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marthagal's review against another edition
3.0
Some of these essays were really great, some were just meh. I really liked reading the two essays written by two former friends, each with their own perceptions of their break-up - it made me think about how my ex-friend might have written our story. Yeech.
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
4.0
From The Book Wheel:
The Friend Who Got Away: Twenty Women’s True Life Tales of Friendships that Blew Up, Burned Out or Faded Away by Jenny Offill and Elissa Schappell (author of Blueprints for Building Better Girls, which is on my Kindle) is a book of essays written by women who lost a female friendship. Some were by choice, others by mistake, and a few for no reason at all. As a woman who is entering her 30′s, I have begun to experience first hand the effects of losing a longtime female friendship for no other reason other than drifting away, and I have ended some by choice.
What I loved about this book is that it’s honest. The introduction discusses how it’s okay to breakup with lovers, but that female friendship rarely end with a clean break. This is because women hold each other to higher standards, and to commit an act of betrayal against a female friend is much worse than having done so in a romantic relationship (and women also grant other women more leeway in their behaviors).
For the full review, go to The Book Wheel.
The Friend Who Got Away: Twenty Women’s True Life Tales of Friendships that Blew Up, Burned Out or Faded Away by Jenny Offill and Elissa Schappell (author of Blueprints for Building Better Girls, which is on my Kindle) is a book of essays written by women who lost a female friendship. Some were by choice, others by mistake, and a few for no reason at all. As a woman who is entering her 30′s, I have begun to experience first hand the effects of losing a longtime female friendship for no other reason other than drifting away, and I have ended some by choice.
What I loved about this book is that it’s honest. The introduction discusses how it’s okay to breakup with lovers, but that female friendship rarely end with a clean break. This is because women hold each other to higher standards, and to commit an act of betrayal against a female friend is much worse than having done so in a romantic relationship (and women also grant other women more leeway in their behaviors).
For the full review, go to The Book Wheel.
yetilibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Not perfect (could a book like this ever be?) but just what I needed. If you've ever lost a friend, for whatever reason, and are still trying to figure it all out, I recommend this book.
megsnewcar's review against another edition
3.0
A mixed bag. Standouts are the Heather/Emily duo, "How I Lost Her" and "Other Women".
eileen_critchley's review against another edition
3.0
So here's a weird thing. I was reading this book and enjoying it pretty well. And then something happened that has never happened to me before. I lost the book. I can't find it anywhere. It was in my purse but now it is no where to be found. Maybe I left it at Starbucks or where my daughter takes swimming lessons or who knows where and someone found it. Perhaps someone needed it in their lives more than I did. So I will update this review, should I find the book. But I guess I need to let it go for now.
At least it wasn't a library book.
At least it wasn't a library book.
cmacso's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. Some stories were heartbreaking and raw and honest. But most of them felt forced and a tad narcissistic. I’m not sure what I was hoping for - maybe just the beauty of female friendships and how they ebb and flow.
an_enthusiastic_reader's review against another edition
3.0
The Elizabeth Strout and Ann Hood essays make the book worthwhile, they are the strongest, most original, and most mature.
edenseve63's review against another edition
2.0
Friendship has long been a familiar topic for writers delving into the complexities of what brings us together and what tears us apart. In Vivian Gornick’s short story she compares the fierceness of modern day female friendships with male platonic friendships described like romantic love by poets and philosophers in centuries past. To such romantic 18th century writers friendship was Nothing less than the coming together of twin souls. I recognize that exuberant emotion and declarations of friends forever in those female friendships formed in childhood and youth, that by mid-life remain only in memory. It puts me in mind of mother’s warnings not to play every day with the same friend as it will eventually lead to a fight and withdrawal of amity. In other words, moderate your attachments, have several pals not just one best buddy. But u and I know in the exuberance of finding that intimate to whom u spill out ur dreams, hopes, sorrows and joys, children and young adults do not readily do moderation.
This collection of short stories by popular and esteemed woman authors recollecting the wonder of finding that perfect friend, the denouement of the relationship, the decline and inevitable end, can not be faulted in the excellent writing. However, each story drawn out and dissected was ultimately sad and depressing. I almost could hear a twangy country balladeer crooning she/he done me wrong.
This collection of short stories by popular and esteemed woman authors recollecting the wonder of finding that perfect friend, the denouement of the relationship, the decline and inevitable end, can not be faulted in the excellent writing. However, each story drawn out and dissected was ultimately sad and depressing. I almost could hear a twangy country balladeer crooning she/he done me wrong.
line_so_fine's review
4.0
Ever heard of the "Friendcut?"
http://librarianwonder.blogspot.com/2007/11/chop-shop.html
Probably not, since its a cultural term used by my homies in Fiji to describe the act of breaking up with a friend. The concept is hard to explain to those in this country, who give lots of epistemological credence to romantic breakups but hardly any to friendcutting heartbreak. So when I saw this book, I had to read it, to see if it fills that void. It did, as much as one book can. The many different stories give weight to the complexity of the Friendcutting process. Read this, think of the concept and the phrase "I'll cut choo!" will have a whole new meaning.
http://librarianwonder.blogspot.com/2007/11/chop-shop.html
Probably not, since its a cultural term used by my homies in Fiji to describe the act of breaking up with a friend. The concept is hard to explain to those in this country, who give lots of epistemological credence to romantic breakups but hardly any to friendcutting heartbreak. So when I saw this book, I had to read it, to see if it fills that void. It did, as much as one book can. The many different stories give weight to the complexity of the Friendcutting process. Read this, think of the concept and the phrase "I'll cut choo!" will have a whole new meaning.