This story spoke to my soul
What to watch and read
Have you ever watched a movie and really connected with the main character? Maybe they portrayed your life struggles so accurately you thought the writer had seen into your past.
Where the Crawdads Sing is a story survivors of childhood abuse, domestic violence, and narcissistic abuse can relate to.
In this story, Kia, witnesses and experiences abuse from her father and later a romantic partner. She lives in isolation and has to learn at a young age to survive on her own. She holds a few people at arm’s length when they try to help her in order to protect herself from any more hurt and pain.
She has a chance for true love but is unable to accept the flaws of the one who wants to be with her.
We see her live in fear of being found and made to conform to society’s standards. She just wants to be left alone to feel safe and free from abuse. Yet, abuse finds her over and over again.
A mysterious death occurs and she is implicated. Did she do it?
This movie is a blend of survival, love story, mystery, and second chances.
As a survivor, I appreciated the perspective of the love interest in this story. So many times I think I’m too broken to allow myself to be loved again. I don’t want to handicap someone else’s life because of my scars and limitations. We see how the man desires to love Kia and accepts her the way she is and wants to live with her at her level not as a sacrifice but as a blessing to both of them.
The way he approached loving her made me realize that none of us are perfect and we aren’t expected to be. If we can embrace someone, scars and all then why aren’t we also enough for someone else?
I watched the movie and read the book. I got more of the love interest’s perspective from the book and also feel like I had a stronger experience with Kia through the book vs. the movie. Now that I have read the book I will probably watch the movie again.
You can find the movie on Netflix and the book on Amazon. If you don’t have books in your budget check your local library and see if you can find a copy to borrow.
Let me know what you think if you watch or have seen this movie.
And remember you deserve to live in freedom and peace.
❤ Julia