Las chicas de Canterbury

by Kim Wright

Che de Milan no pasa por su mejor momento. Tres días después del funeral de su madre, recibe la urna con las cenizas y una nota adjunta recordándole una promesa que tenía medio olvidada: Conforme a nuestro acuerdo, ahora debes llevarme a Canterbury. En un principio desecha la idea. Al fin y al cabo, era solo una de las ideas excéntricas de su madre. Pero tras recibir una segunda carta de su novio, en la que la abandona por otra, toma la decisión definitiva: se marcha a Canterbury. De mala gana, se une a ocho desconocidas en un viaje de casi cien kilómetros entre Londres y el santuario de Thomas Becket en la catedral de Canterbury, conocido por sus milagros. Che, que es una adicta al trabajo, se verá obligada a aflojar el ritmo, a dejarse llevar y a tomar conciencia del mundo que la rodea. Las peregrinas van narrando historias por el camino a la manera de Chaucer, rivalizando por ver quién consigue plasmar con más acierto la verdadera esencia del amor. A medida que estrecha lazos con sus compañeras (y, lo que es más importante, consigo misma), Che irá descubriendo las difíciles y sorprendentes enseñanzas que nos depara el camino acerca de la vida y la muerte, el amor, el desamor y las virtudes de la imperfección.

"Wright ofrece una historia moderna con la tradición perdurable de Canterbury."-Booklist.

Una novela que nos enseña que la vida está llena de posibilidades y que los milagros suceden cuando menos lo esperas.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Book Club, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

252 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2015

About the author

When I was a kid I was so obsessed with books I used to check out four at a time from the library - that was the limit in the small NC town where I was raised - then walk down the street, sit under a tree, and read them as fast a I could so I could go back to get four more.

Now I am the author of Love in Mid Air, The Unexpected Waltz, The Canterbury Sisters, and the most recent, Last Ride to Graceland, all published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

I also write the City of Mystery series which includes City of Darkness, City of Light, City of Silence, City of Bells, City of Stone, and the Christmas-themed novella, The Angel of Hever Castle. This series is set in the Victorian era and deals with another of my obsessions, the founding of the first forensics unit in Scotland Yard. My chief detective, Trevor Welles, struggles to be a modern man in an antiquated system.

I am the mother of two grown children and recently became a grandmother for the first time. (I highly recommend it!) My hobbies include ballroom dance, travel, and dogs.

Reviews

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy of The Canterbury Sisters. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was light, but clever and well written. Unfortunately, the cover does this book a disservice and makes it look fluffier than it is. The main character, Che, decides to follow her mother's last wishes and take a pilgrimage to Canterbury with her ashes. Che ends up on a walking tour with a group of American women of different ages and experience, and they are to each tell a story -- personal or otherwise -- during the walk. So with the Canterbury Tales as a backdrop, The Canterbury Sisters contains several other stories within Che's own narrative. The device works well, because despite the reference to Chaucer it is all done without pretension. Some of the individual stories are clever and very personal -- more so than Che's own story at times. My one criticism is that I found Che's own story is a bit less engaging -- it is a bit pat as the story of an adult daughter full of mixed feelings toward her recently deceased mother with relationship troubles to boot. But I liked the fact that she was 48 and depicted as still having a lot of life to live and strong emotions -- a role often reserved you younger female protagonists in books that get touted as women's fiction. If you're in the mood for something lighter and easy to read, but still clever and well written, The Canterbury Sisters will definitely fit the bill.

[Carmen Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, LOVED this novel! Ever read a book that once in awhile you step back and think "I am having a blast reading this!" ? It may sound silly but that's how I felt while reading The Canterbury Sisters.

The novel is narrated by Che De Milan whose eccentric Mother just passed and has hit a snag with the man she's been with for years. With nothing holding her back she decides to honor her Mothers wishes and take her ashes to the Canterbury Cathedral. From here we meet the other eight women in her guided group and I loved every one of them.

It can be tricky creating 9 different characters who all have a huge voice in the book but I was never confused and felt each women had their distinct traits.

The Canterbury Sisters is rich, hilarious, sweet, and a magical story of the complexities of getting older, of relationship, of growing up, and the intense bond that can form between women. I loved Che and found her to be a refreshing heroine. She was at times judgemental and obtuse but we get to see her slowly break down her walls.I related to her on many levels.

