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USO Indo-Pacific and USO Europe | Middle East | Africa are celebrating three years of the Overseas Virtual Book Club by returning to the first book we discussed.

Register for our discussion of "Where the Crawdads Sing," by Delia Owens on June 8th.

Register here: https://fal.cn/3yefv

Stay up to date with the Overseas Virtual Book Club by joining our Facebook Group: https://fal.cn/3yefw

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Any book recs to share with us?

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What are you reading?

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Since we're spread out across the world, please share your location (without sharing your exact address) on the padlet map! Feel free to share a quick bio in the thread below, and/or directly on the map (see link below). -- What's your name? How do you identify (pronouns)? Where do you live? -- On the padlet, click on the bottom right pink + sign to add a location.

USO OVBC: Intros

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Author Website

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Author Bio

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Facebook

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Instagram

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Just want to post this map here for any audio listeners!

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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING - Official Trailer (HD)

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Reese Witherspoon and Delia Owens on "Where the Crawdads Sing"

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LIVE: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING Chat with Reese Witherspoon, Cast & Director

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Book DQ 1: Kya’s family members leave her one by one, starting with her mother, and then her siblings. There is a period of time in which Kya and her Pa appear to be building a better connection with each other before he, too, leaves her. What do you imagine would have happened if Kya’s father never left? Would Kya’s life have been better or worse without him?

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Book DQ 1: Kya’s family members leave her one by one, starting with her mother, and then her siblings. There is a period of time in which Kya and her Pa appear to be building a better connection with each other before he, too, leaves her. What do you imagine would have happened if Kya’s father never left? Would Kya’s life have been better or worse without him?

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Book DQ 2:  Kya’s mother (Ma) has a complex and heartbreaking story. She yearns for her children for the rest of her life after leaving them behind, and their relationship is, unfortunately, never truly repaired. What did you think about Kya’s mother leaving her behind? Why do you think Ma never tried to come back to the swamp, even after years have gone by?

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Book DQ 2:  Kya’s mother (Ma) has a complex and heartbreaking story. She yearns for her children for the rest of her life after leaving them behind, and their relationship is, unfortunately, never truly repaired. What did you think about Kya’s mother leaving her behind? Why do you think Ma never tried to come back to the swamp, even after years have gone by?

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Book DQ 3: Early in the book, social services attempt to intervene by bringing Kya to school, which ends badly. ‘They came every two or three days for a few more weeks, the man in the fedora doing the search and chase, but he never even got close’ (p.31). 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?

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Book DQ 3: Early in the book, social services attempt to intervene by bringing Kya to school, which ends badly. ‘They came every two or three days for a few more weeks, the man in the fedora doing the search and chase, but he never even got close’ (p.31). 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?

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Book DQ 5:  On p.48, Tate’s father Scupper talks about what it means to be a man: ‘His dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.’ How does masculinity fit into this story? How are the characters of Tate, Chase, and Pa impacted by the pressures to be a ‘real man’, and what effect does this have on Kya?

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Book DQ 5:  On p.48, Tate’s father Scupper talks about what it means to be a man: ‘His dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.’ How does masculinity fit into this story? How are the characters of Tate, Chase, and Pa impacted by the pressures to be a ‘real man’, and what effect does this have on Kya?

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Book DQ 6:  Jumpin’ and Mabel are incredibly kind to Kya. They offer help and support while enabling her to be independent, and they seem to understand what she needs. What did you think about the relationship between Kya and Jumpin’? What would her life have been like without him?

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Book DQ 6:  Jumpin’ and Mabel are incredibly kind to Kya. They offer help and support while enabling her to be independent, and they seem to understand what she needs. What did you think about the relationship between Kya and Jumpin’? What would her life have been like without him?

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Book DQ 7:  Kya develops an incredible talent for observing and painting wildlife: ‘Her talent had matured and now she could draw, paint, and sketch anything’ (p.89). How does the writer show Kya’s creative side throughout the book? How does Kya’s hobby impact her life?

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Book DQ 7:  Kya develops an incredible talent for observing and painting wildlife: ‘Her talent had matured and now she could draw, paint, and sketch anything’ (p.89). How does the writer show Kya’s creative side throughout the book? How does Kya’s hobby impact her life?

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Book DQ 8: The marsh is almost a character in the book, and Kya’s surroundings inform and shape her as a person. We’re introduced to the swamp before we’re introduced to Kya herself: ‘Marsh is not swamp. Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky.’ (p.3)   Why do you think the writer chose to open with these words? Did you like the long descriptive passages, or would you have preferred less of them?

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Book DQ 8: The marsh is almost a character in the book, and Kya’s surroundings inform and shape her as a person. We’re introduced to the swamp before we’re introduced to Kya herself: ‘Marsh is not swamp. Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky.’ (p.3)   Why do you think the writer chose to open with these words? Did you like the long descriptive passages, or would you have preferred less of them?

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Book DQ 4: There is a huge class divide in this story. On the one hand, you have Chase Andrews and his friends, living a privileged life with wealthy parents and access to schooling, with many opportunities and prospects for the future. On the other hand, you have Kya and her family, living in a shack and barely getting by. Kya is open-mouthed with joy when Jumpin’ hands her a food and clothing parcel (p.84). What role does class and wealth play in this story? Could the locals have done more to help Kya, or was it someone else’s responsibility? How does poverty impact Kya’s parents?

