I don’t read a lot of self-help books, but this one was very easy to read and practical in nature.  

It reminded me about being able to make simple changes to allow myself to better listen and understand those around me and the world as a whole. As one that doesn’t appreciate all seasons, one of the best parts was remembering to see the beauty in each one and to find opportunities to experience different things.  

Least Likely to Recommend: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 

I want to start by saying that I didn’t dislike this book, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. Kya’s story was interesting to read, but truthfully, not a lot of it stayed with me. One part that I did enjoy was her description of the marsh. I’m not always the best at visualizing, but with her writing style, I felt like I did better than normal.  

One I’m most glad that I tried: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 

I don’t do well with branching out to different genres very much. I will most often read middle grade, young adult, romance, or historical fiction.  However, after last year’s March Book (& Movie) Madness, I decided to venture into the mystery genre and read Murder on the Orient Express. I really enjoyed the pacing of the story and was excited to see how everything would unfold. While mystery still isn’t my favorite genre, I was reminded when reading this book how important it is to branch out from time to time.  

Most Unexpected: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (Available through ILL)  

The reason I gave this book this award is that sometimes a book comes along that you need to read, but you didn’t know how much you needed it. There are times when I get into a reading funk and the desire to pick one up is gone. Life can be hard sometimes, and I think books are often the perfect escape into a different reality. This is what The Wishing Game was for me; it was the type of book that made me think about why readers fall in love with reading.  

Jack Masterson was the author of a highly popular series of books called Clock Island. Lucy Hart found peace while reading these pages, and since adulthood, she has desired to read another story, but Jack has stopped writing. Unexpectedly, there is news that Jack has written another installment in the series, and for those that can solve the riddle, they will be invited to the real Clock Island (where Jack lives) with a chance to win the one copy that’s available. This book made me think some of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the opportunity to experience something unlike any other. If you’re looking for something to pick up your spirits, this may be the one for you. 

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Thanks for reading. Come back next week to learn about Darius’ year in books.   

Rachel Bloomingburg’s reviews reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university. 

A Library Spotify Wrapped

Spotify released its annual Wrapped in late November—personalized listening data from the year compiled into a sharable, dynamic format. Getting to see social media stories of friends’ eclectic listening habits and going through my own “Top Songs of 2023” playlist made me (Sarah) think about how one’s reading habits can be just as wide-ranging as one’s taste in music. So, why not link the two? I’ve asked the social media team to join in and pair a song, album, or artist they’ve had “on repeat” this year with a book they also enjoy.

Amber Owrey, Instruction Librarian: “Long Haul” by Ian Munsick was our first dance song at our wedding, which is why I chose it. The song talks about staying with someone for the long haul, not just for the short infatuation/romance at the beginning of the relationship.

The idea of the long haul and the nature descriptions in the song made me think of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Although I wouldn’t necessarily say I approved of all the relationships in the book, Kya is very into nature, biology, and ecology. The book takes place in the marshes, and Owens describes the scenery well. Tate and Kya have a long relationship, with Tate teaching her to learn to read and eventually falling in love. (Again, not condoning the actions throughout the book of either character, but Tate is in it for the long haul with Kya).

Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Supervisor: My most listened-to album of 2023 was With Love From Rob & Jay by Rob & Jay, a duo from right here in Jackson, Tennessee. Another writer from Jackson whose work I’ve enjoyed recently is Union University’s very own Bobby C. Rogers, whose excellent collection of poems, Shift Work, was published last year.

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager: The main time I’m listening to music is when I’m in my car, and I will often have K-Love playing. Listening to this can help to put me in a better mindset and to think of ways to actively live my faith. When I think of putting faith into action, I can’t help but think of Love Does by Bob Goff. Taking the time to listen to others and being there for them can make a big impact. While music is not a major part of my daily routine, my mom will have a song to sing no matter what situation we’re in.  The songs “You are My Sunshine” and “Skidamarink A Dink A Dink” are ones that are special to me because they’re ones that my mom would sing to me. Having a strong mother daughter relationship is something I cherish, and it makes me think of books like Ramona and Her Mother, Her Mother’s Hope, and Little Women.

Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate: Like many, my top artist this year was Taylor Swift. With so many songs in her ever-growing repertoire, it’s hard to pick just one or two to pair with a book. However, I think that “The Archer” from Swift’s 2019 album, Lover, fits the twist on a fairytale romance found in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. Staying in the vein of pairing Swift’s music and Garber’s books, “Wonderland (Taylor’s Version)” from the recently released 1989 (Taylor’s Version) encapsulates the fanciful, yet dangerous feeling of the game of Caraval.

