Monday, March 12, 2012

Book # 8: Sisterhood Everlasting

by Ann Brashares

This is the 6th book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.  I think I missed book 5, but it didn't matter as this one took up the story 10 years later.  I had enjoyed the first books in a quick-read-teen-book kind of way.  They were not going to make my top ten book list, but they were entertaining.  I couldn't resist this one as the girls were now about my age, and I was curious to see what had happened to them.  The biggest surprise was that they were all still childish.  At 28-29 year old, I expected more.  Perhaps that's my own 29 year old self talking with three kids in tow.  But even so, they all really struggled to make normal adult decisions, with perhaps Tibby as the exception.  To be honest, if this is how our generation acts at 29, then I'm kind of ashamed to be part of it. 

It was an emotional read, and one I finished rapidly, but this time I didn't feel as much a part of their life because of the divide between where they were at 29 and where I am at 29.  I just couldn't relate.  While I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt about their immature 18 year old selves, I was not willing to do that anymore.  The whole time I repeatedly thought, "Just grow up.  Act your age."  By the end, they do, but the tragedy that had to happen to cause them all to grow up was so extreme.  I'm left wondering if that tragedy never happened, then how long would these girls have clung to their childish ways?

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