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Book DQ 4: There is a huge class divide in this story. On the one hand, you have Chase Andrews and his friends, living a privileged life with wealthy parents and access to schooling, with many opportunities and prospects for the future. On the other hand, you have Kya and her family, living in a shack and barely getting by. Kya is open-mouthed with joy when Jumpin’ hands her a food and clothing parcel (p.84). What role does class and wealth play in this story? Could the locals have done more to help Kya, or was it someone else’s responsibility? How does poverty impact Kya’s parents?

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Book DQ 9: Kya is a complex person with shades of light and dark. The ending reveals something huge about her character. How did you feel about her at the beginning of the book, and how did this change over the course of the book? Do you see her as a victim? And do you think the last revelation fits in with her character?

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Book DQ 9: Kya is a complex person with shades of light and dark. The ending reveals something huge about her character. How did you feel about her at the beginning of the book, and how did this change over the course of the book? Do you see her as a victim? And do you think the last revelation fits in with her character?

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Book DQ 10: We get to see Kya in her old age, still living in the swamp, until she dies of a heart attack at the age of 64. What did you think of the ending? How did you feel when you finished the book, and would you recommend it to others?

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Book DQ 10: We get to see Kya in her old age, still living in the swamp, until she dies of a heart attack at the age of 64. What did you think of the ending? How did you feel when you finished the book, and would you recommend it to others?

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Book DQ 11: The North Carolina marsh where Kya lives has long been a sanctuary for outsiders. How does this setting shape the novel? How does growing up in this isolation affect Kya? In what ways does her status as an “outsider” change how others see her?

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Book DQ 11: The North Carolina marsh where Kya lives has long been a sanctuary for outsiders. How does this setting shape the novel? How does growing up in this isolation affect Kya? In what ways does her status as an “outsider” change how others see her?

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Book DQ 12: Why does Kya choose not go back to school? Do you think she makes the right decision?

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Book DQ 12: Why does Kya choose not go back to school? Do you think she makes the right decision?

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Book DQ 13: After Jodie and Pa leave Kya alone, she becomes close to Jumpin’ and Mabel. Why are these two adults drawn to Kya? What do they teach her about the world? Do you agree with Jumpin’s decision to protect Kya from social services (p. 110)?

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Book DQ 13: After Jodie and Pa leave Kya alone, she becomes close to Jumpin’ and Mabel. Why are these two adults drawn to Kya? What do they teach her about the world? Do you agree with Jumpin’s decision to protect Kya from social services (p. 110)?

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Book DQ 14: How is womanhood explored throughout the novel? What does being a woman mean to Kya? How does she relate to the other women in Barkley Cove?

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Book DQ 14: How is womanhood explored throughout the novel? What does being a woman mean to Kya? How does she relate to the other women in Barkley Cove?

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Book DQ 15: Discuss Kya’s relationship with Tate. Is he a good partner for Kya?

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Book DQ 15: Discuss Kya’s relationship with Tate. Is he a good partner for Kya?

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Book DQ 16: What role does poetry play in the novel? What does poetry mean for Tate? What does it mean to Kya? How does poetry help Kya throughout the novel?

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Book DQ 16: What role does poetry play in the novel? What does poetry mean for Tate? What does it mean to Kya? How does poetry help Kya throughout the novel?

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Book DQ 17: In the end of the novel, Kya thinks “Most of what she knew, she’d learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would. If consequences resulted from her behaving differently, then they too were functions of life’s fundamental core” (p. 363). What does she mean? Do you agree with her philosophy? What do you think it means to be a good person? Do you think Kya is a good person? Why or why not?

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Book DQ 17: In the end of the novel, Kya thinks “Most of what she knew, she’d learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would. If consequences resulted from her behaving differently, then they too were functions of life’s fundamental core” (p. 363). What does she mean? Do you agree with her philosophy? What do you think it means to be a good person? Do you think Kya is a good person? Why or why not?

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Movie DQ 1: What differences between the book and movie stood out to you? 

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Movie DQ 1: What differences between the book and movie stood out to you? 

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Movie DQ 2: The book was set decades ago. Does the book/film resonate with you today? If so, why? 

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Movie DQ 2: The book was set decades ago. Does the book/film resonate with you today? If so, why? 

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Movie DQ 3: Why do you think Tate fails to return to see Kya after he goes off to college? 

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Movie DQ 3: Why do you think Tate fails to return to see Kya after he goes off to college? 

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Movie DQ 4: How does Tate support Kya in her career?

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Movie DQ 4: How does Tate support Kya in her career?

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Movie DQ 5: What was your overall reaction to the film, after reading the book? 

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Movie DQ 5: What was your overall reaction to the film, after reading the book? 

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Luring him was as easy
As flashing valentines.
But like a lady firefly
They hid a secret call to die.

A final touch,
Unfinished;
The last step, a trap.
Down, down he falls,
His eyes still holding mine
Until they see another world.

I saw them change.
First a question,
Then an answer,
Finally an end.

And love itself passing
To whatever it was before it began.

A.H.

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"There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.’”