The novel starts out with a bang when Jane arrives home to find her husband doing the nasty with a twenty-something girl. I think Jane realized long before this happened that her marriage was over, yet she had never seemed to have enough courage to walk away before this. This betrayal is the last straw and she tells him to leave. Her first instinct is to turn to her best friend Gwen.
Gwen and Jane have been friends for nineteen years. They have a wonderful friendship, one I must say I was very envious of, being that I don’t really have anything like that in my life-acquaintances and real friends are two different things. I loved the easiness they had with each other; the ability to say what they thought and knew that it wouldn’t be a big deal. They may disagree but it did nothing to hurt their friendship and nobody ever walked away with hard feelings. Friendships such as those are hard to find. If you have one, hang onto it. When one or the other of them had something happen or just needed a shoulder, the other one would drop everything to rush over and be there for them. They were there for each other through thick and thin. I really think this is why I love novels that focus on women’s friendships such a s Willing Spirits does. While they make me yearn for such a relationship, I still savour them page by page. A beautiful quote…
- ‘She knew that women felt things that could not be easily translated into words men would understand. Women shared a language that effortlessly gave voice to even the most formless feelings.’ (pg 29, Willing Spirits)
Phyllis Schieber portrays her characters in such a way that they seem so real to you, like someone you might actually know. They are real women with real issues that don’t always have an easy answer—they experience heartbreak, fear, disappointment, anger, happiness. Things have not come easily to either Jane or Gwen. Gwen’s first husband had left her early on with two young boys to raise on her own and well Jane didn’t really ever have a good marriage. Her husband Arnold was not very often good to Jane. I myself wanted to slap him upside the head more than a few times. Now Jane is trying to figure out how to move forward as a single woman in her forties while Gwen struggles in her ongoing relationship with a married man. Both women are supportive of each other whether or not they agree with the actions of the other.
Another aspect that resounded with me was the mother-daughter one. Both women really had somewhat struggling relationships with their own mothers. While Gwen’s was just really not there as a mother; Jane’s was, but not quite in the way she wanted. It’s a feeling I relate with. While you really love your mother and feel very grateful to have them, something is missing and it’s a lonely feeling. Here’s a quote I found particularly revealing of their relationship which was just after Jane’s mother had passed away and Gwen is with Jane…these are the times when close female friendships are so important—when other things are lacking in your life and you need that emotional support from a friend…
- ‘Once, long ago, she must have slept beside her mother and known the peace she saw in Caroline’s repose. There had been no anger then, none of the rage Jane felt over Dorothy’s negligent mothering. None of the abandonment she felt at being left to negotiate the world alone…”She was never the mother I wanted”, Jane said. “I still want that mother.”’ (pg 197, Willing Spirits)
I really enjoyed this novel. I urge anybody who loves reading of strong female relationships to give it a read. It really portrays a woman’s willingness to give all of herself to a close female friendship; hence the title Willing Spirits. The writing in this novel had me captivated, so much so that I’ve already purchased her first novel Sinner’s Guide to Confession to read. You can purchase Willing Spirtis in the US here and in Canada here.
Many thanks to MaAnna at Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours for inviting me to participate in this tour.
This book sounds marvelous. You’re right about wonderful friendship. I’m still friends with someone I first met 38 years ago. We don’t get to see each other that often because I’ve moved so much, but we talk all of the time and I know she would be here as fast as she could if I really needed her and vice versa. Our friendship is a treasure.
I have a lot of friends that I have known for over 20 years but none that are still close to me.
This book sounds like a good read.
It has taken me to my thirties to work out which friendships are worth keeping. I wish I had been wiser younger. The book sounds fabulous.
True friends stick with you through everything, never judge but are there for you, without asking why.
Barry
Wonderful review! I would like this one. I’ve been blessed in my life to have a best friend, Cathy, since kindergarten and I just turned 50 in October! My friendship with her is just as you described in the book…absolutely irreplaceable.
Have a Great Weekend!
I read sinner’s guide for a blog tour and loved that one. I may just have to pick this novel up and read this one too.
psst…I have a poll on my blog!
bermudaonion! There you are! I’m so glad you have a close friendship you treasure so much. It makes all the difference in the world.
Ti: I hope you will read WILLING SPIRITS, and let me know what you think. Twenty years is a long time to be friends.
Scrap girl: Only in your thirties? Goodness, girl, you have miles to go, and you sound so smart already!
Storyheart: So nice to hear a male point of view. I would be interested to hear what you think of WILLING SPIRITS!
TheChicGeek: I have a Kathy was well. I have wonderful friends, and I’m so glad that you do too. Good friends are irreplaceable.
Serena: What do you mean, you may have to? Of course you will. How could you resist? 😉
I know someone who has carried on an affair with a married man for many years. I’d love to see how that kind of relationship is handled in this book. Great review!
The book sounds great Dar.. what a truly thorough review.. with your usual personal touch.
I love books about female BFF’s. 🙂
I have this in my sister… If I ever needed her… she’d drop everything to help me out.
Love sister and friendship books.
Hi Janel! Let me know after you read WILLING SPIRITS what you think of how I handled the affair!
Toni, you are quite right. Dar did a great job with the review. I’m so glad you have a sister/best friend who can be there for you!
What a fabulous review Dar! You made this such a personable and relatable review about the book.
