The Drowning Woman

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your overall impressions of The Drowning Woman? Discuss what you liked most and least about the novel.
• Compare this novel to others by Robyn Harding, such as The Party, Her Pretty Face, The Arrangement, The Swap, The Perfect Family, or The Haters (see Authorial Context in Background for brief descriptions), and/or to other novels in the same genre, such as Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews, Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister, or Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. What are some similarities and differences?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Reflect on any part of The Drowning Woman that evoked a strong emotional response (such as Lee’s experience of someone breaking into her car while she was in it and stealing her belongings; Lee’s saving Hazel when she apparently tries to drown herself in the ocean, and their subsequent bonding; or the revelation of Hazel and Jesse’s deception). Why was the scene impactful, and to what extent did the previous plot development heighten the impact?
• Discuss how the novel’s themes (Preconceived Notions Versus Lived Experience, Friendship and Circumstance Superseding Class Distinctions, Toxic Power Dynamics in Relationships, and any others you identified) relate to your personal views or experiences with respect to relationships and lifestyles.
• Explore connections between your life and the experiences of the characters. For example, did the COVID-19 pandemic impact your life (as it did Lee’s), or have you had relationships that you later learned were based on deception?
• Lee and Hazel’s relationship suggests that one’s socioeconomic status has little to no bearing on the negative circumstances that remove one’s agency or the positive power of intimate friendship. Based on your life experiences and observations, do you agree? Why or why not?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Analyze how The Drowning Woman reflects or comments on current societal issues, such as attitudes toward the unhoused population, men’s violence toward women and disrespectful treatment of them, and how a global pandemic can profoundly affect people’s lives.
• The novel is set in the Seattle area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discuss the influence of this setting and period on the story.

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• The Drowning Woman unfolds in first-person perspective from Lee’s point of view. Analyze how this narrative structure impacts the story.
• This novel largely portrays men as antagonistic toward women. Considering this aspect of it, discuss the development and relatability of each key character (Lee, Hazel, Jesse, and Benjamin).
• Discuss how the novel’s plotlines and character arcs contribute to developing its themes (Preconceived Notions Versus Lived Experience, Friendship and Circumstance Superseding Class Distinctions, Toxic Power Dynamics in Relationships, and any others you identified).
• Reflect on the novel’s use of symbols and motifs (food, cars, netsuke, and any others you identified) and their relevance to the story.

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you had the opportunity to adapt The Drowning Woman into a movie, who would you cast in the roles of Lee, Hazel, Jesse, and Benjamin? How might you approach scripting, location scouting, production design, direction, musical score, and other aspects of the project?
• Create a playlist that captures the novel’s mood or themes or that contains selections mirroring each of the novel’s main characters.
• In the novel’s conclusion, Lee and Hazel are in Panama, where Lee has opened her restaurant. Imagine a sequel or continuation of the story in that setting. How do Lee and Hazel’s lives unfold?

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