Library Staff Book Club: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The library staff book club recently read two books. The ladies read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, while the men read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. In this blog, we will focus on Where the Crawdads Sing, a novel about Kya, better known as “The Marsh Girl.” Abandoned at a young age by her entire family, Kya has grown up as an outcast in the marshes of a North Carolina town. The story delves into her journey as she comes of age and falls in love, despite her lonely circumstances. When the golden boy of the small town, Chase Andrews, is found dead at the bottom of the fire tower, seemingly murdered, Kya becomes the number one suspect. Alternating between the present and the past, the novel includes romance, mystery, and many scientific facts about the ecological value of marshes and the wildlife within it.

The ladies of the library staff book club share their thoughts and opinions about the Where the Crawdads Sing below.

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What did you think of the writing style and dialect used throughout the novel? Did you enjoy the long, descriptive passages, or would you have preferred less of them? 

Sarah Blevins, Circulation Associate, answered: Personally, I’m not really a fan of dialect in writing. I overall managed to look past it, although I did have to read some parts of dialogue twice. Some descriptive passages felt more like nature texts than fiction in my opinion. Given the author’s background as a wildlife scientist, it made sense, but it did take me out of the story a little bit. 

Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager, answered: I was fine with the dialect used. I felt like it fit the setting and time period the characters were in. While they could be a little long, I liked the descriptive passages. It helped me better visualize the area and see the beauty in it. 

Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Secretary, answered: At times the dialect used by the characters felt unnecessary to me. I don’t think most people who live in the south have such heavy dialects. However, I could overlook it for the most part. I have never been a fan of long, descriptive passages, so I mostly skimmed the parts describing all the scenery. Honestly, if we weren’t reading this novel for book club, I probably would not have taken the time to read it because of all the scenery descriptions.

Melissa Moore, Library Director, answered: I really liked this book. I found it very readable, and the descriptions were necessary for me to visualize the North Carolina marshes, as I didn’t have any life experience that was similar and they were so important to Kya—almost an extension of her or an outwardly visible part of her personality.

Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian, answered: I didn’t mind the writing style or dialect. Although some of the nature passages were a bit long, I do think they helped me imagine where Kya was living and how she experienced the world. I think both the dialect and nature passages fit with Kya’s character and the novel overall.

Were you able to emotionally connect with the characters and believe in the relationship dynamics? Why or why not?

Sarah Blevins answered: I did. I was pretty invested in Kya’s story. I felt sorry for her, given all she goes through over the course of the book. I was invested to see what happens.

Rachel Bloomingburg answered: Maybe not all of them, but there were some like Jumpin’ and Mabel that added a lot to the story for me. Kya had been left alone and if she hadn’t had their care, I don’t know how well she would have survived.  They, along with Tate, helped me think about the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to relationships. 

Sara Hand answered: The romantic relationships never felt authentic to me. The dialogue between Kya and her two love interests (Tate and Chase) seemed awkward at times. But I did think Kya’s relationship dynamics with her family members, as well as Mabel and Jumpin’, felt well written and believable. I watched the movie version of Where the Crawdads Sing about six months ago, and I thought the characters in the movie were more fleshed out than in the book.

Melissa Moore answered: Yes. My heart grieved for Kya and her loneliness, her lack of family. I was disappointed in Tate too – that he waited years to come back, knowing what she had been through with her family, especially her mom and brother. I don’t know that he would have gotten the same reception from me if I were in her shoes!

Amber Wessies answered: I would say I connected with Kya but maybe not as much Chase and Tate. I wouldn’t necessarily say the romantic relationships were realistic, but I do think they reflect Kya’s character. I think she would have easily fallen in love with a man who always took care of her and showed an interest in her interests. And I think she could have easily been taken advantage of by a man who treated her well on the surface but was really just using her. Kya’s lack of interaction with other people throughout her life made it seem possible for both relationships to happen.

In an ideal world, what would have been the best intervention for Kya? If you were in the shoes of the social workers, how would you take care of her? 

Sarah Blevins answered: Honestly, it surprised me that the social workers tried once or twice and then gave up. I felt like they should have taken more action to place her in school or, at the least, make sure she was okay. Ideally, I think they should have tried harder to connect with her–she had been through a lot because of her family and deserved to grow up in an actual home.

