Friendship

I have been reading two books about friendship. One is non-fiction (The Friends We Keep) and the other fiction (Best Friends Forever). I found it interesting that both books touched upon the same ideas; one through a fictional story and the other through questioning and meditating on the theme. The two books complemented each other nicely.

Title- The Friends We Keep: A Woman's Quest for the Soul of Friendship
Author- Sarah Zacharias Davis
Publisher-Waterbrook Press (2009)
Pages: 210
Genre: Non-fiction, Christian
Note: This book was provided to me as part of a Waterbrook blog tour. Click here for book info.

Sarah Zacharias Davis has written a meditation on friendship which draws upon her own experience, stories from other women and relevant literary references. She shares with her readers the results of her own quest for understanding why friendship is such an integral part of a woman's soul. She discusses the negative aspects of damaging friendships, why women long for friends, the temporary versus the long term friendships and how to let go when necessary. By examining the negative emotions that crop up in friendships the book outlines how trust and respect make for safe relationships where both parties can reveal there true selves without fear.

I found this book to be very realistic and relevant to the understanding of something that is often taken for granted. It would be a helpful book to have around if you are experiencing difficulties in your relationships, or are interested in enriching your current friendships. By gaining understanding of how gossip, jealousy, competition and co-dependence can ruin trust your friendships you can be on guard if you find yourself falling into these negative states. The book also prompted me to think about the importance of friendships and how they have shaped my personal life experiences. It was easy to read and a beautifully presented book. My only complaint was that there were too many rhetorical questions throughout the writing.

A Quote: "Our need to tether our hearts to a soul friend only grows deeper as we grow older. Years of experience only bring a deeper awareness to our longing to belong." (p.97)