Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn

by Kris Radish

From the bestselling author of The Elegant Gathering of White Snows comes a poignant, outrageous, refreshingly liberating story about one woman whose life takes an unexpected turn....

Meg Fratano has just witnessed the unthinkable: her husband of twenty—seven years making love to another woman. In her bed. And all Meg wanted to do was watch. Quietly, secretly, watch. Then she realized her life would never be the same. Meg isn’t sure what she wants, but she knows it’s not what she had. After almost three decades of marriage and two children, she has finally awakened to how unhappy she is.

Now, with the help of friends old and new, and even her teenage daughter—a former brat who has blossomed into a startlingly wise young woman—Meg just might break through the chains of everyone’s expectations for her and find the strength to take the first step on her own path. To strip away a lifetime of inhibitions. To dance naked at the edge of dawn...

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Book Club, Womens Fiction, Womens, Contemporary, Friendship

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kris started writing the moment she could hold a pencil. She grew up in Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a journalism degree and hit the ground running. Her father called her "the tornado". She worked as a newspaper reporter, bureau chief, nationally syndicated columnist, magazine writer, university lecturer, bartender, waitress, worm harvester, window washer....to name a few. Her first two books were non-fiction and then Radish became a full-time novelist. The Elegant Gathering of White Snows, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, The Sunday List of Dreams, Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral and Searching for Paradise in Parker, P.A., The Shortest Distance Between Two Women, Hearts on a String, Tuesday Night Miracles, A Grand Day to Get Lost and The Year of Necessary Lies have won her acclaim and a great following. Her eleventh novel, A Dangerous Woman From Nowhere is being released in 2017. She is also the author of three works of non-fiction, Gravel on the side of the Road-Stories From A Broad Who Has Been There, Run, Bambi Run-The Beautiful Ex-Cop and Convicted Murderer Who Escaped to Freedom and Won America's Heart and The Birth Order Effect: How to Better Understand Yourself and Others. She is working on a book poetry, two new novels, a book of non-fiction and a few bottles of wine.

Reviews

[Meredith Enos · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so frustrating. Sooo frustrating. It had so many well-written parts. Sooo many. Too many.

I know that sounds odd, for a book to have too many well-written parts, but this case there were so many lyrical parts that it stopped the action. The protagonist will have a crystallizing moment, where she remembers something, or realizes something, or frees herself from something, and it will feel beautiful and significant and that this journey is so important--and then something else will happen about two pages later (which, in "book time" is only about five or ten minutes later for the protagonist), and it will be just as crystallizing, and just as beautiful, and just as significant. Like when she has her therapy session and not only is everything said in the session just dripping with meaning, but also she forgets her bag and when she goes back has a life-altering experience with the wall (I'm not kidding). Really, only half an hour has passed in book time, but it's several pages of small font and feels like forever for a reader.

In this book, the main push is that she is not an active participant in her life--she lets herself get herded here and there, and is primarily a watcher. And I say, "No wonder! She's immobilized by all these damn realizations that happen every page and a half!"

And then, when actual significant things happen, they are glossed over or skipped completely. It takes her forever to decide to leave her husband and about three pages for her to file and get divorced and find a new apartment. Similarly, when they go to Mexico, it takes forever to get to her aunt's house, and then the night she spends there is descibed in about two paragraphs. The scale of description on this book is wonky.

I also don't find the protagonist to be a very sympathetic character. I don't think she or any of the other characters are drawn very clearly, and there are several jarring contradictions between how the characters are described and what they do. First, there's the break between the past and present self: her present self has a rich interior life (too rich, as it's told in first person and is monologue-tastic) but the past selves have little interior life. She's so mad at her husband, but when they have dinner he doesn't seem so bad. Same with her mother. And her daughter. Her friends are so awesome and wise and bi-curious; would they be friends to such a needy mess? It's never clear what the awesome friends get out of being the protagonist's friend/emotional support. And she's supposed to be so educated and have accomplished so much professionally; how could she be passive with two masters, a doctorate, and her own funded project? And she's supposed to be so observant; how could she not know her son was--spoiler alert! or not, because to me it was fairly obvious from the get go--gay? How could this person be so active and involved and accomplished and articulate, and yet so absent? This question is never answered sufficiently for me.

