The Elegant Gathering of White Snows

August 1, 2004
Late one night in a small Wisconsin town, eight women after a get-together begin a spontaneous pilgrimage, not telling anyone why they are on this journey. Kris Radish's THE ELEGANT GATHERING OF WHITE SNOWS (Bantam. 2003. ISBN 0-553-38241-1. pap. $11) is a story of friendship and empowerment as each woman's personal history is revealed, alternately through the narrative of their walk, excerpts from newspaper articles, and their effect on the lives of those they encounter.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2003
When eight women in rural Wisconsin take off in the middle of the night for a journey of the heart, it touches women everywhere. The walking women are different ages and of diverse backgrounds, yet their friendship and unwavering mutual support have forged an immutable bond. They start their walk as support for Susan, who is facing an unwanted pregnancy, but all are walking for their own lost loves and lost dreams. As they walk, they talk about their lives, and the pain of the past is shed. The media picks up the news of their perambulation, and soon they become a national sensation that starts other women thinking about their lives, resulting in positive changes all over the country. The women are unaware of their influence, and their small community protects their privacy, so they can proceed without the intrusion of the outside world. A rallying cry for the empowerment of women, Radish's novel is also a celebration of the strong bond that exists between female friends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)