Kim Wright is gifted at explaining and the inner workings women's heart. The good, bad, and the ugly. The Canterbury Sisters is a novel I will pass this book down to all my girlfriends. Great great read.I cannot wait to read another novel by Kim Wright.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for this review.

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Recommend you put this on your list to read. Full of surprises and a few predictable moments but overall a novel about diverse and strong women making a pilgrimage to Canterbury that will make you think, laugh, and feel a bit inspired. Don't let the fragile teacups on the cover fool you. Wright has created a novel that is travelogue, essay, fable and history. She throws in a bit of the human every day like death, sex and money on a sixty mile walk and you have a delightful surprise. I found myself highlighting paragraphs throughout. Don't miss it!

Provided by publisher

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read this book! The cover and premise captured my interest since I liked Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in high school. I’m impressed with the author’s research, descriptions, and modern take on the Canterbury Tales. The characters are all so intriguing. Some of the women were smart, quirky, innocent, and eccentric. I loved hearing their stories. This would be a great book to see on the big screen. Plus, now I want to go on the Canterbury Trail!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Canterbury Sisters has left me somewhat conflicted, which delayed my review somewhat. The story begins as Che Milan confronts two major changes in her life---the recent death of her mother and the departure of her "assumed-to-be" partner who has found another to share his life with. To compound these shocks. her mothers ashes arrive with a message written by her mother requesting "she" be taken to Canterbury Cathedral. Yes--that Canterbury, in England, the destination of Chaucer's pilgrims.

In the midst of all this loss, befuddlement, lack of purpose, Che leaves for England and connects with a group of women who are all making the pilgrimage to Canterbury, each for their own reason. The parallel with Chaucer arises when the guide proposes that each woman (and one teen) tell a story about love during the trek. The book then becomes the tales, the interactions of these very different women and the slow internal growth of Che Milan.

While the tales varied in style and subject, they were for the most part interesting, some compellingly so. And Che is an interesting woman. Her childhood needs the introspection she gives it now. But I continually find myself thinking "But..." Something was lacking for me. It was a bit too light perhaps, the solutions too easy (even when they didn't always seem to be). So while I enjoyed this book, I can't say that I truly thought it met whatever vague internal standard I have for a higher rating.

rating 3 to 3.5

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book between 3.5 to 4.0 stars. This is basically the story of a middle-aged woman initially on a journey to fulfill her mother's dying wishes and along the way finds self-discovery and a meaningful shift in her life. She takes a pilgrimage with several other woman toward the Canterbury Cathedral and along the way these women share stories of love, whether good, bad, or in-between. I am not usually very big on chick-lit but I found this to be an easy read and very engaging- I finished it in a day or two. I did roll my eyes a bit towards the end, but it was the journey getting to that part that I liked the best, just like the main character's. If you are looking for an enjoyable easy summer read then this would be a good one.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Me ha gustado mucho más de lo que esperaba porque reconozco que esta fue una de esas compras por impulso y una buena cuota de frivolidad; la portada es tan bella que me conquistó y la llevé para casa. Pero al leer la historia me he encontrado con una novela profunda, muy íntima, madura y reflexiva acerca de un grupo de mujeres deliciosamente imperfectas que, de una u otra forma, obligadas o entre bromas, retratan los mil y un aspectos de sus distintas personalidades poniendo en palabras todo aquello que muchas veces encontramos difícil reconocer o analizar para verlo en nosotras mismas. Las difíciles relaciones entre madres e hijas, las inseguridades, lo que en verdad esperamos de la vida, las pérdidas y enseñanzas, todo ello narrado sin afán de aleccionar, con buen humor y un aire de crecimiento constante delicioso. En fin, ha sido una lectura muy especial que voy a guardar en mi memoria y de la que espero haber aprendido. A ver si doy con algo más de la autora, que ha sido todo un descubrimiento para mí.

[KathyAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars...
Every now and then you just get lucky and pick up a book that absolutely resonates with you in a very personal way. And, that is what happened when I read this one. I had the pleasure of living in the UK for a few years and while I was there I had an addiction to rambling through the English countryside. I loved it... there was always a surprise around every corner. So, yes, this book appealed to me mostly because of the fond memories it stirred up as I walked along this journey with Che and a group of Broads from Abroad doing a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury Cathedral.
I loved how this book highlighted the importance of just sitting in silence. How often do we do that nowadays? Are we even brave enough to toss aside our cell phones and take that challenge? Well, Che didn't think she was, until she lost her phone and had to go on a five day journey with little to no access to the device that defined her existence. And, I think she discovered a little something about herself as a result.
I absolutely loved the challenge these ladies made. On the 5 day journey they each had to tell a story about love or more specifically a confession. I loved getting to know each of these characters as they slowly shared little pieces of themselves. And, I was quite surprised where the conversations led. Definitely good for a chuckle or two and sometimes it was very emotional.
One thing that stood out for me in a big way with this book is the idea that you really should never judge a book by it's cover. Everyone has a story, and most of the time their stories surprise you. If you judge people by only the way they look, you are missing the very best parts of that person.
Che was definitely at a crossroads in her life. Middle aged, single, no children, and she just lost her very eccentric mom. She's questioning everything, looking back and having to re-evaluate her life. Being middle aged myself, I know from experience that it's that time of life where we start to look back and wonder if we have been living life fully. We start to realize all the many mistakes we've made. It's also a time to re-group and change your life if need be. Because we can't change the past, but we can learn from it... right?? I thought the author did an amazing job portraying these emotions with this story.
Che had an unusual mother and was obviously very conflicted about how she was raised. But, I admired her for honoring her mother's wishes for her ashes to be carried to Canterbury. It was like her mother's final stab at teaching her daughter an important life lesson. And, I think it worked. By the end of the journey, she was stronger and better prepared for the big life changes she was facing.
This is a wonderful story for fans of Women's Fiction. But, it will probably stand out more for those who have some life experience under their belt. It's about the tight relationships formed between mother's and daughters and it's about sisterhood! I always love these kinds of books....

I received a copy of this book from XOXO After Dark as a member of the XOXperts Street Team!


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[Chaitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of those books that caught my eye because of the lovely tea set on the cover. It would normally have signified a delicate story, something coy and prim, which I may or may not have minded, depending on my mood. But this book isn't exactly a bunch of ladies enjoying tea together. In fact, there's only one small scene where the Canterbury Sisters even have tea. The Canterbury Sisters... now that too sounds so prim and ladylike - the term is never used in the book, and it makes me wonder why they would even use it for a title. The name they call themselves in the book, the tour program that they've all signed up for is Broads Abroad, and that's the tone of the book - loud, brassy but also poignant and surprisingly insightful.

I loved the book. It took me a while to read it, but it's a book I will come back to reread someday. I liked the stories, I enjoyed the characters and it was pretty easy to keep them separated even if they had so many things in common with each other. I like that the ending wasn't neat - Che never told her story, and we don't know who won. I'd have voted for Silvia - and even when the action turns dramatic I liked that it kept a sense of the absurd about it. I thought the whole thing about Che's mother's ashes and cat and the fish and chips bag both terrible and hilarious. So yes, I loved it, and it's probably going to stay one of my favorites of the year even if I read literary heavyweights.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was between 3 and 4 stars but I will round up because of the humor. It made me smile and laugh.

I didn't like the first 15 or 20 minutes of this. I thought I was going to hate it because it sounded a little on the pretentious side. But it got better once the set up was over. I enjoyed the journey of these women and the stories they shared with one another as they walked a 60 mile trek to the Canterbury Cathedral in Kent. They each had a story. Some of them were told with honest intent and were kind of raw, yet some were embellished in way to make it easier for them to cope with some of life's hardships. I liked that they told their stories the way they needed to believe it.

It is the the humor that I enjoyed from the MC as she surveyed her life, as well as the way she viewed the strangers among her. Some of it was critical in a not so nice way, but it felt authentic to where she was in her life. It also helped to counter balance the sweetness of the story. So I will round up to 4 stars. A side note: I didn't get the cover at all.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright is a 2015 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea how I would perceive this novel going in. The blurb made me think it was a book I should try out and now that I have read it, I am so glad I took a chance on it.

