Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips

Hello everyone,

I hope you all found this month's read as fascinating and face-paced as I did.  Which did you like better -- the main story or the side stories?  If you haven't gotten to it yet, there's probably still time since it's such a page-turner.  I'm looking forward to discussing and catching up on Wednesday.  Suggested discussion questions are below.

Discussion questions:

1. What did you like / dislike?

2. Who are the main characters in this story?

3. Is this story more character driven or themes driven and why?

4. How does the author use the forces of suspicion, doubt, insecurity and home to drive this narrative?

5. Is there a main relationship in this book?  Or is it a constellation of female relationships?


6. Why are the girls and women repeatedly described as small or tiny?

7. Anyone ever been to Russia?  Or read about native peoples in that part of the world?

8. Did this seem like present/modern day to you?  Why or why not?

9. What did you make of the title?

10. Does Julia Phillips write short stories?  These chapters seem like individual stories.

11. What was so risky about Ksyusha chasing Chander?  Why is her chapter (December) twice as long as the others to that point?

12. Who "disappears"?  Alyona, Sophia, Lilia, Masha, Gleb, Artyom, Malysh (dog)...

13. Yegor is in which chapters?  First with Lada (New Year's), then with Nadia (p.152 described as "soft-bodied, sitting alone" and obsessing over Lilia, willing to drive long distances)....

14. What is the role of the volcano and its symbolism in this book?  The researchers, Artyom's death, Nadia's heart: "her heart had been fragile, its chambers shifting as easily and dangerously as volcanic earth.  Slava got in there before the ground hardened." (158)

Follow up:

Hello everyone,

Thanks for Zooming in to discuss Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips last week.  We found it an engaging read, though a bit infuriating to see side story after side story of women getting the short end of the stick (and men getting off the hook).  Ethnic tensions were also frustrating and saddening to take in...as we learned about the far-flung desolate place of Kamchatka.  We wondered what the people of Kamchatka might think of the book...or what they have thought of the book if it made its way there.  We recommend it if you haven't read it yet.

For February, we are going to meet in Ireland.  I mean, we're going to follow Cal Hooper there in Tana French's The Searcher.  I'm not the only one in the mood for a getaway, right?

Hope to see you there!