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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
"At a cultural level, there is a lot of lip service about friendship being wonderful and important, but not a lot of social support for protecting what’s precious about it. Even deep, lasting friendships like ours need protection—and, sometimes, repair."
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In a deeply vulnerable narrative, Sow and Friedman recount their immediate kinship, the tiers of friendship we have and their movement to having a BIG friendship, the brokenness they encountered, and the repair they chose. I think in the age of so much media and moving, conflict within friendships can mean the end of them; what Sow and Friedman argue for instead is mature friendships that seek healing and understanding. It's certainly a book for this age and a lot of passages I found myself underlining or nodding along to because it is SO relatable and true. If you've read this, I would love to hear your thoughts!
•••
In a deeply vulnerable narrative, Sow and Friedman recount their immediate kinship, the tiers of friendship we have and their movement to having a BIG friendship, the brokenness they encountered, and the repair they chose. I think in the age of so much media and moving, conflict within friendships can mean the end of them; what Sow and Friedman argue for instead is mature friendships that seek healing and understanding. It's certainly a book for this age and a lot of passages I found myself underlining or nodding along to because it is SO relatable and true. If you've read this, I would love to hear your thoughts!
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
A really good book, that makes you appreciate the friendships you have and reevaluate the friendships you lost over time. It's told and taught examplary through the close Big friendship by the authors sns also includes points like origin stories, critical points, racism and friendships and friendship breakups. All very valid and good points. While their relationship is obviously not a blueprint for all, you can still learn from it. I was however missing a part about how to handle others opinions on a friendship and about the risk of codependency.
I picked this book up without ever having listened to or heard of the authors' podcast and overall, some of it worked for me. In particular, it got me thinking about my own friendships - capital-B Big ones and otherwise - and I took action to begin checking in more frequently with the dozen-or-so women that I considered my oldest and/or closest friends. The section of the book that resonated with me most was actually the last chapter (The Long Haul) which touched on notions of the "four burners" theory of life, as well as the importance of ritual/commemoration in a friendship, and being an active participant in your friendships - stretching for them, making time for them, not taking them for granted. I connected less with the specific memoir-elements of Aminatou & Ann's story -- which were in turns heartwarming & amusing, and sometimes a bit frustrating & self-absorbed -- but it's their story and they're gonna tell it!
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5. This book came up in the DC public library algorithm at just the right time which likely lent itself to my high rating. Two friends lay out important lessons in adult friendship through the lens of their own experience. As I work at new and long held friendships from a new home, a great reminder to love the ones I’ve got and foster the ones that come.
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ana Friedman was a book I heard about on an episode of the Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast. I haven't ever listened to their Call Your Girlfriend podcast, so everything in this one was new to me! This book focuses on adult friendships centered on the two co-authors' friendship. While they were hosting their podcast together, they realized their actual friendship was suffering. This book is then a reflection of how they got to that point. So often we explore and reflect on romantic relationships forgetting there is care and concern and work that we need to do with friendship as well. These authors bring such honesty to exploring what their friendship has looked like, and they have some powerful individual and collective reflections. With this, they also share overall information on the realities of adult friendship. I love that they have given a voice to this because adult friendship can be hard y'all!
After seeing/reading so many self help books about romance like [b:The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts|23878688|The 5 Love Languages The Secret to Love that Lasts|Gary Chapman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1432487272l/23878688._SY75_.jpg|832090], [b:Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love|9547888|Attached The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love|Amir Levine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311705552l/9547888._SX50_.jpg|14434316], [b:Modern Romance|23453112|Modern Romance|Aziz Ansari|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1432335014l/23453112._SY75_.jpg|43014915], I was so thrilled to find a book that focuses on friendship!
These two joint authors talked about both the beauty and hardships of their relationship. I enjoyed reading about their experience but I felt like their experience was far too specific to them - I just couldn't relate.
These two joint authors talked about both the beauty and hardships of their relationship. I enjoyed reading about their experience but I felt like their experience was far too specific to them - I just couldn't relate.
I would like to give a shout out to BIG friend Kaylin for letting me read her copy as well as another BIG friend Alex for gifting to Kaylin. I’m lucky to have them both in my life. <3 A great read for everyone who wants to make their closest friends a priority - which honestly, should be everyone.