Thank you for choosing to read Wildflowers from Winter for your book club! I hope the information you find here will help make your book club meeting extra rich and enjoyable. If you take a picture of your group with my book, I’d absolutely love to post it on this page. Please send pictures to katie(at)katieganshert(dot)com.

Check out the video to learn more about my offer to join your book club via Skype!

Discussion Questions:

• When you first met Bethany, what was your immediate impression? How did your opinion of Bethany change throughout the novel?

• As an architect, Bethany longs to design new, innovative projects, rather than overhauling older buildings. How is this desire central to her character?

• Which character do you relate to more: Bethany or Robin? Why?

• Bethany and Evan have fairly different goals and interests. Do you think this benefits them as a couple, or provides challenges? What advice might you give them for maintaining at good relationship?

• Why do you think Dan left the farm to Bethany, but the farmhouse to Evan?

• A younger Bethany talks to the reader in first-person narratives throughout the novel. What does the reader learn from her story?

• Bethany and Robin’s friendship plays a big role in the story, despite the years that have lapsed when they weren’t friends. What, do you believe, draws them together? Have you experienced a similar friendship in your own life?

• Discuss Pastor Fenton. What were your feelings about him throughout the story? What kind of relationship does he seem to have with his congregation?

• Pastor Fenton attributes Bethany’s father’s paralysis to unconfessed sin in his life. Have you experienced teaching and spiritual guidance like this before? What is your response to it?  In light of what happens at the end of the novel, discuss whether you think Pastor Fenton’s views on suffering will change.

• Ruth’s faith seems to diminish her. Robin’s faith strengthens her, but they both call themselves Christians. How do you explain such different responses?

• The Bible tells us God reveals Himself through nature. In this novel, we learn that snowy winters produce an abundance of wildflowers later in the year. What truth is God revealing here? Have you seen this truth in your life or in the lives of people you know?

• Bethany reunites with Robin, only to be put in the difficult position of comforting her friend during a time of seemingly endless grief. Can you identify with either character in this situation?

Robin’s Homemade Cake Recipe:

Perhaps while discussing the book, you want to taste the cake Bethany brought over to Evan on the eve of his birthday. Here’s the recipe! 

Cake Ingredients:

Frosting Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F if baking with a metal dish; 325 degrees F if using a glass dish.

2. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together. Add graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla.

3. Beat mixture with electric mixer on low until moistened, and then beat on medium for 2 minutes.

4. Add eggs and beat for 1 minute. Bake in greased 9-inch by 13-inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Do not remove from pan to cool.

Frosting Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into a saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.

2. Boil for 1 minute. Cool slightly.

3. With a wooden spoon handle, poke a few holes in the cake, and then pour the warm frosting over it.

Robin found this recipe on MomsWhoThink.com. It quickly became one of Evan and Gavin’s favorites, so she bakes it for them each year for their birthday.