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About The Book

In the vein of Jojo Moyes and Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, a warm and touching novel about a woman who embarks on a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral after losing her mother, sharing life lessons—in the best Chaucer tradition—with eight other women along the way, from the author of the upcoming novel Last Ride to Graceland.

Che Milan’s life is falling apart. Not only has her longtime lover abruptly dumped her, but her eccentric, demanding mother has recently died. When an urn of ashes arrives, along with a note reminding Che of a half-forgotten promise to take her mother to Canterbury, Che finds herself reluctantly undertaking a pilgrimage.

Within days she joins a group of women who are walking the sixty miles from London to the shrine of Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, reputed to be the site of miracles. In the best Chaucer tradition, the women swap stories as they walk, each vying to see who can best describe true love. Che, who is a perfectionist and workaholic, loses her cell phone at the first stop and is forced to slow down and really notice the world around her, perhaps for the first time in years.

Through her adventures along the trail, Che finds herself opening up to new possibilities in life and discovers that the miracles of Canterbury can take surprising forms.

Reading Group Guide

This reading group guide for The Canterbury Sisters includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

 

Introduction

From the critically acclaimed author of Love in Mid Air and The Unexpected Waltz, The Canterbury Sisters is a warm, compulsively readable novel about how one woman’s mission to grant her mother’s last wishes ends up saving her own.

Che de Milan’s life is a mess. Her longtime boyfriend has just announced—in a letter—that he is leaving her for another woman and her eccentric mother has recently passed. When her mother’s ashes show up on her doorstep with a set of instructions that require a trip to Canterbury Cathedral, Che reluctantly packs her bags and embarks upon a pilgrimage. The eight women in the touring group swap stories along the length of the Canterbury Trail in the best Chaucer tradition, vying to see who among them can  describe true love. Armed with wine, ashes, camaraderie, and the magic of Canterbury itself, these unlikely pilgrims help Che find the sense of peace and hope that has always eluded her. 

 

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. In the opening pages, Che loses her mother, Diana, and describes herself as an orphan: “I’ve always been an only child, and now I’m an orphan as well, and the time has pretty much passed for having children of my own. Not that I ever particularly wanted such a thing. The bumper sticker on my Fiat reads, I’M NOT CHILDLESS, I’M CHILD-FREE, but still, to find myself utterly alone in the world, at least in terms of blood relations, has hit me harder than I would have guessed.” (pg. 6) What does the loss of her mother represent to Che? As the story progresses, how does Che reconcile with her loss?

2. When Che first meets sees Broads Abroad, she remains on her side of the pub, observing from a distance rather than approaching the group. What about this trip makes her reluctant to sit down with the women at first? How does a stranger in the pub ultimately convince her to go on the journey? Describe her initial reactions to the women and how her opinions change over time.

3. The Canterbury Tales include pilgrims who are men, whereas the Broads Abroad is a group made only of women. Discuss how this affects the sort of stories that are told during Che’s pilgrimage versus the one Chaucer would have experienced in the Middle Ages.

4. Before the women officially begin their journey, they briefly mention their marital statuses. Che blurts out “I was married once, but so long ago that it’s like it hardly happened.” (pg. 48) Describe the role of secrecy, lies, and “personal myths” (pg. 261) in the novel. Whose secrets are the most surprising? 

5. Jean’s tale is a good example of how self-blame permeates the women’s lives in The Canterbury Sisters. Discuss how other characters blame themselves (or others) for events that have occurred in their lives. Are they able to liberate themselves from this self-blame? Why or why not?

6. In chapter five, Che checks her emails after a day or two without her cell phone. After seeing over a hundred unread emails she says, “Would it be such a crime to be unreachable, to hold my silence for just this once?” (Page 77) Consider what this statement means in relation to her recent break up with Ned, the loss of her mother, and her overall experience on the pilgrimage.

7. Because of the reality television show she stars on, Angelique’s entire relationship is the most exposed and seemingly the most brutally honest. Why does she choose to illustrate her relationship through the myth of Psyche and Eros?

8. In chapter six, Che reveals how one of her mother’s lovers ruined Cinderella for her as a young girl. What is it about this memory at this point in the book that causes Che to react so strongly and to finally cry? What is it about Valerie’s presence that causes her to flee? 

9. After Claire’s tale, Tess says, “We aren’t telling these stories to entertain each other” (pg 131). What is the purpose of the tales on this journey? Discuss what the storytelling represents in this novel.

10. Valerie chooses to tell the tale of Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady instead of the story of her own life. The tale has an important message: that above all, women wish for the chance to make their own decisions. Were you surprised to learn Valerie’s secret at the end of the novel? Do you think the chance to make decisions is what women truly want most in life?

11. In Chapter Eleven, Silvia reveals that her seemingly perfect marriage was devoid of love and that ultimately, both she and her husband find true love once they are no longer following “The Plan.”  What does your plan look like? What do you think about Silvia’s decision to start a marriage and a family with a path already set forth?