Finally, her problems don't seem that bad. I mean, I know this is not "The Road," but she's an over-educated, employed, upper-middle class white woman whose kids are grown who still has nice boobs (it's mentioned more than once), is considered beautiful (also mentioned more than once), with great friends and great kids. And a surprise house in Mexico!

[Donna Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this book! It opens with the main character walking in on her husband in bed with another woman. Then the reader is swept along on her transformation experience. Which is just a little crazy.
I found myself relating to Meg in so many ways. Her questions: why am I unhappy? Why didn’t I do all those things? Why didn’t I make the most of every day? What was I waiting for? What do i want? Does anyone care about me or see beyond the role I play in their lives?
So, it was a bit cathartic. I really cheered for this character.
The writing was a little awkward at times, but I got over it. A fun story with a great message for women. Just go do it. It’s not too late. You’re fine.

[Arell Olson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. After all, the title has the words Dancing Naked in them and for me, it has been my quest (in the last three years) that I can become the kind of person who is able to dance naked with no reservation. As for our main character, she must go through many trials and tribulations and a "self" search of sorts before she is able to dance naked, but I felt that she had a pretty easy time of it. Here she is, this woman, who discovers that her husband is having an affair. Or one of many. She even watches him and his lover secretly in her bedroom without their knowledge. To add to her trouble's, she has a son who has moved out, but never calls. She also has a teenage daughter who is suppose to be going through teenage angst and is self absorbed and selfish. But as I read, I found myself asking, "That's it?" The son is hardly mentioned, the daughter become incredibly wise and sweet, the husband, is not such a bad guy. Huh?

There are chapters that take the reader back in time to our main character's growing up years and how this person or that experiencesuppressed her. It is all suppose to explain how she arrived to her particular state of mind while going through her separation, divorce and life journey. Supposedly, her life is so terrible and she is in such shock from everything that she can't remember how to drive her car. She is surprised that she can still figure out how to use her cell phone. She calls her wonderful girlfriends from the parking lot and they come to her rescue. They never get upset with her. They really listen. They are always understanding. I was very interested in her girlfriends, one of whom actually confessed that she had slept with her husband and was going through her own life journey. Whatever. I felt that the author did not dig deep enough. She pretty much skips over their stories. They are just there to help our main character. I kept wanting more. I never really felt the character's pain.

It seemed that everything works out for her. Her estranged husband was pretty nice to her. Must have been the guilt. All of her woman friends were Saints. Even her mother who was kind of a passive person suddenly become this wonderful enlightened being. Our character takes a trip to Mexico, following in her late aunt's footsteps and winds up in the same village, again, where everyone knows of her (from the aunt) they practically seem to be expecting her, she winds up inheriting her Aunt's cool beach house and discovers that her Aunt shared the house with her Mexican lover. Everything works out lovely.

She also has a job that she seems to despise, but she interacts with many intellectual types and of course, they are fascinated by her. And tell her so. Whatever. She quits the job to become a massage therapist, because that is what she feels she was really meant to do. She sells her and her husband's house, making a huge profit (well, in the real world, I must admit that some people were actually able to do that sort of thing), gets this great place in a trendy party of town, has a designer come in and make it cozy and then goes to a "Divorce Party" that her Saintly friends throw just for her.

I just could not take this book. I guess that I am just jealous of how well it works out for our heroine. To the writer's credit, she has a really lyrical way of writing. It kept me determined to finish this book. But I should probably have put it down the first time I thought to myself, "Whatever..." While this story may be just what the doctor ordered for some readers, I was not one of them.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the author...haven't read a bad book yet from her. This book deals with finding yourself and feeling like you can do anything. I think every woman should read this, its inspiring, sad at times, shocking at times, funny and a wonderful friendship with women who have been feeling stuck in a rut, and also understanding how different we are. Its fiction, but it makes you think about your own life and the people in it, past or present. Definately a good read!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radish's books are a bit formulaic, but I still love them. I think books find you when you are ready to read them, or need to read them. This book spoke to me and has encouraged me to go for some dreams and goals that I have long avoided thinking about. I wish her characters were real and lived in my neighborhood, because they would be wonderful women to know.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book. Oh, how I love this writer. It's a magnificent tale of women. How we sacrifice and give up ourselves for others. How some are conditioned to believe they cannot go after what they want because it is not proper or right. It is a beautiful story about women who wake-up and realize it is not too late to change.

