Where the Crawdads Sing Review | Books vs. Movie Comparison

[@twentyonereaders]

Corrections: Chase did play harmonica in the book in Chapter 23. Tate did defend Kya from Pa in childhood in Chapter 33.

[@omnitrix1992]

I was about to say...

[@TatjanaKS]

And conversation between Kya and Jumpin about how would town see her story about what Chase did, is in the book.

[@joleerinehardt2676]

Im glad you went back and wrote this , I thought we might have had a different book ...lol

[@fricktion184]

Wasnt that Jodie who defended them??

[@BeKindToEveryKind295]

And Kya crossed paths with Tom after school but didn’t interact. Thanks for the review it was great 😊

[@mdawg7049]

I wanted to see how she killed him….I wanted to see the death scene after Tate found the necklace. I wanted to see her out smart all those horrible people that treated her so badly! But I loved both the book and the movie….I think it should’ve been a 6 episode series on Netflix to really flush everything out with each episode being a different part of her life.

[@twentyonereaders]

Great point that a limited series would've shown more details!

[@maym249]

same.. I wanted to see this too. again it is left to our imagination.

[@christinecampbell9507]

That's what I loved.. that there was no need to show or spell out any more but to leave us with our thoughts.. signs of good writing.

[@cynthiawolfe3419]

@@christinecampbell9507 I totally agree! I personally liked that every part isn't explained! We can visually come up with our own conclusion, or not.

[@leinaaguilar5083]

The conversation where Kya tells Jumpin’ that she’s not going to go public with the information that Chase assaulted her because she didn’t believe the townsfolk would believe her over Chase is definitely also in the book, not just in the movie…

[@barbarasarabi]

He plays the harmonica ALL THE TIME in the book. At almost every single time they’re together!

[@redhot654]

Not including Kaya's poetry in the film, and ultimately the Firefly poem at the end, was a huge difference for me. I feel like if they were going to cut that out they should have included visual of the murder at the end.

[@twentyonereaders]

Great point that the poetry being taken out greatly impacted the ending

[@GMAMEC]

I was hoping for a visual of the murder too. It would have emphasized her extraordinary skills and intelligence.

[@lauriegrube007]

I wish they would have visualized the murder and more about the poetry. There are a number of ways they could have done that!

[@testacorsa1]

Well, we pretty much know exactly what happened, as it is described in the trial (I only watched the film): She returned from the book people meeting out of town, by bus, from the hotel near the station, late at night. She invited Chase to come to the tower at night, and simply made him fall down the hole from the grate she removed, probably by standing just behind it, and greeting him with open arms and kind words. She then covers up the tracks and prints, and returns by bus an hour later, in disguise, to the hotel. While I agree that it would have been "satisfying" to see the murder, my point is, that we know more than enough to imagine the rest quite precisely, which in return for the initial disappointment, by not actually seeing it, offers the satisfaction of using our own imagination. On top of that, it all seems like a very far fetched theory from the state prosecutor, and we dismiss it (I certainly did), and take Kaya's side, and cheer for her, when she is wins, and is free to go. I think that part was just brilliant!

[@janlyrliu9697]

I thought the poetry talent was very sudden in the film. Only saw the film on the plane a days ago.

[@williamhancock1029]

The movie didn't convey the same depth of loneliness as the book. It was the biggest difference between the two & my main critique. In the book, the emptiness & pain is established in Kya's childhood and from there it builds so the ache grows into a sharper pain when we see her face rejection when as she ages. It also makes her victories more significant. It's a magnifying glass and the movie (partially) missed out on it. I know it isn't ideal for some movie-goers, but I wanted the film to sit in the hurt with Kya as a child. I believe it would've emphasized the loneliness as the book had and thus, it would have paid off throughout the rest of the film. Something you mentioned contributes to this. The neglect and "ostracization" by the townspeople could've used more screen time. It was understated in the movie. All of that rejection is a building block of her emotional & physical isolation. Very minor critique compared to my first...Kya's wardrobe was a little off. I thought it would be a reflection, an extension of her relationship with the marsh, so more earth tones and fewer dresses (not too practical).

[@twentyonereaders]

Great point about how if Kya's childhood was given more screen time it would have portrayed her loneliness even further thus amplifying the significance of her victories. I noticed she had a lot of costume changes in the film but didn't specifically notice the colors. I see what you mean about the colors not matching the marsh setting.

