Disappearing Earth

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child abuse and racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the unconventional narrative structure affect your reading experience? Did shifting perspectives month by month feel cohesive or fragmented as you moved through the year following the disappearance?

2. Phillips creates a web of interconnected women’s stories rather than following a single protagonist. Have you encountered similar multi-perspective narratives like The Hours by Michael Cunningham or Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad? What distinguishes Phillips’s approach from other ensemble narratives you’ve read?

3. Kamchatka feels like a character itself in this novel. How does the remote, isolated setting shape both the mystery and the women’s daily lives? Would this story work as effectively in a different location?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Several characters change their behavior after the sisters disappear, becoming more protective and suspicious. How have you seen communities respond when children go missing or when safety feels threatened? Do you think these reactions help or harm community bonds?

2. Many characters in the novel deal with different forms of loss beyond the missing girls. Which character’s experiences with grief or disappointment resonated most strongly with you? How do you relate to their coping mechanisms?

3. Oksana witnessed the kidnapping but couldn’t prevent it, leaving her with lasting guilt. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you witnessed something troubling but felt powerless to intervene? How did that experience affect you?

4. What aspects of the cultural tensions between Indigenous and Russian communities in Kamchatka remind you of dynamics you’ve observed in your own community? How do you navigate situations where you encounter prejudice or discrimination?

5. Valentina becomes overprotective of her daughter Diana after the kidnapping, while other parents struggle with how much freedom to allow their children. How do you balance protecting loved ones with allowing them independence? What influences your decisions about reasonable precautions?

6. Characters like Ksyusha feel torn between embracing their heritage and assimilating into the dominant culture. Have you experienced similar conflicts between different aspects of your identity or background? How did you resolve those tensions?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel contrasts the intensive search for the Golosovskaya sisters with the cursory investigation into Lilia’s disappearance three years earlier. What does this disparity reveal about how society values lives differently? Do you see similar patterns in contemporary missing persons cases?

2. Several characters express nostalgia for Soviet times, viewing the current openness of Kamchatka as dangerous and destabilizing. How do you interpret this longing for an idealized past? What parallels do you see with contemporary political movements that promise to restore a “better” time?

3. Women in this novel often exist in isolation despite living in communities, whether due to geography, language barriers, or social expectations. What does the book suggest about women’s roles and agency in remote or traditional societies? How might these dynamics apply to women in other marginalized communities?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why do you think Phillips chose to structure the narrative around the changing seasons and months? How does this temporal framework enhance the themes of loss, hope, and the passage of time in the wake of tragedy?

2. Kamchatka’s geographic isolation mirrors the emotional isolation many characters experience. How does Phillips use the peninsula’s physical characteristics to reinforce psychological states? Which characters feel most trapped by their circumstances?

3. The tsunami story that frames the novel appears in both the opening and closing chapters. How does this tale of a village swept away by disaster function as a metaphor for the broader themes Phillips explores throughout the book?

4. Despite the fragmented narrative structure, Phillips weaves subtle connections between her characters. Which relationships or encounters surprised you as they emerged? How do these connections contribute to your understanding of the community as a whole?

5. The novel maintains hope even in its darkest moments, particularly in Alyona’s care for Sophia in the final chapter. How does Phillips balance despair with resilience throughout the book? What prevents the story from becoming overwhelmingly bleak?

6. Phillips returns to Alyona and Sophia’s perspective only in the final chapter, creating symmetry with the opening. How does this structural choice affect the emotional impact of the ending? What did you make of the contrast between their circumstances in Chapter 1 versus Chapter 13?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design an alternative narrative structure for this story. Would you focus on fewer characters in greater depth, follow the investigation more closely, or organize the chapters differently? How might your approach change the reader’s understanding of the community and the mystery?

2. The novel ends with the rescue mission underway but doesn’t show us the aftermath. Write a brief epilogue from Marina’s perspective, describing the moment she’s reunited with her daughters. What challenges might the family face in rebuilding their lives?

3. Several characters mention that Kamchatka feels like the edge of the world. If you could transport yourself into this novel as a new resident of the peninsula, which character would you most want to befriend? What role do you imagine yourself playing in this tight-knit but fractured community?

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.