[Angie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has the ability to be every woman in every situation. This book grabbed me and lifted me to heights indescribable while emotionally wringing me dry. Must ALWAYS have this book in my home with spares to give and lend as needed!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kris Radish writes for women who have had to deal with difficult changes in their lives...the loss of loved ones, divorce, the end of relationships, children growing up, moving out, moving on.... Her stories are hopeful, her women strong and friendships are powerful forces. I highly recommend this.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.... Loved it! If you read the back you'll be thinking about throwing it back. Possibly.. anyhow if you don't this is a very entertaining book start to finish. Perfect combo of heartache, laughter and learning, a woman's journey to uninhibited self discovery. I enjoyed it very much.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book encompasses messages of happiness, passion, feminism and our individual responsibility to choose at any point in out lives. I cried through my first read of this book because - just maybe - it struck too close to home. I read it a second time to see more clearly (literally) the themes.

[Donna Ciccarelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. It started off promising, but then got be more and more ridiculous as it went along. I finished it just in case it eventually got better, but it didn't.

[Susan Coster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is much more than a chick lit book. This is a book that makes you think WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE and gives direction, solace and peace to those women who seek change. In this book, we meet Meg, a college professor, who has always done things by the rules. It all changes one day when she walks in on her husband making love to another woman in their bed. Curiously, she wants to watch--and then, in a haze, retreats to her free-spirited friend, Elizabeth's home, where Meg decides to make changes and make changes she does. We follow her journey to Mexico to retrace her beloved aunt's footsteps in the jungles; we see Meg reconnecting with both her children, and, we see her changing professions and moving on. I loved this book. You will too!

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm almost hesitant to say anything because it sounds like a lot of people liked this...but then I remind myself a lot of people like trash.....I just don't happen to be one of them. It was probably an easy read but after the first few chapters I was so bored I put it in my goodwill bin. I believe this is the first book I ever stopped with no intention of finishing. The best part is the title. Glad I only paid $0.25 at a rummage sale.

[Alesia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of enlightening points in the book, but found it hard to stay interested at times. I don't normally 'skim' while reading, but had to here and there to keep from falling asleep. Not the best book I've ever read, but definitely worth reading....for women. Not a book for the boys.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again this author writes the praises of sisterhood by creating an enticing world of women helping women to become the empowered individuals we were meant to be. The story features powerful friendships and zeroes in on female longings and liberation, often with humor.

[Pamela Reed · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painful to make myself finish it, but I did... If the author had come down off her soapbox and let the story unfold through action/events/dialogue, might have not been so awful... Do not waste your time unless you want to hear the same sermon over and over again...

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story about female friendship that had magical elements like the dancing dogs of Mexico and the "reverse bridal shower". The protagonist, Meg, suffers a mid-life crisis, and realizes how separate she is from the person she thought she would become. The book takes us through her decisions to begin anew. What sets her in motion is finding her husband in bed with another woman in their own home. I found the story kind of stodgy and repetitive. Maybe I just wasn't in the right "mood" as Nancy Pearl would say. Unfortunately, I was a little perturbed with Meg because she was obviously such a smart and reflective person so how could she have neglected herself for so long? That was annoying.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written book that every woman should read! The story begins with Meg walking in on her husband and another woman - completely obliterating what she thought her life was and most definitely, who she thought she was. Thus begins her journey to put her life back together. With the help of some amazing girlfriends, she discovers what really makes her soul happy. This book will make you laugh, cry, and will stay with you long after the last page.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. The begining was odd, took me a bit to get into this character, but it turned out to be a lovely book.
Kris Radish seems to write novels that help women get through tough times and realize things they need to think about that maybe havent been thought before.

[Dana Meinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a fun trip through a divorce and rediscovery of who the main character actually wanted to be. She goes with friends on an amazing trip to Mexico. I found it delightful and a fun read and highly recommend it- Dana

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish reading this book - kind of lame.

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

slow boring read. didn't even finish the book.

[Deborah Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half to two thirds of the book, and the last part was okay. I loved her new home, her time with her friends, and her trip to Mexico. I loved the character development, the oddness/uniqueness of her friends, and all the female characters in the book. I loved her mother. After awhile, the story just kind of felt like a list of things she did to get her life together and I was anxious to get it over with - almost like it would have been better to end it with "and then she lived happily ever after." This book has increased my desire to visit Mexico and to move into a tiny house.

