My Drowning, the third novel by Jim Grimsley, is the story of Ellen Tote's retrospective search for understanding and meaning of a dream that has been with her throughout her entire life. Poverty, abuse, neglect, and possibly an attempted infanticide are serious complications Ellen faces. Ultimately, in Jim Grimsley's words: "I think the truth can be glimpsed at moments in paradoxes and contradictions, in mysteries and ambiguities, [...] like Ellen solving the mystery of her own …showed first 75 words of 1189 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1189 total…as a companion to Ellen throughout her entire childhood and into young adulthood. Ellen recalls 'Alma Laura' looking out for her, however it is obvious that in fact Ellen is looking out for 'Alma Laura.' Works Cited Grimsley, Jim My Drowning. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998 Guardian lit. "Southern culture." San Francisco Bay Guardian. 26 March 1997. 24 June <Tab/>2003 < http://www.sfbg.com/lit/features/southern.html>