Let’s Discuss: Wintering
In the deep freeze, I learned something about what 'winter' means.
We’ve reached the end of Wintering—congratulations! Whether you’ve read every word or just dipped your toes in, this is a space to reflect, connect and share. In the video, I’ve shared what I learned as Saskatchewan dropped between -30 and -40 for most of the last two weeks in the quiet re-reading and beauty of it all.
Here is the start and midpoint of our relaxed reading adventure if you’re curious!
Join the Discussion
Here are a few questions to spark the conversation:
If you didn’t read it yet, are you tempted?
What’s a theme or part of the narrative that challenged your thinking?
Were there moments in the book that made you uncomfortable, and why?
How does this book connect to our lives or the world today?
What do you think about
’s writing and how she’s structured this deeply personal work?Would you read her other books? (I loved Enchantment so much).
If you’re new here, my name is Alice Kuipers and I’m a writer, mother and dog and cat-owner transplanted twenty years ago to the Canadian prairies from England. I’ve published fourteen books in 36 countries and my writing has been described as: “For storytellers and story lovers,” by Kirkus Reviews; ‘Gorgeous, heart-ripping, important,” by VOYA; and “Intense and wonderful” by Bif Naked.
Join me for coffee breaks in my writing life.
Xoxo
My friend recommended Wintering to me years ago, and I picked it up last fall because I was preparing for a winter in my own life. Reading it made me realize that I've only experienced summer thus far in my life and how lucky I am to have not needed to winter for 39 years. It made me feel a lot better about wintering now. It is comforting to hear that drawing back from the world and slowing down is completely normal, and a person can't live a long and healthy life without the occasional winter. It also made me realize that I was lucky to have time to prepare for my winter because that isn't always the case.
The part of the book that's a reflection on the actual season of winter read a bit odd to me, as I was born and raised in wintery Saskatoon! Her observations and experiences were so different than my own, though seeing winter from another perspective was interesting.
This was a life-changing book for me. I don't think I would have been so accepting of having to quiet things down in my life if I hadn't read this book. It was a comfort to read.
I have started reading Wintering but haven't got quite as far as I would have liked - mostly because some things were feeling a bit close to the bone as I found myself with some unexplained health problems, but also because I have been experiencing a hot and humid summer and it all felt a bit 'out of place'. I have truly loved her lyrical writing, however, and feel there is much insight to gather... and I have winter in front of me - both the season and working through my time of wintering.