My Summary: It’s not often I don’t enjoy a book to the point that I actually write some negative comments about it, but I must say I had difficulty reading The Friends We Keep by Sarah Zacharias Davis for a couple of reasons. One was my dislike of this partciular writing style. I found the never-ending, unanswered questions tiresome, might I even say annoying, to the point that half-way through the book I almost gave up on it entirely. Second was the use of pop culture examples for the basis of the discussion almost exclusively in the first half of the book and in the rest of the book certainly more than the use of bibilcal principles.

Aside from those things, I did enjoy the author’s discussion of the differences between friends and acquaintances as well as the varied types or levels of friendships one has be it in the workplace, at church, with parents of our children’s friends, etc. I also enjoyed the author’s thoughts on allowing space in friendship, being surprised by friendship, and community or companionship of friends along life’s journey. I found the last chapter regarding befriending yourself as an extension or branch of friendship interesting because it seemed to be the main point of the book yet it wasn’t elaborated on until the very last chapter. I personally think a better place for this chapter might have been at the beginning of the book where it could have been further explored as a component of each of the other chapters especially given the author’s statement that “only then (friendship with self) do I find the strength for friendship outside myself. Only then can I stretch my arms wide in giving and receiving. Only then is friendship complete.” It would have been nice to have this information at the beginning of the book so one could then read the rest of it through that lens.

Personally, I think there were too many questions and not enough answers in this book but that’s probably because I’m a Type A person (LOL)! Or, it might be because earlier this year I attended a meeting with some friends and one of the discipleship mentors from our church inwhich he, the mentor, shared an invaluable amount of sound biblical teaching in regard to friendships in two hours. I came away from that meeting with more information in a much shorter amount of time than I did in reading The Friends We Keep book. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m just saying this book really wasn’t my style and I didn’t get much information for the amount of time it took to read.

Publisher’s Summary: During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

GIVE AWAY: I have one copy of this book which I’ll give away next week. If you’d like to be entered in the drawing, please leave me a comment. Local friends are free to enter the drawing or you may borrow my copy which we can pass around to all who who would like to read it. UPDATE: Karen has won the drawing for this book. I hope you enjoy it!