Che Milan, daughter of Diana, named after a political revolutionary, now has to face the reality that her mother is dying of cancer. When Diana asked Che to take her to the cathedral in Canterbury to be blessed, hoping for a miracle, Che agrees, knowing full well her mother would never make that trip. But, when Diana passes away, and Che receives her mother's urn, there is a note from Diana insisting she be taken to Canterbury. On the same day Che receives the urn, she also receives a note from her boyfriend, Ned, who informs her he has met someone else and their relationship is over. So, Che makes the sudden decision to take the pilgrimage along with a group of other women, intending to be blessed and spread her mother's ashes in Canterbury.

The trip gets off to a terrible start, when at a bar in London, Che loses her cell phone. Her entire life is in that phone, or so she thinks. But, the show must go on, so she meets her guide and her fellow travelers and away they go on a life changing journey, the outcome of which none of them could have predicted.

As they walk each woman will tell a story ala the Chaucer tradition, with love being the chosen topic. giving Che a lot of food for thought as she examines the parallels between these stories and her own life, the path she has taken so far , the reasons for her actions to this point in time, and what steps she will take from here on out.

The author does a great job of drawing the reader into each person's story and wisely takes a short break between each tale to allow you to absorb the tale before moving on to the next day's journey.

This is one diverse group of women, let me tell you. A mother and daughter with years of lies and resentments between them, a mafia wife and reality TV star, two best friends who discover they didn't know each other as well as they had presumed, and a rather odd duck who doesn't seem to fit into any particular mold, and a health and fitness freak, and Che. The guide, Tess, is an interesting character in her own right as she manages to keep the group moving and talking and seems to have pitch perfect timing when she interrupts or changes the subject, or guides the discussion back on course.

I loved how the stories were unique, yet the threads all tied in together. There were so many deep themes to explore here such as the complex relationships between mother and daughter. What did you mother teach you? This question was posed to Che at one point and it was obvious that before this journey she had not given it a lot of thought, but has learned Diana did indeed pass something important along to her.

With love being the theme of these stories, the complex relationships between women and men is explored leaving the reader with the distinct feeling that love is complicated and there are no pat answers or solutions.

What do women really want in our relationships with men? To be accepted as we are, loved despite our flaws, to be given a choice, to make our own decisions?

The impact of fairy tales on our lives begs one to debate whether or not they are healthy or harmful in the end or do they have an underlying message we could all learn from? What is your favorite fairy tale and why?

Each tale touches on something in particular- lies we tell ourselves, lies we tell others, self-blame, secrets, lessons learned, wisdom gained, and finally honesty with oneself that leads to healing and understanding.

Some of the stories were stronger than others, some made me feel differently about the character after they divulged something personal about themselves. Some of them I respected more and in one instance a character really turned me off and I never warmed back up to them. But, over all I think each lady learned a little something from the other that will help them on whatever journey their lives take them on from here.

For Che, she will come away from this experience having learned something about her mother, her relationship with Ned, will learn to put things into perspective in her career, her drive for perfection, and maybe her whole life will no longer be contained on her cell phone. She will emerge as a hero of a sort, as an inspiration, and will have made an impression on those around her and in one special case, will have built an emotional bond with the most unlikely member of the group and maybe there could even be an love connection for Che in her future.

When all is said and done I feel very strongly that Che will be alright from now on. Her life took a turn off the beaten path but she made the best of it, even it wasn't her intention in the beginning, and will be better and stronger and happier because of it. This is an absorbing series of stories, well written and certainly thought provoking making it an excellent book club selection.

4.5 rounded to 5

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

** ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

The Canterbury Sisters is a tale of 9 women, most of whom are complete strangers, traveling the 60 mile journey, by foot, on the trail to the famous Canterbury Cathedral. Each woman is looking for something different in the journey. Some want to find healing, some forgiveness, closure or themselves and along the way, as different as they may be they each find themselves in each other.

The Canterbury Sisters is my first Kim Wright novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So you may be wondering why the three star rating, well actually its more like 3.5 stars really, which in my world means that I liked it but wasn't over the moon about it. However in the case of The Canterbury Sisters there were many instances where I was over the moon and had every intention of giving a 4 star review but others where I felt like something was just not quite connecting.