[@joleerinehardt2676]

she wore a couple of dresses but your right . If it wasn't for Jumpins wife she might have been naked . I thought it was very endearing when Jumpins wife got her a bra and had to explain to her about her period . She was truly isolated from the world .

[@kassiefox1987]

Yes I’ve been saying this!!!! And they made her WAY too tame. Kya would never ever sit on a public beach and would run and hide anytime she heard other people. I wished they stayed true to wild animal-like behavior.

[@meiagal]

Loved the movie solely because of Daisy Edgar-Jones' portrayal of Kya! What a performance!

[@twentyonereaders]

I'm glad you enjoyed her performance!

[@adelaidemarie]

She did meet the lawyer on the way to school. She was about to turn back when he encouraged her to go forward. Told her she had just as much right as the others.

[@bonniemccall8281]

In the book Tate did protect Keya when they were young. She was a toddler and her dad was shaking her. Tate stepped in to stop it and the dad told him to never come back. Plus the paintings by her mom showing tate teaching Keya the marsh when they were younger. That’s why she vaguely remembered him because she was just an infant.

[@twentyonereaders]

That makes sense. Thanks for reiterating this scene

[@walterrobinson5919]

Good comparison! I loved the book and really enjoyed the film, biggest criticism of the film is the rushed court wrap up, really wanted all the witnesses and the ending I would have loved to see some flashbacks go the murder actually happening

[@safalafagins]

I'm surprised you liked the ending. I had high expectations too for the ending after the book, especially for the "reveal". I didn't receive chills in the movie when Tate found out that Kya was the murderer. I think it's because, like you said, the court trial was rushed and they didn't show any of the bus driver witnesses or really expand on exactly how Kya could have been the murderer aside from quick comments in their closing statements. What I feel could have been held larger impact would be, after Tate sees the shell necklace in the movie, if they included some visual flashbacks of Kya executing the murder. Her leaving her hotel in Greenwich at night, her disguise, her luring Chase, her doing the murder, and then somehow coming back not at all frazzled for her morning publisher meeting. That would have been a detour from the book for sure, but I feel like given the lack of explanation in the movie, that would have driven the point home better for folks who are unfamiliar with the plot. Thoughts?

[@ravensheaven5]

I didn't read the book but the movie was so predictable that Kya did kill Chase. Movie ending sucked.

[@walterrobinson5919]

I agree with you 100%! I wanted to see more of the witnesses in the films like the bus drivers they touched on it briefly with the lady from the shop but the court ending feel rushed! I loved the book ending with the poems and that reveal and I agree that with the film they could have shown flashbacks, I think I was expecting it for sure and was a little disappointed they didn’t but overall I did enjoy the film

[@twentyonereaders]

Yes absolutely a concrete flashback showing how Kya did it would have made the ending more impactful despite straying from the book ending

[@editelh]

Great review. Good job. Only you said that Kya running into Tom when she was a kid was not in the film, but it was. Definitely was in the film. The day she went to school.

[@darraghcollins1374]

In my opinion chase was unhappy in his life and how he had to marry someone he didn’t love and took his anger out on Kya. I definitely found the abuse towards Kya from Chad hard to watch

[@shannondaly2190]

Tate actually did come to kyas defense in the book against pa! Page 237 :)

[@twentyonereaders]

Good catch thanks for the page reference!

[@columbus730]

The only thing about the marsh I was curious about was that there were no alligators. Thought they would have them in that part of the south.

[@julieackles7297]

It is a bit too cold for gators to live in North Carolina, South Carolina is about as far as you generally see them. of course there's always exceptions.

[@columbus730]

@@julieackles7297 I just watch a KZbin video about a man fishing in a North Carolina lake and catching an alligator. There are a couple of them in fact. I didn't watch the second video, but it was about a man in a kayak who was attacked by one. Could be due to climate change, but it appears there are, indeed, gators in North Carolina. Of course, I don't know, when in time the events the novel narrates take place. But if it's the current period, there would be gators. Just thought I'd pass that along. You might want to watch those videos.

[@julieackles7297]

@@columbus730 yeah they can wander off, but as I said there are exceptions. I doubt they have the amount you find in Florida or Georgia. They are in any fresh water, but I have seen one or two find their way to the beach. Rare. The reptile cannot usually survive in prolonged temperatures below freezing. At Jungle Gardens in Sarasota we had low temperatures and the largest gator that they had for 30 years died.

