siobhanward's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was an ok read but I felt it just dragged, which shouldn't be the case for a book of this length. The premise was cool and I like books about female friendship, but it felt like a huge amount of the relationship building between the characters happened off-page. So much time was devoted to backstories of the women (fine), but also backstories of other women who were impacted by their walk (less helpful), that there was not a whole lot of time for interaction between the women. This meant that when the book wrapped up it felt kind of jarring and out of nowhere.
I liked the premise well enough but I think Radish needed some work on how she told the story, since this one just felt like it had too much happening and not enough happening all at once.
I liked the premise well enough but I think Radish needed some work on how she told the story, since this one just felt like it had too much happening and not enough happening all at once.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Pregnancy
novelesque_life's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
"Eight Women on a Journey That Will Change Their Lives as Lovers, Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Friends
Just after midnight in a small town in Wisconsin, eight women begin walking together down a rural highway. Career women, housewives, mothers, divorcées, and one ex–prom queen, they are close friends who have been meeting every Thursday night for years, sharing food, wine, and their deepest secrets. But on this particular Thursday, Susan, Alice, Chris, Sandy, Gail, Mary, Joanne, and Janice decide to disappear from their own lives.
Their spontaneous pilgrimage attracts national attention and inspires other women from all across the country. As the miles fall away and the women forge ahead on their backroads odyssey—leaving small miracles in their wake—each of their histories unfolds, tales of shattered dreams and unexpected renewal, of thwarted love affairs and precious second chances.In luminous, heartwarming prose, Kris Radish deftly interweaves the women’s intimate confessions into the story of their brave, history-making walk." (From Amazon)
When I worked at a bookstore we had to read this for our bookstore book club...no one but the person who recommended liked it and thus ended that book club. I found it whiny and boring.
"Eight Women on a Journey That Will Change Their Lives as Lovers, Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Friends
Just after midnight in a small town in Wisconsin, eight women begin walking together down a rural highway. Career women, housewives, mothers, divorcées, and one ex–prom queen, they are close friends who have been meeting every Thursday night for years, sharing food, wine, and their deepest secrets. But on this particular Thursday, Susan, Alice, Chris, Sandy, Gail, Mary, Joanne, and Janice decide to disappear from their own lives.
Their spontaneous pilgrimage attracts national attention and inspires other women from all across the country. As the miles fall away and the women forge ahead on their backroads odyssey—leaving small miracles in their wake—each of their histories unfolds, tales of shattered dreams and unexpected renewal, of thwarted love affairs and precious second chances.In luminous, heartwarming prose, Kris Radish deftly interweaves the women’s intimate confessions into the story of their brave, history-making walk." (From Amazon)
When I worked at a bookstore we had to read this for our bookstore book club...no one but the person who recommended liked it and thus ended that book club. I found it whiny and boring.
sheila_p's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't finish it. I read 182 pages of sappy platitudes and decided I'd had enough. Maybe something amazing happens in the last 150 pages but I don't care. Women need great friends, they make great friends, they go through a lot in the course of their lives, they are stronger than men and can handle it, sometimes they want to chuck it all and just "walk", the end.
gertyp's review against another edition
1.0
Read this for a book club at work. Eh. It went on too long, imo. Very feminist book. Not really my cup of tea. ALTHOUGH--I do long to "get away from it all"
amy_virginia's review against another edition
1.0
Oh my god, this book totally gave me estrogen poisoning. I'm down with the Ya Ya books and their imitators, but there is only so much "embrace your womanhood" that I can take, and this book totally crossed the line.
It's about a diverse group of women in a "study" club (they ostensibly meet to discuss books, politics, etc, but mostly they drink wine and gossip), who get a lot of media attention for taking a 7 day walk. So, I actually thought that sounded pretty good, and it was fine for the first part of the book, but then it started to test my tolerance for Oprah-type things. I can pinpoint the exact moment it crossed the line, too; the dancing nun. If you've read it, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Up until that point, which I think was only 40 pages or so before the end of the book, I was willing to go along with it, and then once I was that far, I figured I might as well finish.
If you don't read all the articles O magazine, keep a gratitude journal or belong to a menses discussion group, I would recommend Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons as a far superior alternative.
It's about a diverse group of women in a "study" club (they ostensibly meet to discuss books, politics, etc, but mostly they drink wine and gossip), who get a lot of media attention for taking a 7 day walk. So, I actually thought that sounded pretty good, and it was fine for the first part of the book, but then it started to test my tolerance for Oprah-type things. I can pinpoint the exact moment it crossed the line, too; the dancing nun. If you've read it, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Up until that point, which I think was only 40 pages or so before the end of the book, I was willing to go along with it, and then once I was that far, I figured I might as well finish.
If you don't read all the articles O magazine, keep a gratitude journal or belong to a menses discussion group, I would recommend Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons as a far superior alternative.
joellie's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting book about friendship among women. Made me think a lot about my women friends as I read it. I think you don't appreciate them appropriately until you are older.
There were a couple things that bothered me. One, sometimes the telling was a little too contrived. The author wanted to get a point across and was sometimes clumsy in doing so. Second, the lesbian aspect felt over done. It's OK to be gay, but the author seemed quite defensive about it. Made me wonder if she's having issues with her own sexuality.
But, other parts I really liked. Especially about how we learn how to have friendships from our mothers.
There were a couple things that bothered me. One, sometimes the telling was a little too contrived. The author wanted to get a point across and was sometimes clumsy in doing so. Second, the lesbian aspect felt over done. It's OK to be gay, but the author seemed quite defensive about it. Made me wonder if she's having issues with her own sexuality.
But, other parts I really liked. Especially about how we learn how to have friendships from our mothers.
pattydsf's review
2.0
This is my second Kris Radish book, but apparently this was her first published novel. I read her book The Sunday List of Dreams when it came out. I am not sorry that I have read these books, but I am not sure what Radish is aiming to do with her novels. I do believe she has more in mind than just entertainment.
I usually read for one of two reasons. I read to learn - learn new ideas, new subjects, new worlds. The other reason I read is to become immersed. So immersed in the book that I forget that anything else is going on. Often these two things are linked, but not always.
For me, The Elegant Gathering of White Snows did neither. I was hoping to forget about my life for the duration of the book and maybe learn something about women and friendship. Radish did not provide those for me. I don't consider this her fault. This was just not the right book at the right time for me.
I usually read for one of two reasons. I read to learn - learn new ideas, new subjects, new worlds. The other reason I read is to become immersed. So immersed in the book that I forget that anything else is going on. Often these two things are linked, but not always.
For me, The Elegant Gathering of White Snows did neither. I was hoping to forget about my life for the duration of the book and maybe learn something about women and friendship. Radish did not provide those for me. I don't consider this her fault. This was just not the right book at the right time for me.
akagingerk's review
1.0
All I can say is, I'm sorry bookclub. We should have gone with one of my other options. /o\
aliciaann's review
5.0
This was an amazing book. Made me want to jump up and do something about life.
More...