READERS GUIDE

Featuring a cast of courageous women who embark on a remarkable journey together, Kris Radish’s The Elegant Gathering of White Snows has won the hearts of readers coast to coast. Her second novel, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, is an equally rousing tribute to the spirit of women, and to the liberating power of friendship. Full of humor, honesty, and a fresh new take on the unexpected challenges of life, both novels offer powerful themes for reading-group discussions.

The Elegant Gathering of White Snows introduces eight extraordinary women who have shared a lifetime of joys and heartaches. But one night, they respond to a personal crisis by deciding to go for a walk that may last for days. As they stroll down a rural Wisconsin highway, word spreads of their mysterious journey. Women around the globe become rejuvenated by news of the pilgrimage, whose location is marked only on the invisible map of each woman’s life story.

In the arresting opening scene of Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, Meg Fratano discovers her husband of thirty years in bed with another woman. Yet her response is one that she never could have predicted. Faced with the truth about her marriage, her family, and herself, she reaches through memories and stifled emotions to discover the person she once was, and find a way to bring her back to life.

Just as Kris Radish’s characters band together for support and understanding, those who gather to discuss these novels are sure to find many new ways to empower themselves. The questions, discussion topics, and author biography that follow are intended to enhance your reading of Kris Radish’s The Elegant Gathering of White Snows and Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. We hope they will enrich your experience of these exhilarating novels.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. In a scene that gives the novel its title, Janice recalls the tea shop owner whose rare brew gave her a life-saving glimpse at beauty. What does this encounter indicate about her path to healing? Discuss some of the unexpected comforts that have shaped the course of your life.

2. Susan, whose shattered glass opens the novel, faces numerous other fragile situations, including an unexpected pregnancy. The primary source of Alice’s sorrow is the death of her newborn daughter. What do these two perspectives indicate about the individual nature of motherhood and its circumstances?

3. Chris, Gail, and Mary all demonstrate quests to find fulfilling roles. What is the source of Chris’s career crisis? In what ways does Gail redefine family? Is Mary authentically happy in her role as nurturer?

4. Sandy’s story illustrates the bliss of love and the bitter pain of loss when a drunk driver takes the life of her soul mate. Besides introducing her to Lenny, what gifts does this walk bring to Sandy?

5. What does Meg discover about the bonds between generations, including the women in her family and also between Tomas and his father? What is the best way to determine whether to continue a legacy or break from tradition?

6. What enabled Aunt Marcia to build such an unconventional and rewarding life for herself? Do you believe that the freedoms enjoyed by her niece’s generation are secure?

7. Discuss the various members of Meg’s support team–especially Elizabeth, Jane, and Dr. C. Are they an unlikely group? How do their approaches to comfort compare?

8. The men Meg thinks of most often are her son, her husband, and her father. In what ways do they influence her understanding of herself?

9. In the novel’s epilogue, the poem by Chesnay Susan Thomas offers a beautiful vision of allowing a true self to emerge. If you were to encounter the infamous dancing dogs, which one would you choose? How would your describe your freedom dance?

10. What common circumstances do the women in these novels share? What is the ultimate source of their pain? What ultimately heals them?

11. Compare the settings of the novels. What escapes from suburbia are presented?

12. Would you characterize Kris Radish’s storytelling approach as realistic, fanciful, or both?

13. Which character’s awakening resonated most with you?

14. If you were to experience the Women Walker Effect or participate in a Reverse Bridal Shower, what burdens would you release? What new directions would you explore? Would you need companions, or do you perceive self-discovery as a solitary process?