Are you the kind of person who enjoys reading about friendships between women? Many women are the best of friends and they insist that they couldn’t get through life without those friendship. If this sounds familiar to you — this is a book you have to read. I’m not a fan of chick lit – and Phyllis’ books have been called chick lit – but I don’t agree. Schieber’s books are about mature women who are in their 40s or 50s and they have accomplished a lot in their lives – and they have also had their share of difficulties.
In Willing Spirits we meet two friends who are in their 40s and their children are grown and have gone off to college. One (Jane) is married – although she is unhappy. The other (Jane) raised her sons alone because her husband walked out when the boys were very young.
Jane discovers her husband in bed with a younger woman and once the shock and anger wear off – she realizes that she doesn’t want to be with him anymore. Her friend, Gwen, is there to support her.
As the story progresses we see the many dimensions of their friendship. We meet their children, mothers, significant others and many other people as these women work their way through their lives. Should a 40 something woman be alone when she isn’t married? Is it all right to be involved with a younger man? What should she do when her 20 something daughter finds them in bed together? Is it all right to have an affair with a married man? If he leaves his wife – does that mean he will or that he should live with his mistress? How do grown sons handle their mother and her married lover? And – how can these women juggle their responsibilities and still be true to herself?
These are just some of the answers you will find in this book. You will laugh, you will cry, you will nod at the things that are familiar and you may even raise your eyebrows in surprise – but if you like stories about women, their lives and their friendships – you will enjoy Willings Spirits by Phyllis Schieber.