[@columbus730]

@@julieackles7297 You might want to check on those KZbin videos. There are more than one.

[@julieackles7297]

@@columbus730 I plan to. I did check out Wikipedia Carolina. In most of NC no Gators. Only 3 counties mentions where they are found and they border South Carolina. Other places are too cold. The movie was filmed in Louisiana by the way.

[@USA-qm2bk]

What I didn’t understand: if he pretended he didn’t know her, why did he always wear the shell necklace?

[@warmcozy]

No one would probably question where he got the necklace because it looks homemade so he could easily have made it himself and guys don’t often ask stuff like, “Hey, nice shell necklace. You make it yourself?”

[@twentyonereaders]

I wondered the same thing

[@USA-qm2bk]

@@warmcozy but his mom said “I knew he got it from her”

[@USA-qm2bk]

@@twentyonereaders great review!

[@twentyonereaders]

thank you!

[@GMAMEC]

Excellent review. Reading the book adds layers of context. You did an excellent job explaining the differences. Thank you!

[@patrickomeara3700]

I didn’t read the book and am admittedly not the target audience, but the mystery reveal was wholly unsatisfying. Surely Tate was involved, otherwise the whole “she bussed back to town, killed Chase and cleared evidence and got back to the bus stop in an hour before being fine for the publishers” is rightfully pointed out as ridiculous

[@twentyonereaders]

Yes it would have been more satisfying knowing for sure in what capacity Tate was involved

[@heartofstone_]

In the book it is explained how it could have happened that Kya did kill Chase. She used the water currents and tides and her knowledge of the marsh to commit and cover up the murder. Showing that she "outsmarted" the town people that always thought of her as only the "marsh girl". It is also part of the trial. So in the book the ending is very plausible.

[@jeffreymiddleton4063]

Book version is always different from the movie can't wait to see film again.

[@sarahspector5294]

Chase’s harmonica playing was most *certainly* in the book - it’s described and mentioned many times, the last one the most significantly. ALSO: she DOES refute Jumpin’s suggestion in the book to tell the police saying that she wouldn’t be believed…

[@RG-yp4mv]

This movie was so Good!! Probably the BEST movie we have seen that was good all the way through!! Should get academy award for this one!! we need more movies like this Thanks so much!!

[@twentyonereaders]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@vayboualy377]

The movie could’ve been so much better. It failed to deliver. The acting was par at best. They failed to wake any emotion.

[@dcool2u2]

I wanted her to keep the cat that comforted her in the jail. Did she keep it in the book?

[@marketavelazquez2006]

Me too and no she didn’t

[@e3vL1]

7:58 that was in the film. He pointed her the direction to the school I watched film only. During the court case, they stated they looked thoroughly through her stuff/place, and did not find the shell. Was that in the book too? Surprised they didn't flip through the books on her shelf to find it

[@richardthebear]

In the book the necklace was under the floorboards beneath her old wood stove, which she had kept even after modernizing the rest of the house. Much better hiding place.

[@twentyonereaders]

Agreed it was a better hiding place under the floorboards

[@oscartorres8606]

The harmonica playing is also in the book right…?

[@twentyonereaders]

Good catch -- I just rechecked and yes it's in Chapter 23

[@KirstensKorner]

Can’t watch this cause of SPOILERS but this video best blow up because you got this QUICK

[@twentyonereaders]

Thanks for the support! 😊

[@christinecampbell9507]

That is the best appraisal of the book and movie I've listened to.. thank you for sharing it so clearly and accurately!! I just watched another review and it was appallingly obvious neither reviewer had read the book to understand the movie. I too felt the movie did justice to the book.. it's not a fast elevating dramatic murder mystery movie that some expected but one that reflects so well the mood, the location, the time and the characters in the book at the pace intended. It did not need embellishing... I loved it just as it was.

[@TatjanaKS]

Liked the way you made your arguments. Going to see it in 2 days. Thank you.

[@twentyonereaders]

Thank you and hope you enjoy the film

[@TatjanaKS]

@@twentyonereaders I have more respect for the book now. Factually, movie covered main plot. The way they did it, I am of the view this is not a representative of characters as imagined by author. Kay's relationship with the town could've been presented much better. Her sitting on a beach next to other youth is something she would NEVER do. I'm really sorry for Edgar Jones, she is the best part and still underutilized.

