Girls in White Dresses

Not long ago, I read the book "Girls in White Dresses" by Jennifer Close. I had read a review of it quite some time ago and was inspired to add my name to the waiting list at the library. There were several hundred others who had requested the same book, but slowly I made my way to the top of the request pile, and one day I received a notice that the book had come in! I went down to the library and picked it up. Once it was in my hands, I couldn't put it down!

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The book was written about a collection of friends who are struggling through their twenties, with their difficulties compounded by the fact that it seemed that everyone they knew was getting married. I definitely know how it feels when it seems like you're the only one whose life isn't perfect - I've felt that before. I think the tone of the book overall was hopeful because the girls do find happiness, though it might not look like the fairytale they were dreaming of.

My very favorite thing about this book, though, was the nature of the friendship between the main characters. I found these friendships very real. While I love the foursome that fearlessly stars in Sex and the City, I've never been part of one group of friends where the friendship is all-consuming and fairly exclusive. I think that's how you would have to describe the relationship between Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, especially in the later seasons. (This would also apply to the group on Friends, where we almost never see anyone seeing any friends outside the pack of six). On the other hand, I have been part of groups of friends where we come together and support one another, but everyone also has other friends who sort of orbit in (and out) of the picture. Actually, this occurred from time to time in SATC, if you think of Susan Sharon and Amalita. But, in real life, I think it occurs all the time. Think of all of the circles of friends out there: high school friends, college friends, summer camp friends, grad school friends, study abroad friends, work friends from this job and the one before it. Along with that, there are of course people who are in the closest circle, and people who aren't quite in that circle, though they're connected to it. I really enjoyed this book for portraying modern women as living at the center of multiple circles, with people on the periphery of each one, creating a tapestry of friendship surrounding us. It helps remind me of just how blessed I am to have that in my real life.