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Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures Of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives (2013)

by Becky Aikman(Favorite Author)

3.59 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0307590445 (ISBN13: 9780307590442)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Broadway Books

review 1: As an older widow, I found this non-fiction work by a relatively young widow both helpful and interesting. It's written by a journalist who assembles a small group strangers--younger women whose husbands also died fairly recently. The purpose of the group, eventually known as "The Blossoms," is to create new experiences and memories and to glean insights from interacting with each other that are not available in traditional bereavement support groups (made up, typically, of older women). It's a wonderful and fresh look at how much life changes as a result of a spouse's death, and how resilient we humans are. Ultimately, nothing takes the place of shared experience--and being able to talk candidly to others who have had a similar life-wrenching experience is healing and hop... moreeful. This book is not a heavy read, but a thoughtful one--with excellent info about research, and some lovely light touches, as well. All the women in the group gave Aikman permission to tell their stories, which is heartening. I feel as though they were talking with me, and although I am old enough to be their mother, I gained valuable insight about my situation.
review 2: Non-fiction. I read this for my non-fiction book club at my local library (April 2014). I did not care for this book. I thought it was both boring and shallow. Maybe I just couldn't relate because I am not a widow, I am not in the same age bracket as the women, and I do not have so much money and time to waste. I thought the stuff they did was bizarre, like group underwear shopping when they tried stuff on and showed each other how awesome and empowered they supposedly were, or when they went out to the desert to a roughing it spa for privileged women who have the time and money for such an extravagant vacation. I found not a single woman in this book relatable or interesting. I think we have a bored reporter looking to write something, anything, and failing. This book was not remotely my cup of tea. I definitely do not recommend it, thank god it was free from the library and I did not pay to read it. less

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