[@maryc2255]

Loved your commentary! Thank you!

[@geauxcotg2150]

Good movie, never read the book, but this video and everyone's feedback helped me firm up my understanding of the end though I am not sure if the jury saw the assault she endured. Either way, , the prosecution never proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and she covered her tracks.

[@butlerka2606]

I liked the movie but I felt like it lacked depth. It seemed like they just expected you to know what was going on. I had to explain a lot to my husband who had not read the book. I also was disappointed by how nice things were. Lol. I kind of expected the house to look much worse and for Kya to look not as put together and clean lol. Besides her feet looking dirty in the beginning of the movie she didn’t really look that bad to me.

[@MrWolfheart111]

Thank you... Now do one about the song. Your thoughts about the movie compared to the song?.... :)

[@1717jbs]

Excellent review. I agree with your criticism of the court scenes in the movies. I thought they should have fleshed that out a little more because it was really interesting in the book.

[@twentyonereaders]

Yes those court scenes were some of my favorites in the book too

[@marjohnesguerra8255]

good day, in what chapter tate pulled to the police and tell that his dad died???

[@alisonsarahcarroll6063]

Great review,I’ve I first read the book in February 2020, I enjoyed the book. I saw the movie yesterday, and I thought it was very close to the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie it was so good I give it 5 stars

[@twentyonereaders]

That's great you enjoyed it!

[@edwardtaylor5918]

I never read the book, never heard of the movie until I ran across it by accident on Netflix, I think. Loved the movie. It really touched me in an unexpected way. Loved the movie so much, I don't think I'd like to loose the feeling by reading the book. Haven't had a movie touch me that way in a long time.

[@trinaq]

Thanks so much for this honest review. I'm a huge fan of the book, and it's interesting to see the changes they may have made. I also adore Daisy, and I can't wait to watch the film this weekend.

[@twentyonereaders]

I hope you have a great time. This was my first time seeing Daisy in a project

[@TTMR141]

Amazing Comparison! Great job on the Review!

[@twentyonereaders]

Thank you!

[@cscreative5460]

The book was so much better. The movie felt haphazard and rushed. Also they complexly cut out more context of her learning to cook, her dad leaving to try to get money from the army, Jodie coming back and apologizing, and the depth of kya finding out her mom essentially went crazy and forgot she had kids but then remembering and went mute. I also hate they made jumpin and Mabel have more of a full mom and pop store as it was not that in the book. They made the store in town and jumpins dock store basically one in the same and I think that’s where the mean township storyline fell flat because she experienced that from going to the town. Mabel also did not work there. A high school boy giving a high school girl a way to publish a book is also not realistic. I’m a teacher lol

[@twentyonereaders]

It definitely felt rushed compared to the book that took its time

[@panktimodi5866]

Just finished the movie. I loved the book so much(I was not expecting that) but I cannot say the same about movie. I don't think someone who has not read/knows book(or not into books) would enjoy this movie. I understand why had to cut lot of details as movie being just for 2 hours but it doesn't give the depth of how lonely Kya was. In the book you feel that loneliness as well and the pain of loosing Tete. Also that's what also makes her accomplishments so grand in the book. I think I need to read/listen the book again.

[@wordswordswords8203]

Chase did play the harmonica in the book at least twice. There is a scene in the book where Kya explains to Jumpin she won't report what Chase did to her because she wouldn't be believed. Other than that, good job. I loved the book, won't see the movie, it looks like crap.

[@sengtawanstoddart6943]

Also there’s a some what sexual scene in the book emphases his persistence to have sex with her. On the boat with chase but she stops her. Right?

[@rajeshkannan6596]

Mam. Little bit disappointed that we missed that murdered. Otherwise beautiful film.

[@1953Hardwork]

Did not feel confused at all and I had not read the book

[@percydoeseverything]

Great comparrison review!!

[@twentyonereaders]

Thank you!

[@jm1551701]

Just would have like to know how she murdered Chase, did she put on a disguise to go back to town, because it is oblivious she did not not kill him at the tower, the prosecutor did a bad job I know that's how it was written but I was thinking at the end when the old Tate found the shell necklace we would have a flashback of how she murdered him, and when !

