Sisterhood Everlasting

I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a huge fan of Ann Brashares' Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. In fact, I'm almost certain Brashares closely studied me and my best friends when creating Lena, Bridget, Tibby, and Carmen simply because they were so incredibly relatable. So, when I found out Brashares had written a sequel to the series, set ten years after the last book, I couldn't wait to read it.

The girls are ten years older, 29, and work, love, and life have taken them in different directions. Tibby has moved to Australia with boyfriend Brian, Carmen leads a fast-paced, glued-to-iPhone-life in New York as a TV actress, Lena teaches at Rhode Island School of Design quietly and contentedly, and Bridget is in California with Eric still as reckless and restless as ever. While their friendship lives on, despite hasty phone calls, few visits, and distracted lives, it's clear to them it's not the same. So, when the Carmen, Lena, and Bridget receive Tibby's invitation to reunite in Greece, they jump at the chance to see one another and relive their younger days.

This book isn't like the others in the series. It's not as lighthearted, as the girls have to deal with tragedy, loss, love, marriage, children, careers; real life. It's a must read by anyone who's grew up with the Traveling Pants as it's not only a tribute to the Sisterhood, but to real, honest-to-goodness friendship.

The Screwtape Letters

Today I finished reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. First published in 1942, the story takes shape in epistolic form - a series of letters written by a senior demon named Screwtape and addressed to his nephew, Wormwood, a young "tempter." The letters concern a human man, only referred to as the "patient." Screwtape advises and critiques Wormwood as he attempts to encourage sin and thus lead the patient away from the Enemy.

From this morally reversed point of view, individual benefit is the ultimate goal and non-sins are twisted into whatever will help lead the patient to Hell. Faith and prayer are alright as long as there is spiritual righteousness, and unselfishness is encouraged as long as the patient is acutely aware that he is, at that moment, being unselfish.

The book is dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien, who warned Lewis of delving deeply into the craft of evil. Lewis would later comment that though the end result was enjoyable, he would never write a "letter" again.

The copy that I read was given to me by a good friend, who was given to her by a friend. I think I'll pass this along to anyone willing, as it is a must read.