The Drowning Girl

Caitlín R. Kiernan
The Drowning Girl Cover

A Dense, Rewarding Read...

ScoLgo
8/13/2021
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This is a dense book that rewards the reader who pays attention. There are many cultural and historical references that required me to do some research. I also found echoes of Gene Wolfe, (a personal favorite), in the style of the writing. Like Wolfe's Severian, India Morgan Phelps, (Imp for short), is an unreliable narrator. Unlike Severian, who peppers the Book of the New Sun narrative with reminders that he has a memory that forgets nothing, Imp regularly reminds us that her story cannot be trusted because she is crazy, confused, and a liar. Coupled with the density of legend and a meandering style of story-telling, Kiernan's tale makes for a difficult but immersive read. I see that many readers felt the ending was a cop-out. I, on the other hand, feel that this book is more about the journey than the destination and give it a solid 9 out of 10 rating.