Monday, June 21, 2010

The Girls from Ames - Book Review


WOW...I have just finished reading the book The Girls from Ames and all I can say is WOW. When I agreed to review this book I had no clue that I would learn so much from a group of girls that I have never met, that grew up in a place that I have never heard of. This book has been a true inspiration to me and I recommend it to everyone!!

From the back of the book: Karla, Kelly, Marilyn, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Cathy, Angela, Sally, Diana, Sheila. Meet the Ames girls , eleven childhood friends who formed a special bond growing up in Ames, Iowa. AS young women, they moved to eight different states, yet they managed to maintain an enduring friendship that would carry them through college and careers, marriage and motherhood, dating and divorce, a child's illness, and the mysterious death of one member of their group. Now in their forties, the girls have a lifetime of memories in common, some evocative of their generation and some that will resonate with any woman who has ever had a friend. Capturing their remarkable story, The Girls from Ames is a testament to the deep bonds of women as they experience life's joys and challenges-and the power of friendship to triumph over the heartbreak and unexpected tragedy.

My thoughts: This book is a true testament of how friendships should be. As I read this book and learned about the girls, I found myself being really caught up into their lives. I laughed with them, I cried with them, and I sometimes ven felt like I was sharing with them, in a sense. I found at different points in the book that I could identify with each of the girls with different situations. Like Karla, I must have my coffee in the morning and I want my sleep or I am grumpy. And like Marilyn, I take a "be-a-nice-mommy-instead-of-a-screaming-bitch-pill".
I have always thought that I did not need many friends. I had one really close friend in school and she was the only person I trusted and felt like I needed in my life. Well, she was killed in a car wreck 7 years ago and I was left with no one to fall onto. There was no other friends to offer a shoulder or an encouraging word. Reading this story of the Ames girl, I realize that having more friends is very important. No matter what, we all need someone that we can count on, especially us women! I also learned through reading this book that I need to stay in better contact with my friend's parents. I did for a while but that has kind of become non-existent. I intend on calling them and checking in on them.
I hope that it is not too late for me to find some good friends that I can hold on to! If Kelly can find the man she has been looking for, then surely I can make friends!!
After reading the book I went to the website Girls from Ames and I was super happy to hear that they were in the process of making a movie!! I thought as I was reading that this would make a great Lifetime movie!
Get your copy today of The Girls from Ames from Amazon.

3 comments:

  1. Gerrie.
    Thank you so much for the kind words about GIRLS FROM AMES. And you must polish up that crystal ball, because it's working really well for you. I happen to be the Producer of the soon to be Lifetime film adapted from Jeffrey Zazlow's book. We acquired the rights about six months ago - our screenwriter is working on the script right now. We were lucky enough to meet 9 out of the 10 GIRLS at an event last month and they are amazing women. We hope to be shooting the film early next year to have it on the air in 2011. Keep good thoughts and we'll let you know when we are in production and what actresses are going to play Kelly, Karla, Marilyn, et.al.

    All the very best.

    Stanley M. Brooks
    Executive Producer
    ONCE UPON A TIME FILMS

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  2. Gerrie,
    This is Kelly, one of the women from Ames. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. It's not too late for you to strengthen your friendships ... so go out there and make something positive happen as a result of the book. Good luck!
    Kelly
    P.S. Stan is a great guy, and we're very lucky to be working with him on the movie.

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  3. I feel both humbled and honored to have both of you respond with such kind words!
    I am really looking forward to seeing the movie and sharing it with my family (especially the ones that don't like to read.
    Kelly...all of you girls are amazing!! Thank you for sharing your stories and lives for the rest of the world!

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