reviewing The Girls from Ames by Jefffrey Zaslow

I recently finished reading Jeffrey Zaslow’s book “The Girls From Ames: A Story of Women & A Forty-Year Friendship,” in which Zaslow documents the true story of a group of 11 girl friends. I wasn’t sure that I would have much in common with the Girls From Ames: they looked too pretty, too bubbly, and too popular to speak to my own childhood and adolescence.Yet, the author told their stories in a way that kept me up past my bedtime…

I found myself referring to the “Guide to the Ames Girls” at the front of the book quite a bit at first, but by the time I had all of the friends sorted out I had become very attached to them. Yes, all eleven girls were pretty and popular (and some seemed pretty bubbly), but I think their stories will resonate with many people. Like any real person - the Girls From Ames are not so easily compartmented: at times they are the ‘mean girls,’ at other times they are the victims of the meanness. They all grow up in the same small town, but they also come from diverse backgrounds and end up living all over the country, leading very different lives.

If you enjoyed Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares you will like this book about friendship. Be warned, however, that if the Girls From Ames was made into a movie it would be a documentary, not a feel-good chick flick. Even if your not a Ya Ya or Traveling Pants fan, you might want to give this book a chance. I think the writing style makes the book interesting to a wider range of readers than the aforementioned books, and I think anyone who has a daughter, sister, or wife would benefit from this story.I found the straightforward writing more reminiscient of true crime books than your typical homage to female friendship (but of course, the subject matter is much nicer… most of the time).

I also liked how Zaslow included interesting facts about friendship to emphasize the book’s theme. For example, “researchers say a woman who wants to be healthier and more psychologically fit in her old age is better off having one close friend than half-a-dozen grandchildren.” An important reminder to remember to take the time to continue to nurture friendships while life is very busy with family and work. More than once, Zaslow also mentions that a friendship that endures into a woman’s forties will usually last for the rest of her life. As my fortieth birthday approaches (not this year, but soon enough!), I take inventory of the many wonderful friends in my life and I feel very, very lucky.

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship is published by Gotham Books and is available at amazon.com. I’ll be recommending this book to friends and family as a great summer read and a celebration of healthy female friendships.