Rachel Bloomingburg answered: It’s hard to envision leaving a child alone nowadays without care, but I don’t know how well she would have been accepted and taken care of in the time and place she was living in due to the prejudice they had towards her. The marsh was the place where she felt safe, and in the story, characters like Jumpin’ and Mabel took care of her as much as they could even though they didn’t live with her. For her situation, I think being able to stay in the marsh was the best thing for her. 

Sara Hand answered: I know Kya was quick and hard to catch, but it would have been nice if the social workers had occasionally left food or clothes on her doorstep. It seems like the least they could have done under the circumstances.

Melissa Moore answered: When she was young, she certainly needed help. I was so thankful for Jumpin’ and Mabel! I like to think that if I had been the social worker in charge of her case, I would have pursued her more diligently and tried to develop a relationship with her so she would trust me. I know nowadays that social workers have too many cases to do that sometimes, but I don’t think that was at play in the novel (set in the 1950s-1960s); I think the social workers fell for the local mentality that the Marsh Girl was loopy and to be avoided or mocked.

Amber Wessies answered: This is a difficult question; I do think Kya needed to be with adults. However, I am not convinced the adults in her town would have done right by her if she had become a ward of the state. I think in some ways the truancy officer and the store clerk cared about her but not enough to do anything drastic to help Kya. If this book had taken place in a different time period, I think Jumpin’ and his wife would have done more to take care of her. Ultimately, her life worked out fairly well and albeit more animalistic than other people’s. I don’t think it would have worked out this way in real life though.

You can find Where the Crawdads Sing in the Recreational Reading section of the library.

Book Review: “Where The Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens

Is there any book within the last 3 years that has spent as much time on the NY Times bestseller list as Where The Crawdads Sing? Every time I’ve checked the list recently, Where The Crawdads sing is high up on it, even though it was published 2 years ago in 2018. A book this popular and beloved definitely piques the interest, so now I have finally taken the time to read and review it.

Where The Crawdads Sing is the story of Kya, a woman who has survived alone for most of her life in the North Carolina marsh.

Before you read further: I did not like this book, but I am in the minority of readers here. All of my library coworkers who read this book loved it.

Mild spoilers ahead.

What Where The Crawdads Sing gets right: This is a book about a central character, Kya, and her growth and development as a lonely, intelligent, nature-loving woman. After years of abuse and neglect from her family, Kya learns how to survive alone in the marsh without much help or compassion from the nearby townspeople. She is a sympathetic character that just makes you wonder: what were all of the adults doing in this town, letting a child fend for herself in the wilderness? Why didn’t anyone try harder to help? She does have some help from Jumpin’ and his wife, but I understand that their help had to be limited as they faced discrimination and racism. So where were the other people, who had nothing to worry about by helping an impoverished, abandoned child?

What Where The Crawdads Sing gets wrong: I hated the grammar and writing style in this book. There are tons of sentences that are technically run-ons; most of them are like this:

Pa’s overalls were so heavy wet she couldn’t wring them out with her tiny hands, and couldn’t reach the line to hang them, so draped them sopping over the palmetto fronds at the edge of the woods.

By late afternoon she was very hungry, so went back to the shack.

It should be “so she draped them” and “so she went back to the shack.” Otherwise it’s a run-on that’s confusing to read. There’s also a sentence that refers to the Andrews family as the “Andrewses.” It made me physically cringe. Delia Owens continues with this kind of writing throughout the book, and honestly it drove me crazy. I understand that maybe she was trying to make her writing voice similar to that of Kya, but it just didn’t click.

Here is a great review that doesn’t address the grammar but does point out some contextual flaws with the book.

And one last thing: the romances, if you can call them that, fell very, very flat. The men that Kya gets involved with treat her terribly. I would have loved to see Kya developing other relationships- like friendships- instead of these toxic ones.

Who should read  Where The Crawdads Sing: Readers who enjoy historical fiction and nature writing, and who can overlook the inconsistent writing and dialogue.

Who shouldn’t read Where The Crawdads Sing: Readers who want believable dialogue and character development. Readers who are also editors and will be itching to edit this book (that’s me).

Where The Crawdads Sing is available in the Recreational Reading section of the library.

Content note: language, brief suggestive scenes, racism and sexism that was typical of the sixties

Reviews written by Olivia Chin reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university.