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38 Phonebox Magazine | October 2025husband. Soon afterwards, the four older siblings also left, one by one, until only Kia and her Pa remained. Their uneasy relationship improved for a while, and Pa responded to her request to take her out fishing, but in due course, he, too, left the cabin they called home, and Kia was alone.Kia loved the marsh and its inhabitants, particularly the gulls, which she fed on crumbs, and we are given an insight into its beauty and the variety of animals living in it through the eyes of a child, who grew into a young woman, isolated from humanity. Her experience of school lasted only one day, and she was unable to read or write until she was taught by her fi rst friend, Tate, who left her rare feathers and gradually became close. He brought her books, which increased her knowledge of the natural world she loved. However, when he left for college, he failed to fulfi l his promise to Reviewed by Thelma ShackladyWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensKnown as the co-author of three internationally bestselling non-fi ction books about her life as a wildlife scientist in Africa, Delia Owens%u2019 fi rst novel became a Sunday Times bestseller, with over fi ve million copies sold worldwide.Living in the marsh of North Carolina, Kia was six when her mother left home, family and abusive return, and she was left once more friendless until Chase Andrews, a popular young man, pursued her and eventually attracted her attention.Quite early on in the novel, which does not tell the story sequentially, moving between 1952 and 1970, we learn that Chase Andrews has been found dead at the bottom of a fi re tower, from which he had obviously fallen. There is a complete absence of clues, although foul play is suspected, and it is not until much later in the novel that there is an arrest and a trial. Prior to that, Kia is the main focus, as she grows up for the most part alone, apart from her friendship with Jumpin%u2019, who sells fuel for the boats and his wife, Mabel, who provides clothes for her and helpful advice when needed. Her self-suffi ciency from an early age and her developing skills and talents make for BookshopTel: 01234 714592 | Stanley Court, OlneyBOOK REVIEWfascinating reading, as do the descriptions of the natural world which she inhabits.This is a lovely, sensitive story, described by the New York Times as %u2018painfully beautiful%u2019. It gives us insight into a world far from the sophistication of modern society and charts the achievement of a young girl left to survive in the isolation of a cabin in a marsh.Club of the Month: Olney and District Gardening ClubWant to fi nd out more about gardening in a friendly environment? This could be the club for you.Olney and District Gardening Club has a thriving membership with varied horticultural interests. Some members know a lot about their interests %u2013 but there%u2019s always room for more knowledge, and that%u2019s one reason why the group organises interesting speakers throughout the year.The club meets on a monthly basis at the Olney Centre. Doors open at 7pm with tea and coff ee, and the meeting itself starts at 7.30pm. The illustrated talks usually last around an hour, then questions can be asked before a raffl e is drawn. Occasionally a speaker takes in plants for sale.This year%u2019s programme has so far included two arranged visits, one to Kelmarsh Hall Gardens and a car share to a private viewing of four gardens in nearby Flore, which had opened for the National Gardens Scheme Yellow Book.For 2025, speakers have included Jacques Amand from the famous bulb growers who have won 37 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. %u201cWe also enjoyed our %u2018bring and buy%u2019 plant swap, and a Summer Social held in a member%u2019s garden,%u201d said the club%u2019s Chris Richbell. %u201cAnd our October meeting is titled %u2018Garden Winter Wonder%u2019 with the garden designer Amber Hine, as featured in Homes & Gardens magazine.%u201dLooking ahead, the group%u2019s programme for 2026 ranges from a speaker from Norwell Nurseries talking about growing diffi cult plants in sand to a photographer off ering tips on how to improve members%u2019 garden photography, with another showing excellent visuals of her %u2018Botanical travels in Japan%u2019. %u201cOur aim is to off er a varied and interesting programme providing seasonal information and knowledge in a friendly atmosphere,%u201d said Chris.Olney and District Gardening Club meet on the last Tuesday of each month at the Olney Centre, from 7 pm. Annual membership is %u00a320 and subs at each meeting are %u00a32, which includes a raffl e and refreshments. Non-members are welcome for a charge of %u00a35.For more details contact Chris Richbell, 01234 241700.