12. On page 223, Claire asks Che, “What did she teach you? Your mother, I mean. Girls always learn something from their mothers, even when they try not to.” What did Diana teach Che? Discuss with your fellow book club members what you’ve each learned from your own mothers.

13. The accident comes as big shock in chapter fifteen. How does this change the dynamics of the group? Describe how each woman reacts to the accident.   

14. One of the major themes in The Canterbury Sisters is the importance of company. Discuss how companionship—or the lack thereof—in Che’s life plays a role in her participation in the trip. Do the other women lack companionship?  Consider the relationships between Becca and Jean, Claire, and Silvia, Che and Diana. Do you think the group comes together by the novel’s end? Why or why not?  What do you make of the book's title?

15. On page 290, the priest asks, “Why do people pilgrimage?” Share your initial reaction with your book group. What would you hope to gain from a similar experience? 

 

Enhance Your Book Club

1. Read some of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales with your book group. Do you see any characters from The Canterbury Tales echoed in The Canterbury Sisters? Are there any particular scenes that appear in both books? Consider the influence of Chaucer’s themes on The Canterbury Sisters.

2. Consider reading Kim Wright’s other two novels, The Unexpected Waltz or Love in Mid Air. Do you notice similar trends, characters, or plot points? Discuss these similarities and differences with your book group.

3. Take a trip to a historic site or scenic hiking trail in your area—and leave the phones at home! Invite your fellow book group members to tell the “tales” of their own romances or love stories that have touched them throughout their lives.  Or have a "walk and talk" book club meeting and get exercise and insight all at once.

4. Select a memoir or biography about someone who travels on a trail or specific path for your next book club pick, such as Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Tracks by Robyn Davidson. Do you see similarities between these books? Why or why not? 

About The Author

Photograph by Alan Jenkins

Kim Wright is the author of Love in Mid Air, The Unexpected Waltz, The Canterbury Sisters, and Last Ride to Graceland. A two-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing, she has been writing about travel, food, and wine for more than twenty years for magazines such as Wine Spectator, Self, Travel & Leisure, and Vogue. She also ballroom dances competitively. Kim lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Gallery Books (May 19, 2015)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781501100802

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Raves and Reviews

Praise for THE CANTERBURY SISTERS

“With originality galore, Wright has crafted a wonderfully entertaining tale with flair… readers looking for something different need look no further.”

– RT Book Reviews

"One woman's mid-life crisis turns into a hilarious and touching adventure in Kim Wright's latest heartwarming tale. A book for anyone who needs reminding that sometimes the journey to find answers is more important than the destination."

– Colleen Oakley, author of BEFORE I GO

"Kim Wright understands storytelling through and through and she has written a warm and lovely novel full of its magic. A tale of a diverse group of women and how their tales heal each other, The Canterbury Sisters is funny, wry, wise, and altogether satisfying."

– Holly LeCraw, author of THE HALF BROTHER

“Wright offers a modern-day tale imbued with Canterbury’s enduring lore.”

– Booklist

"[Wright] gives us another warm and engaging novel."

– Charlotte Observer

"Che de Marin is a terrific traveling companion for more than 300 pages."

– Star News Media

Praise for THE UNEXPECTED WALTZ

"Kim Wright's charming novel chronicles one woman's second chance at happiness and an opportunity to find her authentic self. The writing is pitch perfect -- this is a winner!"

– Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of THE MATCHMAKER

"An insightful novel about the unexpected places where we stumble upon second chances. Kim Wright writes with wisdom and grace."

– Sarah Pekkanen, bestselling author of THE BEST OF US

“Wright…expertly guides us through a moving, layered, and lyrical exploration of transformation.”

– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“From the author of the overlooked gem Love in Mid Air (check it out in paperback), a joyful novel about regaining your midlife groove through ballroom dancing.”

– People, "Great Summer Reads"

"Wright’s second novel, after Love in Mid Air (2010), captures our fear of the unknown and the tender joys of coming into one’s own.”

– Booklist

The Unexpected Waltz is [as] inspiring as [it is] awakening of oneself. Additionally, it feels genuine, as new beginnings and second chances aren’t always prefect and fairy-tale like, even if outward appearances suggest otherwise. With strong characterization and a cast of intriguing secondary characters, the story dances its way through all the right steps as readers watch Kelly Wilder embrace waltzing through her new life,stumbles and all.”

– Romantic Times

“The novel has everything I look for in a good read: intrigue, interesting characters at a crossroads and a comfortable authority that allows me to surrender to whatever happens next. What's more, the novel is set in Charlotte.”

– Charlotte Observer

“I often read books that eventually pull me in, but it is an all-too-rare experience for me to browse the first page of a new book and become instantly hooked, as I was with The Unexpected Waltz.”

– BookReporter.com

Praise for LOVE IN MID AIR

“Wright hits it out of the park in her debut… Wright delivers fresh perspective and sympathetic characters few writers can match.”

– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Astute and engrossing...this debut is a treat!"

– People

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