[@bonniemccall8281]

Chase did play the harmonica in the book. Did we read the same book or has it been so long for you that you have forgotten. Did they change it? Did you read it?

[@twentyonereaders]

We read the same book. It looks like I made some oversights with plot details. Thanks for pointing them out so other viewers can have a more accurate comprehensive comparison 😊

[@joleerinehardt2676]

she went back and added that .

[@LprogressivesANDliberals]

Just watched it. Def a good time with the significant other. Good fairy tale roller coaster for her emotional lust but the conservative in me hated how she didn’t have kids at the end & it was all about her career felt forced. The man in me was hoping Tate would show some fairytale chivalry & kick some ass one time at least but 6-7/10

[@joleerinehardt2676]

In the book they went over that . She was unable to have children , I am guessing it was her and not him because she never got pregnant with the jerk . She had hoped to have a family to fill the shack with laughter but it never happened .

[@LprogressivesANDliberals]

@@joleerinehardt2676 thanks! Bummer. Didn’t read the book good to know 😁

[@joleerinehardt2676]

@@LprogressivesANDliberals That book is so much more than the movie .

[@alikarol3]

In the book it's explained her and Tate "hoped children would come" but they never came... Kya might have been infertile

[@lighthouse6748]

Delia Owens needs to repent for her involvement in what happened in Zambia. Her newfound success doesn't erase murder, the nonchalant attitude is a giveaway.

[@marilynmeyer1619]

I liked your review very much.

[@twentyonereaders]

Thank you 😊

[@1953Hardwork]

Tom did talk to Kya in the street and encouraging her to go to school

[@bertagarcia7615]

Spoiler ALERT 🚨 it was actually filmed in Louisiana

[@maddino2538]

I tried to read the book but I didn’t get far and sorta forgot about it. I watched the movie and now I wish I committed lol

[@allthingsjamie684]

Thanks for making this video

[@cwestover5706]

I haven’t read the book and I was confused lol a flash back scene would have helped a lot

[@jphuang8658]

I read the book first, but liked the movie better. The pace in the book was very slow. It only got interesting in the last 30%.

[@columbus730]

Also curious about negative reviews for the film. I thought it was a good film.

[@smurfAkram]

I really enjoyed your video

[@twentyonereaders]

Thank you

[@patriciabourgeois8348]

Did I imagine that Chase did play the harmonica in the book? I am sure and didn't she sing along?

[@logandanieljohnson]

yes he did play the harmonica!

[@dinahk4873]

Great movie, I watch a movie because of where and when it was filmed , love the 60s and 70s

[@nancyk8153]

I actually did not like the book but I loved the movie. The movie pace was so much better than the book.

[@twentyonereaders]

That's great you enjoyed the movie! Yes the movie pacing kept things moving whereas the book could be meandering and repetitive at times

[@kimbrian5664]

I did not read the book but I surely loved the movie. I could only wish there was a scene of how Kya killed Chase though.

[@bobdemola]

So she did take the bus back and forth? How did she meet up with him and get him to the top of the lookout tower…

[@twentyonereaders]

That's what it implies but we never receive a concrete explanation

[@cindyr4918]

Chase was always going out to her place unannounced, so it would have been easy for her to lure him there by just leaving a message for him to come in his boat. The tower was a special place for them (as they showed in the movie) so telling him to meet her there would not have been unusual.

[@bobdemola]

@@cindyr4918 As good an explanation as any😊

[@bobdemola]

@@cindyr4918 how would she left a message for him that wouldn’t be evidence?

[@ftlotl777]

I really enjoyed the book (LOVED the whole story, wasn’t a huge fan of the writing and pacing) but I was SO disappointed in the movie. Certain scenes that I loved in the book were not portrayed well in the movie and were extremely cringey to me.

[@darryldonnelly5363]

This book is my favourite even though the film is good and the quote at the end is one of my favourites the book is still better than the film

[@marniekilbourne608]

The clicking or snapping is really abrasive and unnecessary.

[@davidboese5159]

I disagree with almost everything this girl says!

[@darraghcollins1374]

If you don’t love this movie you’re just not an articulate individual 💅💅💅

[@mattluszczak8095]

I thought it was a fantastic film

[@darraghcollins1374]

@@mattluszczak8095 it was