Customer Reviews

My Drowning

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have never seen a more convincing portrayal of a female narrator by a male author. Nor have I ever been so completely drawn into a narrative. I began to feel what Ellen felt. The ending, where the mystery of the opening chapter is revealed is nothing short of perfect. I loved Winter Birds, but this book is even better.

Even though I make it a point never to review books online, I cannot resist with My Drowning. If you find most contemporary fiction unexciting, as I do, and if you are looking for work that takes risks, is devoid of sentimentality, avoids the all-too-trendy irony, and tells a story in spare but careful prose written by an author who pays attention to the subtlety of language and syntax, then read this book. I mean what I am about to say: This book should have won (or at least been a finalist for) the National Book Award. It's that good.

Wonderful story of a dirt-poor Southern white family. So captivating I didn't want to put it down. Easy to read. While of a depressing nature of lifes struggles, verbal and physical abuse, it was not so depressing as it had me in tears, as often is the case with me and sad stories. This may be in part because the character realizes the abusive behavior is not acceptable and doesn't repeat it in her own life. Main character has a wonderful narritive voice and it is hard to believe a male author has captured the essence of an innocent girl so well.

MY DROWNING is a haunting portrait of southern poverty and abuse by one of today's most gifted writers. This atmospheric novel is the painful (yet never pandering) tale of young Ellen and a potent commentary on the impact of the home environment on self-image as well as the heritage of physical and emotional abuse. Grimsley not only paints with a dazzling richness and depth of character, he also explores the nature of memory and the need for acceptance even as it comes in direct conflict with the survival instinct. It's all very complex and utter real. As always Grimsley's language soars with a poetry all its own. For additional richness and an overview of this horrific theme read Grimsley's WINTER BIRDS where young Ellen grows up and becomes a mother.

Grimsley, writing through Ellen, is truly fantastic. It's so hard to believe that a man wrote this novel to be in touch with a woman's feelings. You literally feel, see, smell, taste and touch everything this family goes through, the lack of the human essentials and basics to survive and grow. It makes me much too happy I finished school and am thankful of my modest means as Grimsley helps me appreciate what I have and have worked so hard for! Ellen is a survivor and she is one person to help you be a much stronger and better person! Jim Grimsley--PLEASE keep up the great work! I can't seem to get enough of your writing now!!!

This is definitely not a feel good book. The author narrates the life of Ellen, a southern woman growing up in horrific circumstances. It is a testimony that the human spirit is determined to succeed, that even when we are deprived of basic needs, we carry on and move forward. This book will make an impression that stays with the reader for a long time after putting the novel back on the shelf.

When you finish reading a book, put in the trash because it hurts and then retrieve it for a second, and third read..it is powerful. Every Southern girl and woman probably feels "there but the grace of God:...As another reviewer said, it is amazing how JG captures the feelings of a woman. How can a male author do that ? We will all recognize ourselves in one of these female characters. My drowning will be a true classic in a few years.

Jim Grimsley's newest novel is an achingly beautiful tale that exposes the lie of the noble savage while still offering hope that the human spirit may be strong enough to overcome almost anything. Narrated by daughter Ellen, who is trapped in a "family" figuratively drowning in poverty and ignorance, this novel exposes a horrifying truth that this country's politicians and, until now, artists have been reluctant to confront. Abject, unrelieved poverty and ignorance destroy the human soul. The story of Ellen's escape and her healing process is pure suspense, ultimately offering readers a parable of humankind's vulnerability and resiliency

This is indeed a well-written book. It combines a Proustian dredging through the mystery of time and memory with a Faulknerian sense of the harsh poverty of the South and its effects on the human soul as well as Faulkner's own sense of the mysteries of human memory, all written down with touches of fine lyricism.-The problem is, and I realize that I'm in the minority in this opinion, that it's impossible for an author to combine these fine traits and have any hope of getting his work published without mangling, yes mangling, it into a "mystery" where it can rest comfortably in that section in Barnes and Noble and be sure to sell. Proust and Faulkner, with their sense of the artist's obligation to be true to his calling, to not retrench their work to fit the marketplace, wouldn't stand a chance in this day and age. I wish Mr. Grimsley had the luxury to explore more into the psyches of the characters (which he does so well), I wish he would give full-rein to his lyricism and, above all, I wish he didn't have to fit this into the genre of "mystery."-All life is a mystery.-But then the book would be at least as long and complex as a Faulkner novel. And how many of you reviewers would have bought it?-No, the work will not be regarded as a masterpiece. What "mystery" is? The simple truth is that they don't cover the grand swath of light and dark in the human soul (though Mr. Grimsley does his best) because they have to fit into a formula, which by definition limits their scope, however gracefully, as is the case here.-This book is a good page-turner, as most mysteries are, and (as other reviwers have noted) Mr. Grimsley has an acute insight into the feminine perspective, as embodied by the character of Ellen Tote. All this being said, I'm afraid the book will be forgotten in ten years time, replaced by other "mysteries."