A Study in Drowning

In two made-up countries people are all light skinned, but those in the south of one country are considered backward and superstitious while the north is industrial and more forward-thinking -- kind of. Women are thought of as too flighty for academia and Effy has to fight for her place in the only college that will allow her until she can finally demand change. Effy's roommate is a woman in a relationship with another woman.

The main character is grabbed, forcefully kissed until bleeding, sexually harassed, bullied by classmates, and tormented by memories of past harassment. She experiences night terrors of a creepy man in the corner of her room, then in the woods and in a car. She sees a ghost in the house. A jump from a moving car results in minor injuries. A man is tied up near rising water and nearly drowns and another man disintegrates. The story of a baby briefly abandoned. Stories told of a massive drowning event in southern town that killed many. More stories of ritual drownings, of prisoners and of people forced to drink so much water they drown. Another story of a car accident, a traumatic brain injury, and an eventual death.

The main characters have sex in a short scene with some undressing, kissing, groping, and penetration described, along with talk of the importance that the main character feel safe and respected. Racy photographs are described.

Not much: "hell" and versions of "damn" plus words that denigrate women such as "whore," "temptress," and "tart."

Preston smokes cigarettes and Effy starts smoking around him. Drinking of hard liquor at parties, bars, and meetings by college age characters and older. Preston and Effy drink heavily at a college party and wake up hungover. Effy's mom is always drinking gin.