Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Review of Friendship for Grown-Ups


Friendship for Grown-Ups is written by Lisa Whelchel. Whelchel played the character Blair in the 70s TV show The Facts of Life. That is where the story begins.

We are taken through the painful growing process that happens when a teenager is away from family and under the pressure of a weekly TV show. Defense systems are learned to keep one's inner self together in a situation like this. However it is years later after marrying a pastor, having children and living what seems like a charmed life to all who observe that all the wrappings start falling away.

Having good friends,ones that you can say anything to and there is implied confidence is rare. As Ms Whelchel discovers they are not easy to find or cultivate. She has long learned how to be a friend supportive, non-judgmental and confidential but has a great problem receiving the like. We are brought through her search for the right person to be her very closest of friends. it is a reminder to all of us why we cannot have lots of very, very close friends.

Friendship has a number of elements that can both burn people out and have them become judgmental. Ms Whelchel points out to us that not every one has the energy and resources to be the kind of friend she needed. She struggles with this in much of the book. It is a learning process of becoming a friend to herself as well.

This is an easy reading book that may make you grab a tissue once in a while as it is heart wrenching at times. As a reader you will learn a great deal about yourself and what type of friend you are to different people.

This book was provided to me by the publisher through a program called Book Sneeze. My review was not influenced by any person or company.

I review for BookSneeze

Plan B by Pete Wilson


Plan B by Pete Wilson has some great insights on how we view our lives. the premise of the book is that life does not always proceed as planned, so you need a Plan B. He references many familiar Old and New Testament stories to point out that the Bible is full of people who had to examine Plan B as a part of their faith in God.

Wilson must be wonderful from the pulpit as he knows how to take the stories of thousands of years and place them in today's context. He points out that people have been lying and cheating their fellow man since the beginning of time. This has made for adjustment of life or Plan B in order to survive. It appears that Plan B plays a huge roll regarding your faith in God. Some thing that is often difficult to remember when Plan A is upset is that you are not alone in what you are experiencing.

An extended look it taken with the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. We follow him through his life and see how he learns to roll with the punches as a sign of hos faith. It is faith that gets up to transition to Plan B.

I asked Mr Wilson by way of Twitter if Plan B ever becomes Plan A. His response was "I think so."

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is well worth your time so that you can identify with your own Plan B. The author is still a young man. I hope to see take to pen Plan B Part II 20 years from now. Plan B is a growing process.

The book Plan B by Pete Wilson was provided to me by the publisher through Book Sneeze. the opinion I have written is my own and has not been influenced any person of company.

I review for BookSneeze