I think the ghosts are memories. Imp's memories of meeting Eva--are they flawed memories, and she can't be sure which was real?
I read or heard someone talking about memory (LOL--I can't quite remember where) and they said that the act of remembering an event corrupts our memory of that event, so that after as little as three times of recalling an event we're no longer recalling the actual event but are remembering our memory of the experience. Which is a heartbreaking thought--that I no longer have a genuine memory of my father, but only the memory of a memory of him....

FINALLY got around to finishing chapter two......this book is getting more and more interesting, and so is the relationship between Imp and Abalyn. Its interesting to see how Imp determines what is real and what isn't, like keeping that fortune cookie. The fact that she distrusts herself solely because she is schizophrenic is very intriguing, but then again I don't know what it's like to be schizophrenic. Looking forward to Chapter 3.

I feel this book takes time to warm up too .. I'm now into Chapter 4 and I think its becoming the ghost story that Imp has been talking about and 'writing'. There was a comment on these threads earlier that The Drowning Girl is multi-layered and I think that is quite true. It seems to morph from one chapter to the next.

Just got the book and so far read half of chapter 2...not sure I'll like this book, as I don't really believe in ghosts and such, but I'll keep reading...I feel that you need to read at least a couple of hundred pages to make up your mind.

Finished chapter two...this woman (Imp) seems to be very well read, well educated, and in some aspects very much in touch with reality and her own illness. I also have no idea what schyzophrenics are like, but after leafing through the rest of the book and reading some snippets, I'm sorry to say this book is not for me...I'm putting it down. I know...I know...this is a disservice to the author, but I have no interest in reading the rest of it.

Crystalline wrote

I have to say I have mixed feelings about encouraging you to read on or not.

I think the book changes gears a bit in Chap 3 and 4 so I feel the first two chapters are not representative of the novel as a whole. I think the story gradually becomes ... spookier.

Ok, I read chapter 3. Despite critics' awards and praise, I cannot connect to Imp's character or her story; this is not a must-read book for me, I'm finding it boring. Not saying it's badly written, this is just not my genre. I don't believe in ghosts, bad omens, ravens, etc., etc.
I reserve the right not to like it and say so, I also respect the right of people who loved this book to express their opinion. Not everyone likes the same book or the same painting. Some people dislike my paintings, others love it. I don't resent people who do not like my kind of art !!! Oh, yeah, I forgot...Imp paints also ...

I am finding it interesting how different readers are reacting to this book. Like others, at one point (I have actually finished Chapter 4), I also wanted to scream, "Stop goofing around and get to the story." Then as I read further, I realized that at least some of the goofing around IS the story.

I also found it interesting how the author (Caitlin, not Imp), makes Abalyn a transsexual; it is totally unncessary to the story (so far at least), but inrigues me - thoug I'm not sure why.

Caitlin Kiernan is a transsexual. I figured that out after listening to her for 10 seconds in an online interview somewhere, then confirmed it on her Wikipedia entry.

In that case it makes a lot of sense that Kiernan included a transsexual character where there is no apparent "need" to.

KayR, I think you are right.