What I liked:

-I LOVED the narrator Che de Milan's voice. She was funny, cynical, mature and sometimes clueless and wasn't afraid to admit to it. I also loved how Wright allowed Che to step out of the story from time to time and talk to us, the reader.

-I also loved the stories each woman told along the journey in the true tradition of Chaucer's pilgrims. The tone of each story was completely different, some were enchanting, while others were horrifying, hilarious or deceptive but each were engrossing.

-Lastly I loved reading about every step of the journey. The small villages, the sights along the trail and of course Canterbury itself. It almost made me want to take the journey one day...almost.

What I didn't like:

-While I loved Che's voice I felt like she was the character that I was the least connected to. I wanted to know more about her as our main character. I learned a lot about her mother, and her breakup with Ned but I didn't form much of a connection with her at all.

-I felt like I wanted a little more of a bond to be formed between these nine women. I think (although I could be wrong) that if you walk a sixty mile journey over five days with a small group you will form some serious bonds over that time. Kind of like your first month of college where everything feels very intense and heightened because of the close proximity and shared new experiences. But I never got the sense that when the trip was over these women were going to exchange phone numbers and a hug and promise to call each other as soon as they returned home.


So obviously the good out weighs the bad here and because of that I would be inclined to recommend The Canterbury Sisters to anyone who likes well written women's fiction. I will definitely be on the look out for some of Kim Wright's older novels.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of several stories is quite a swift read. We don't necessarily like the protagonist, Che, self-obsessed and recently dumped, but we can feel for her in her time of mourning both her relationship and her late mother. As some women do when the man they trusted has turned to dross, she makes a complete mental break and books a flight to London, from Philadelphia as we discover, in order to carry out her mother's wish of scattering her ashes as a Canterbury Pilgrim. But Che's tale is only one of the tales in the three-day journey, because of course the tradition demands a series of tales told by each person in turn, just as in Chaucer's day.

I didn't get into the story until the party of women get to know one another (not 'each other' as the narrator keeps saying) through the tales. Then it's clear that the author has given us a dramatic and strong story first to engage us. It's also clear that we are not getting the whole story, which emerges later. The women, of varying ages including a mother and teen daughter, are mainly Americans but have had different, if middle-class, lives. Che was unusual in being brought up in a commune but skedaddled to respectability. By the end we like Che a lot better and we also have a vision of the gentle, rich, productive southeast English countryside. Hops, apples, white cliffs and beef stew resonate as background to the women's stories of love, loss and loyalties.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of The Canterbury Sisters from Gallery Books via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*

This book counts towards the summer COYER scavenger hunt item 75 (step outside your comfort zone, read a book in a genre you have read less than five times this year) - 5 points

The Canterbury Sisters is a tale of eight women, walking the Canterbury trail from London to the Cathedral in Canterbury, following in Chaucer's steps, each sharing their stories, searching for redemption and a reason to keep on.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Mary (Marbear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Kim Wrigt wrote a wonderful book about women and their relationships with their mothers and other women. I loved the bond these women formed walking the trail to Canterbury. Some seeking forgiveness and others seeking to understand themselves. Well done Kim! A must read this summer!!!

[Chari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

En conjunto, bastante bien. Sencillito y entretenido.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 estrellas
Depende de lo que esperes de esta novela, pero, para mí, ha sido una gran lectura que me ha llevado a comprender cómo debemos reconciliarnos con nuestro pasado y con nuestro presente, y si para conseguirlo hay que animarse con una peregrinación, estoy dispuesta a ello. Muy recomendable.

Opinión completa
https://millibrosenmibiblioteca.blogs...

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the cover and love Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, but I did not love this book. Others seem to find her appealing, but I found the main character to be extremely unlikeable, and I did not feel any investment in her tale. Not worth the time spent for me, and I would not recommend this book.

Full review here: http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★ 1/2

I'm a little conflicted with this story.. there were parts of The Canterbury Sisters that I absolutely adored, and other parts that I really struggled with. This isn't a normal read or review that you will see me write, but there was something about this book that jumped out and I knew I needed to read it.