#abookbyanauthorwithfloraorfaunaintheirname

[Carlee Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m fighting for my LIFE to finish this book and once I do I’ll update this review, but oh my GOD this is a tough read.

Okay so It got better… I think setting it down for awhile helped a lot and I found that it spoke to me a lot more once Meg moved to the city. A few tears definitely slipped down my cheek when finishing this and I’m glad I stuck through with it. I still think it was a very wordy book that could have been literally half the size it was (I would’ve probably rated it a 5/5) but the story was wonderful. It reminded me of what a blessing it is to be surrounded by such remarkable women.

[Patricia Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapter of this book was really good... I loved the writing style, and it pulled me in. Unfortunately it was a downward slide from there. It was just too much....or too boring.....I wanted to throw the book at the wall so many times! I get its about women being empowered but it was all just stereotypical crap! I get that its about friendship among women, but these women were too over the top. None were relatable.

Meg is unhappy and these wonderful weird women are going to help her find herself. It was a lot about making the right choices in life and being forced into a life you didn't want, basically women being forced into marriage, but I felt the timing was off. She knew several women through out her youth that lived their life how they wanted and not how society told them to. She's supposed to be an intelligent woman. She did live with feminism and she could have made different choices. Now she wants to have a pity party but don't worry cuz women are awesome and they will all help you through this. The book acted like there was no such thing as a happy marriage. Give me a break! Very little story, much too preachy, and it gave me a headache!!

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disapointing read for me, if only because my expectations were so high: I loved both "Sunday List of Dreams" and Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral." The latter remains one of my favorite books of all time. So, while there were some memorable and enjoyable "Dancing" stories/images, overall it seemed flat. You know the moments that lifted this book up: Wanting to watch; the new apartment; discovering her daughter wasn't as naive nor fragile as she thought; the reverse bridal shower. Great moments.

I could clearly see the evolution of Kris Radish's writing and style in this book, from "The Elegant Gathering of White Snows" to "Dancing........" to "Sunday List......" and "Annie Freeman......" the characters get richer, the situations more believable and funny - even when they should seem further out on the edge.

"Dancing......" is a good read. Its theme of learning to be alone tuged at me. If I hadn't read the later books already I would probably have enjoyed it more.

[Shereen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Loved. It moved me, touched something raw and true in my core.

I know these women. These women are my friends. I am these women.

I read some of the critical reviews and I totally get what some of them are saying. Yes, Meg (the protagonist) has A LOT of privilege (white, educated, healthy, financially stable, able bodied, etc.) and her problems, in the grand scheme, are not really that big. Yes, much of the plot is formulaic and there aren't really any big surprises. Yes, everything is tied up neatly at the end. And yes, the final chapter is very rushed and fluff. (the spoilers are very generic, but I thought I'd include them anyway)

And yet... the writing is so lovely and, like I said, it moved me. And that ultimately wins over any flaws the book may have had. I didn't even really mind the contrived final chapter with the run down of what happened with each character. I was pleased to know what happened with them.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointing in the Kris Radish novel. Now granted I read one of her more recent novels first, and this one was an earlier writing. What does that mean? She didn't have as much experience when she wrote this one. Maybe that had something to do with my level of enjoyment. Then again, maybe not. Who knows, really.


Long story short... I just didn't love this one like I did her Annie Freeman's Funeral. This one started off interesting and kept me interested until about 1/2 way through. Then it got a little redundant with the "thinking" the main character would do.

There also wasn't as much humor as there was in the Funeral book. This was a main component that caused me to list Radish as an author I wanted to read more of.

But I will not give up hope. I have faith that it's just this one title I wasn't thrilled with, and I look forward to another of her books when I make my next trip to the library.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writing of Kris Radish. This is one of my favorites because each time I read it, I have a new insight into women, into myself, into life. This one particularly brings Joy because Meg finds herself and grows into a woman who will do wonderful things with her life.

Meg comes home from work one day to find her husband in bed with another woman. She can't stop watching but eventually walks away without letting him know. She goes to a dear friend's home to disengage from the trauma. Eventually, the truth comes out and her journey of enlightenment begins. It affects her beautiful grown daughter and other women to also be themselves, rather than slaves to society and it's boxlike requirements.
This is a book I can read many times over and still love. I don't know why, but I can't quite give it a 5 star. Of course, my ratings are based on my feelings at the time. It may change later.