Reading is something you do alone – its the perfect activity in fact. Books transport you to other worlds, countries, places. They introduce you to people you would never normally meet. Its the perfect escape.
Despite the solitary nature of reading I’ve gained some of the most important friendships of my life through books. One of those was Becky. She set up a bookclub and I was one of the first people who joined. The group went from strength to strength for over 15 years.
I saw Becky every month. She was an amazing person – bright, intelligent, funny, kind and generous. It always felt like a sunny say when you were with her, so when she died last year it broke my heart.
One of the last books she gave me to read was “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. I can hear her saying how much she loved it. I picked it up in January of this year and instantly felt close to her. Reading the book made me feel like she was with me – a bright, sunny day in January.
Some books have a special place in your heart and this one has for me
Its set in the 1960’s in USA’s deep south. Kya lives with her family in a shack in the middle of a swamp. They are poor, white trash and life is hard. One day her mother walks out, unable to live with the physical abuse of her husband any longer. One by one Kya’s brothers and sisters leave until its just Kya and her father. Eventually he leaves too and she alone. Even though she’s far to young to be by herself she manages to survive.
She makes friends with a young boy who teaches her to read and she falls in love – not only with him but with books and knowledge.
Its a beatiful and touching love story; a story of survival and connecting with nature.
There’s also a shocking and tense court room drama with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end.
I didn’t want this book to end due to the connection with Becky and yet I couldn’t put it down. She was right – its fantastic.
Pixie Chronicles 