We meet Che after her mother dies, and her boyfriend dumps her via a letter. When her mother's ashes are returned to her, she has a note from her mother requesting that Che take her to Canterbury. A spur of the moment decision brings Che to England to walk the Canterbury Trail. Her plans do get messed up and she ends up joining the "Broads Abroad" as they make their pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Each of the "Broads Abroad" brought something different to the story, some parts that I loved ,and others that I was trying to get through the chapter so I could see what happens next. The women's pilgrimage helps each of them come to realizations in their life and once I finished the book, I realized this was really a story about self discovery, letting go of the past, and learning to forgive. Each woman had something to discuss, and their stories definitely brought this out, and even though Che doesn't get to tell her story, she does to the reader, as we are reading her story through out her entire pilgrimage.

Watching Che change throughout this book was remarkable to see. She was the loner in the group, and by the end she didn't want to leave, and had actually made friends with these crazy women. She saw what was important in life, and had learned to let go of the things that were holding her back.

I really enjoyed getting to learn the other characters stories, and I believe that Kim Wright did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life and telling these stories. Not all of them were easy love stories, and a lot of them brought about pain and as I reader I definitely hurt for some of these characters and became emotionally attached to each and every one of these women.

As much as I enjoyed the story and the journey that Kim Wright took us on through Che's eyes, I felt like we had just finished the book where Che's life was beginning. I wanted to know more about what happened to her after Canterbury, and what decisions she makes to move forward with her life. Sure, she's learned a lot about herself through her trip, but I was left with questions on what happens next for Che.

This is an easy read, and if you're looking for something different or light for the summer, this is definitely a book to pick up for your trip to the beach, or to lounge by the pool. After reading this, I definitely want to make a trip in my lifetime and do this pilgrimage and experience the Canterbury Trail for myself!

I have received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - 3.5

According to Novelicious, a website dedicated to women's fiction readers, “Chick Lit is a sub-genre of women’s fiction perceived to appeal to, or be marketed at, young women. Chick Lit is intelligent, funny, emotionally truthful, hearty, romantic fiction that accurately reflects the lives of women today.”

Many readers dismiss Chick Lit as light, fluffy reading of little value but that is not necessarily so. A book with all of the above descriptors of Chick Lit can be thought provoking and engaging. Such a book is The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright.

Che Milan is a forty-something wine connoisseur who travels the world tasting wine. Che’s life is in upheaval when her mother reaches from beyond the grave to remind Che of a promise not yet fulfilled. Che promised to accompany her mother on a trip to England to walk the Canterbury Trail. Che packs her bag with her mother’s ashes tucked into the side pocket, leaves her dog and other messy concerns behind as she embarks on this adventure.

In London, Che meets up with eight other women and one trail guide who will walk the 60 miles to Canterbury together. Tess, the guide, prompts the women to each tell a tale of love as they walk, and as in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the woman who tells the best tale will be the recipient of dinner at the end of their journey.

Each tale reveals the depth of character of the teller. How love and life has influenced decisions or life paths. The stories told create bonds between the women that strengthen with each mile traversed. Che, a woman on a workaholic fast track, is forced to slow down, listen, and attend to life in the moment.

Bernadette Dunne reads the audiobook and brings the characters to life with panache.

[Hallie]

This sounded fun, because I've loved a few historical pilgrimage books and was interested to read a modern one. The narrator's awful English accents didn't help at all, although it's always hard to do another nationality well. But. Even setting that aside, this really got up my nose. In the maybe hour-ish I listened to, there was tons of sweeping cultural stereotyping (did y'all know all service in *European* restaurants/pubs is bad?), nasty little digs about the athletic looking woman in the tour group (Broads Abroad. A Chaucerian-based walking tour following the ancient route of pilgrimage) who ate salads (in England! What a classic mistake!!) but hid chocolates in her bag, and a bunch of women going on the afore-described tour looking askance at our bold protagonist because she'd, like, found out something about Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales (inexcusable swottery!!). I gave up though when the leader of the tour, who was supposed to be a brilliant young lecturer in art history or something, in explaining medieval Romance, says: "... but the medieval mind was already, well, some might say it was already clouded by an unhealthy preoccupation with religion [...] so Chaucer and his pilgrims were ripe for an obsession with the unobtainable."

Just searching for that nugget made me cross all over again. (I listened to the last 2 - of 115! - chapters, and regret nothing except wasting an audio credit on this.)

