Characters
- Kalvin L. Gray: The main character and narrator of the novel. Kalvin is college student with a taste for beer and a talent for self-hatred. He attends the fictitious Berkshire University in an unidentified part of Pennsylvania. Kalvin starts off in the novel's prologue as a happy-go-lucky frat guy, however, six months later when the novel truly begins, Kalvin has transformed into a bitter mess who copes with all problems large and small with excessive binge drinking.
- Katie Moore: A svelte, sexy classmates of Kalvin's that works as the Assistant Editor of the school newspaper, whom he's been lusting over prior to the story. Katie is a yin to Kalvin's yang. While Kalvin is a lazy slacker, Katie is ambitious and has no problem doing what it takes to get what she wants. She takes a journalistic interest in Kalvin, and offers to help clear his name, only to reveal other hidden motives later in the story.
- Connie Ward: A promising student who was mysterious assaulted and almost raped outside of Dill's, the local bar. When word gets out of the attack, a police sketch with Kalvin's appearance and likeness begins posting throughout the campus, leading peers and fellow students to assume he is the attacker. Though she doesn’t appear in much of the novel, she has an impact on most of the main characters in the book.
- Jill: Kalvin's ex-girlfriend, whom he spends the better part of the story brooding over. Prior to the story, Jill attempted to leave Kalvin for an old flame while still attempting to remain friends—an attempt Kalvin rejected. While still on civil terms, Jill and Kalvin have a hard time reconciling. Jill eventually plays a pivotal part in proving Kalvin's innocence.
- Chip: Kalvin and Katie's professor who has a penchant for smoking copious amounts of marijuana and sharing inappropriate stories with his students. Chip enters the story as an aging hipster with who Kalvin seems to be on odd ends. Chip shows concern and charity towards the attack on Connie Ward, and Kalvin and Katie's investigation constantly brings them back in his direction
- President Luther: The oddball, seemingly eccentric president of Berkshire University and an old college chum of Chip's. Luther takes a mysterious interest in Kalvin's situation and offers his resources to help him prove his innocence.
- Lana: One of Kalvin's best friends. Lana takes a guardian role with Kalvin, constantly worrying about his massive alcohol consumption and the self-afflicted abuse he's been putting himself through. Despite his respect and fondness for her, Kalvin often finds himself abusing Lana as well, either through insults, subconscious mind games or just generally abusing her generosity and friendship.
Read more about this topic: Assault On The Senses
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