I definitely want to read this one.
I have found female friendships to be challenging now that I am into my 40’s. It’s harder to develop deep connections with women as everyone is so focused on their own lives and many are competitive with each other. I had to end a friendship with a lifelong friend about 7 years ago and it was devastating. I always assumed that we would be BFF’s for life. I have many friends from grade school/high school that know me well but we don’t connect that often. I’m envious of those with such close friendships over the years and wonder what is the key?
I agree, friendship is such a hard thing to hold on to or to find a true one! Sounds like a good read Dar!
Hi Red lady-Bonnie, I am always so surprised to hear from women who don’t have close female friendships. I agree that the older we get, the more difficult it is to make friends, but I made a really, really close friend when I was 49. I don’t think there is any one key other than to be open. I wasn’t looking for any more friends, but I found her irresistible; we were like-minded in so many ways. I hear about the “competitiveness” you mentioned. but I have never experienced that. However, I did have a very close childhood friend who decided she didn’t want to be friends anymore. I still mourn that loss.
Ladytink_534: Thanks for stopping by. Real friends are hard to find. I hope you have good friends in your life.
What a fantastic review! This sounds like a great read, it’s refreshing to see a book that celebrates friendship between women.
Recently when talking with a group of girls who I consider more to be acquaintances than friends, and it really shocked me to hear that most of them thought close girlfriends were unnecessary because they had spouses or partners that filled their needs.
But I disagree, for me having close friends as well as a partner is complimentary, yes I am friends with my husband but that friendship is so different from the relationship I have with my BFFs.
Your review was perfect Dar! I want to read this book. I like how you describe this as an intimate novel…sounds like a great read.
I think the title says it all … Great friendships take effort and just like a garden, the more time, care and attention you devote to its up-keep, the more you will reap the rewards.
It sounds as though the tender and heart-warming moments between these pages; far outweigh those that devastate. It’s nice to hear about a book that celebrates the comfort and value of true friendship.
Wonderful review, Dar! ‘Willing Spirits’ obviously has the power to stir an emotional response on behalf of its reader.
I have awarded you some good karma this morning…come on over and pick it up!
Joanne: I share your surprise. Partners and husbands are one thing, but girlfriends are a whole other category.
Staci: And I love that you love Dar’s review!
Wanda: It is true, isn’t it? We have to be willing to do the work in a friendship; otherwise, it will not thrive.
This sounds really good. I have to add it to my TBR list. Great review Dar!
Thanks, Samantha! Put it on the top of your list! 😉
Sounds like an awesome read!
Well, I hope it is! Let me know what you think when you’re done, LuAnn!
This is such a thoughtful review! Great job Dar!
S. Krishna is right, Dar! Great job indeed! Many thanks again.
Phyllis, thanks so much for stopping by and reading my review(and liking it-lol) and for being so diligent with replying to everyone’s comments. It’s really awesome when an author takes the time to do that. Sorry I wans’t around to comment sooner myself everyone.
Kathy, you are so lucky to still have a friendship after so long. That’s wonderful.
Ti, the same for me. I’ve had friends that I’ve known that long but none I really feel I could depend on.
Viv, I agree. When I was young I had so many people I was friends with that I really didn’t stop to realize who the real ones were. Unfortunately I lost a real one a couple of years back and that was hard.
Barry, you’re so right!
ChicGeek, thanks so much. You are so incredibly lucky to have a friend like that. You’d really enjoy the book I think.
Serena, I picked up Sinner’s Guide the other day. I hope to get to it soon. It sounds really good and I do remember reading a lot of good reviews for it also.
Janel, I think you’d like this novel. It is interesting to see how different people handle situations like cheating, etc.
Toni, you know how much I like friendship books so of course this was really up my alley. You’re lucky that your sister would be there for you like that. That’s truly special. Being an only child is yet another disadvantage in terms of having family there for you.
Bonnie, thanks so much. Like you I’ve found making friends as I’ve gotten older much harder. You’re right, everyone always seems so busy with their own things and such. I too have ended one friendship because it seemed toxic but like you I wonder what the key is to finding friends like that. Maybe I’m just too much of a solitary person. I like my space way too much. lol.
Tink, you are right. If you find a true friend like that, it’s worth the work to maintain it.
Phyllis, there’s hope for me yet. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough yet to have a friend like Jane or Gwen come into my life.
Joanne, thanks so much. I agree completely. Friendships between women are so much different. I wonder if someday those same acquaintances of yours may regret thinking that their female friendships aren’t as important since they have their husbands. I think that’s a mistake made much too often. I know I did it in the past with a boyfriend and it’s not likely to be a mistake I’d make again. I lost some good friends that way.
Staci, I think you’d like this novel. That’s really what it felt like to me-very intimate. Hard to explain I think.
Wanda, thanks so much. I agree true friendships need care and attention if you have them. I love books that stir an emotional response from me. That means I’ve read something really good.
Sam, lol-yet another one I’m adding to your list.
LuAnn, I liked it. Hope you get a chance to read it one day.
Swapna, thanks so much.
Now, Dar, you didn’t think I would let you have the last word, did you?
;). . . not possible!
I enjoyed this book, too. Phyllis brilliantly portrays female relationships. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work in the future. Great review!
–Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Thanks, Anna. I am working on a new novel and feel encouraged by so many supporters!