[The Rainbow Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Canterbury Sisters begins with two losses: Che's mother has passed away, and her long distance boyfriend has left her. A note with her mother's urn urges her to go to Canterbury. So, like Chaucer's pilgrims, she leaves her world behind for the sixty mile trek. The nine women tell stories, much like in The Canterbury Tales, on their way. Will they find truth, lies, healing, and second chances?

Although it's been ages since I read Chaucer, I enjoyed this group of women, strangers becoming sisters. I was enchanted by the cover (forget that oft-used phrase), but it didn't really fit the theme. My only reason for giving it 4 1/2 stars was trying to keep track of all the characters. I loved the twists and turns of the tale, much like the roads they took. I definitely look forward to reading more of Wright's work.

See my Book trailer at https://youtu.be/J1O9llJ6KsQ

**Disclaimer--I was sent this book as a member of the Xoxperts Street Team. This is my honest and unbiased review. Check out xoxoafterdark.com and Simonandschuster.com.

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[Delilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. Che, who recently lost her mother, travels to London to start a pilgrimage to Canterbury, as her mother's dying wish is to have her ashes scattered at the Cathedral. Che travels with a group of women strangers who each tell a story along the way to pay tribute to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad but all are honest and make the reader fall in love with each of the characters. Che is funny, witty and very relatable. I loved reading this book as it was filled with history, culture, and most of all good old fashioned storytelling. It comes very recommended!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Adriana Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Un libro muy bello.
Nuestra protagonista tiene una gran misión, llevar a su madre (cenizas) al lugar que siempre soño, Canterbury. En su largo viaje conoce a mas mujeres, imperfectas como ella, cada una con sus defectos y virtudes, recorriendo un largo camino para llegar a un gran destino.
Nunca había escuchado sobre Canterbury ni sobre sus peregrinaciónes pero la forma en que este libro lo relata, dan ganas de ir.
Mientras estas mujeres van en peregrinación, cada una cuenta una historia y eso te mantiene entretenida mientras lees, para que este viaje se haga inolvidable.

[Alba Herrera · Rating 2 out of 5]

2'5*

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normalerweise bin ich nicht der größte Fan von Geschichten, die das Thema "Pilgerreise" thematisieren. Da "Die Canterbury Schwestern" allerdings von der Kurzbeschreibung her einen sehr guten Eindruck gemacht hat, wollte ich dem Buch dennoch eine Chance geben und ich muss sagen, dass ich positiv überrascht wurde.

Hier habe ich zunächst eine eher trockene Geschichte erwartet, allerdings hat mich Kim Wright überrascht, denn obwohl es hier sehr viel um das Thema Selbstfindung und Verarbeitung geht, hat die Autorin dennoch auch viel Humor und Wortwitz in die Geschichte eingebracht, was ich zunächst nicht erwartet habe. Allerdings war es genau richtig so, denn dies hat nicht nur der Geschichte selbst, sondern auch den Figuren sehr gut getan.

Gleichzeitig liest sich die Geschichte recht zügig und flüssig, dazu lernt man die Figuren und ihre Gefühle sehr gut kennen, die Dialoge sind gut ausgearbeitet und auch das Setting ist sehr gut gewählt, sodass ich den acht Frauen auf ihrem Weg zur Selbstfindung sehr gerne gefolgt bin.

Hierbei geht es hauptsächlich um Che, die ihren Platz im Leben noch nicht gefunden hat und dennoch vor der Aufgabe ihres Leben steht, denn ihre verstorbene Mutter hat ihr den Auftrag gegeben, ihre Asche auf dem Weg von London nach Canterbury zu verstreuen. Da Che neben der Trauer um ihre Mutter auch noch unter Liebeskummer handelt, macht sie sich eher widerwillig auf den Weg und wird dabei von sieben anderen Frauen begleitet, die sich ebenfalls auf dieser Pilgerreise befinden. Dabei lernt Che nicht nur einiges über die Frauen, sondern auch über sich selbst kennen, denn jede der Frauen hat einen Einfluss auf Che, was sie zuvor nicht erwartet hat.

Dabei ist die Geschichte nicht nur interessant und emotional, sondern konnte mich auch zum Lachen bringen, denn die Autorin hat hier interessante Schicksale geschaffen, bei der auch so manche Kuriosität nicht fehlen darf. Gleichzeitig sind die Frauen aber auch so unterschiedlich und haben bereits so viel erlebt, dass mich ihre Geschichten auch sehr berührt haben und zum Nachdenken anregen konnten.

