A review by koreanlinda
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I enjoyed reading this book because Amina and Ann are great storytellers. They also did a beautiful job of alternating the narrator between Amina, Ann, and "We." It was a palpable reflection of their relationship: how fluid ideas and emotions flow between them.
My "big" friend, Christine, recommended this book. They said, "it made me think of you." Reading the book made me think of them as well, along with my other big friend, Heena. I ordered a copy and sent it to her to make the full circle of the big friendships in my present life.
The book brought me more than just the satisfaction of reading a good story. Amina and Ann's proclamation of the importance of their friendship, along with friendship among women at large, validated my friendship with female friends. It was true that they have been the fundamental bolster in my life through highs and lows.
It was helpful to read all the research findings Amina and Ann shared in the book about how friendship affects the quality of our lives and how understated, underresearched, and underappreciated it is in our culture, in contrast to romantic relationships or parent-child relationships.
Having both of my big friends physically far away from me, reading the testimony of Amina and Ann's long-distance friendship made me feel assured that my long-distance big friendships can last and thrive as well. In fact, there is not a day I don't feel connected with my big friends. They are there at my day-in and day-out. There is nothing I wouldn't share with them. I thank Amina and Ann for writing this book-length love letter to each other, which now I am going to use to show my love for my big friends, Christine and Heena.
Review by Linda (she/they)
Twitter @KoreanLinda
Letter writer at DefinitelyNotOkay.com
My "big" friend, Christine, recommended this book. They said, "it made me think of you." Reading the book made me think of them as well, along with my other big friend, Heena. I ordered a copy and sent it to her to make the full circle of the big friendships in my present life.
The book brought me more than just the satisfaction of reading a good story. Amina and Ann's proclamation of the importance of their friendship, along with friendship among women at large, validated my friendship with female friends. It was true that they have been the fundamental bolster in my life through highs and lows.
It was helpful to read all the research findings Amina and Ann shared in the book about how friendship affects the quality of our lives and how understated, underresearched, and underappreciated it is in our culture, in contrast to romantic relationships or parent-child relationships.
Having both of my big friends physically far away from me, reading the testimony of Amina and Ann's long-distance friendship made me feel assured that my long-distance big friendships can last and thrive as well. In fact, there is not a day I don't feel connected with my big friends. They are there at my day-in and day-out. There is nothing I wouldn't share with them. I thank Amina and Ann for writing this book-length love letter to each other, which now I am going to use to show my love for my big friends, Christine and Heena.
Review by Linda (she/they)
Twitter @KoreanLinda
Letter writer at DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Misogyny