A review by theahappyhermit
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A study and drowning


My soul feels wrinkly and puny, as if I was just soaking in the ocean for too long and I’m now lying on the beach to dry. 

I had this weird urge to quietly weep the entire time I read this. Just little tears welling in the back of my eyes for seemingly no reason. But I almost think that was the point of the melancholy melodic, lyrical writing.

This book is written in a way that makes you feel like the author is not just taking you on a journey. She is on your back for a piggyback ride, holding your chin in her freshly painted nails, guiding your chin left right up and down, forcing your nose into the flowers . Shoving your face into clear pools of water so that you might see the reflection of your trauma back at you. Whispering in your ear intrinsic therapy sessions between the pages and yourself. 

And there’s more to it there are two stories here three if you count the one that you go on with yourself. One is a story about a book and two students uncovering the truth with fairies and magic and what not but that’s not really the core of the story core of the story is about women, and the love letter between authors and readers, and also a profound ballot of love to the sea and all of these things become one, subtly and not so subtly woven between lines of fiction and nonfiction. 

I just feel like I want people to read this, but I also don’t think you should read this unless you have a therapist on standby at the same time. 

I also have never annotated such deeply personal things in a book before but I had some things I had written years past that fit so well between the margins giving a resting place for feelings that once haunted me 

I don’t usually read books quite on this side of the scale of fantasy because while they are perfectly well written, almost too perfect I almost feel like the author does not leave room for the readers own imagination. 
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