cover image CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE GIRLFRIEND'S SOUL: Stories Celebrating Magic of Friendship

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE GIRLFRIEND'S SOUL: Stories Celebrating Magic of Friendship

Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Chrissy Donnelly, et al. . Health Communications, $12.95 (384pp) ISBN 978-0-7573-0154-4

As most women will attest, no relationship can take the place of a good girlfriend. At every stage of life, close female friends support each other, enjoy life together and listen patiently as the other vents. This latest addition to the Chicken Soup series celebrates this relationship with dozens of heartwarming tales. Divided into sections such as "Overcoming Obstacles," "Special Moments" and "The True Meaning of Friendship," these stories, poems and letters touch on all aspects of friendship at all stages of life, from lighthearted moments to more serious and sometimes sad occasions. In "Princess Poobah," Betsy Carter humorously describes the way she and her best friend, Sherry-Lee, fought back, after being excluded from high school sororities, by forming their own group, one with no function but with a distinctive handshake, as "a cool antidote to the elite sororities." In "The Swing," Teresa Cleary eloquently recalls the way she and Jenny coped with the death of another friend from heart disease. And in "The Gift of Baby Drowsy," Jodi L. Severson relates a lifetime of shared experiences with Lauri that demonstrates how the two mischievous girls grew into loyal friends who helped each other through difficult times. These entertaining and heartfelt recollections will be enjoyed by many. (Nov.)