Das Cover ist wunderschön, farblich sehr stimmig und für mich ein absoluter Hingucker, der bestens zur Geschichte passt. Auch die Kurzbeschreibung wusste zu überzeugen, sodass mein Interesse sehr schnell geweckt werden konnte.

Kurz gesagt: "Die Canterbury Schwestern" ist eine interessante und humorvolle Geschichte, die mich auf eine interessante Pilgerreise mitgenommen hat und die mich oft zum Nachdenken anregen konnte. Dementsprechend bin ich begeistert und kann das Buch nur empfehlen.

[Mary Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really did. I'm a bit tired right now so review will have to wait until tomorrow. I DO recommend this delightful read.

UPDATED 5/19/2015

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The Canterbury Sisters was like a modern version of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Interesting characters and Wright does an excellent job guiding the reader along the Canterbury Trail. Some sights seemed so vivid. This book captured my imagination and placed me amongst the eight women. Felt like I was walking along side the Broads Abroad.

Che de Milan's life was perfect. Or so it seemed. Then her mother died and it all began to unravel. On the same day she receives a Dear John letter from her live-in boyfriend, Che also receives an urn of her mother's ashes with a request to travel to the Canterbury Cathedral. Wanting to escape the drama that is unfolding within her relationship, Che decides to honor her mother's last wish and heads to London. Once in England, Che finds her travel plans rearranged and she is unwillingly placed with the travel group, Broads Abroad. Deciding to make the best of circumstances, Che joins the mismatched group. Off they go! Getting in to the true spirit of the pilgrimage, the women decide to each tell a story about love. The woman telling the best story will be rewarded at the end of their travels. Along the way, seeing a bit of herself in each story, Che discovers that losing one thing may help one find something else, even those things you didn't know you were seeking.

A great story! Highly recommended. Many thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for sending me a digital copy for review.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Galley books for an ARC of this book.

I thought this was a great book about women taking a pilgrimage for many different reasons. I love all of the characters of the book. Che is the main character who decides to take this trip after her mom dies of cancer and sends a message to Che with her ashes telling her to go to Canterbury. She had wanted to make the trip with Che before she died, but it didn't happen. Che's boyfriend Ned dumps her by snail mail for another women, so Che decides getting away just might be something she needs.

She goes with a tour group of women. She's not really excited about it but she learns to like many of the women and finds herself while she is on this walk.

Each woman tells a story while they are walking to the Canterbury Cathedral. Some are just so very sad. The two I love the most are Silvia's story, it's very heartbreaking and touching. Steffi's story is extremely sad and makes me just disgusted with people in this world. But her story has a happy ending so that made me feel good.

Valerie's story is the saddest and Che can relate to her. The others were ok, but these three were the most touching.

It's a very beautiful book about women sharing stories, connecting with each other, and some of them finding themselves and what they need. I think it was very well written and I look forward to more of the author's books. This is the second book I have read of hers and they are both wonderful.

www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che is forcibly disconnected from her normal life, first by her mother's death - she identifies herself as being *not* like Diana in things - and then by her arrival in another country and finally by the loss of her phone. Isolated by circumstances, she is able to step back and view her life from a new angle, and it's not at all as she thought. Speed and efficiency have no place in this moment.

The new pilgrims take turns telling tales to pass the time, some from their own lives and others recounting fables. A kinship develops between them as secrets are shared, the stories more like confessions than entertainment but connecting them all through the themes of love, loss, reconciliation and reinvention, exposing their own personal myths.

In part this is centered around Che's relationship to her mother Diana, but really it's all about self-discovery. As she walks, she begins to understand who she is, and becomes aware of the subconscious choices she made. The pilgrimage marks the end of an era, the time when Che had at least one living parent, and the beginning of a new acceptance.

It's refreshing, and easy to read, almost as if you're walking next to Che as she shares her thoughts. There are deliberate echoes of Chaucer throughout, even up to the ending. A wonderfully thoughtful book that manages to avoid drowning us in turbulent emotional angst, instead drawing us into the fellowship and joining them at the table.



Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.