The Friends We Keep (35 page)
Read The Friends We Keep Online
Authors: Holly Chamberlin
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Note to the General Public: The Polidori Publishing Company, long the leader in self-help books, has declared bankruptcy due to the fact that its founder and president “made off” with the company's every asset. Devoted readers of such titles as
Just Forget It Ever Happened: How to Repress an Unpleasant Truth
and
It's the Truth If You Believe It, or Life as a Sincere Liar,
can, for a limited time, purchase products at drastically reduced rates, both in bookstores and on the sidewalk outside company headquarters.
Just Forget It Ever Happened: How to Repress an Unpleasant Truth
and
It's the Truth If You Believe It, or Life as a Sincere Liar,
can, for a limited time, purchase products at drastically reduced rates, both in bookstores and on the sidewalk outside company headquarters.
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“How is she?” I asked. “I mean, was it awkward?”
Six months or so after my call to Sophie I finally agreed she had a right to know that John and I were a couple. John was the obvious one to tell her; he'd stayed in touch with Sophie and Ben via phone and e-mail, though he rarely saw them socially.
John took off his coat and sank onto his gorgeous, plushy couch. I joined him there.
“Let's put it this way: I don't think I'll be hearing much from either of them, at least for a while.”
“I'm sorry,” I said. I took John's hand in mine. “I know how much Sophie's friendship means to you.”
“You were right all along. She didn't come out and say it, but it was clear she sees my being with you as just another in a long line of betrayals, her reunion scheme gone bust.”
“But we couldn't keep it a secret much longer,” I said. “What if Sophie stumbled on us one night like I stumbled on her and Ben?”
John lifted my hand in his and kissed it. “Oh, we did the right thing, telling her. Anyway, you and I being together is the least of Sophie's concerns right now.”
“What do you mean? Is she sick?”
John smiled. “You do have a flair for the dramatic, don't you? No, she isn't sick. It's about Jake. Your former paramour. Your boy toy.”
I took my hand from his but kept my tone calm. “John, I'm asking you again not to âremind' meânot to âremind' usâof what went on between Jake and me. Please. It's important to me that you not keep bringing it up. I'm embarrassed enough withoutâ”
“Hey, I'm sorry, Eva, really. I was being an idiot there for a moment. And I promise not to bring it up again.”
I couldn't stay mad at him. Someday, I thought, I'll be furious with him for days on end. But not now. “I'm keeping you to that promise, John,” I said, taking his hand again. “I mean it. Now, what about Jake?”
“He's engaged to a twenty-seven-year-old grad student in anthropology. Seems she just left for Africa on a field trip, but when she comes back they're tying the knot.”
“But he can only have known her for a few months,” I protested.
“What can I say?” John shrugged. “Sophie's not thrilled but Jake swears it's true love. He's an adult, so she can't prevent the marriage.”
“What about Brad? What does he think about Jake getting married?”
“According to Sophie, Jake's news barely registered with Brad. He's engaged to some twenty-five-year-old actress/ model/waitress. She'll be pregnant a few months after the wedding, I'd lay money on it.”
“Poor Sophie.”
“She'll be fine.”
“She does have Ben,” I conceded. “And a career. If she sticks with it.” And then it struck me. “John, maybe you could talk some sense into Jake.”
John frowned. “Why do you care so much?”
“Because I can't help wondering if I'm responsible for his rushing into this marriage. Sophie told me that I broke his heart. I thought she was just . . . being Sophie, but maybe I did hurt him badly when I broke things off.”
“Maybe, but don't get any ideas about marching over to his apartment to apologize.”
I had to laugh. “Don't worry. That would be a huge mistake.”
“Yes, it would. Jake's life is his own to make or break. Besides, his parents' divorce probably had a deeper influence on him than his fling with you. And I don't mean that as an insult.”
“I know. And I hope you're right. It's terrible knowing you've messed someone up.”
“Welcome to the human race. Membership is all about saying you're sorry.”
“It's a lousy club with lousy rules.”
“You have an alternative in mind?”
“No.” I moved closer to John and lifted his arm around my shoulder. “I like how humans kiss. I could never let that go.”
“Ah, yes. The kissing. That is a good thing. And it leads to even better things.”
I shimmied away from John and got up from the couch. “Better things will have to wait,” I said.
“What? Why?”
Poor John. He looked so bewildered.
“Your sisters are coming over, remember? Girls' night in, poker, wine, no men. Don't tell me you forgot.”
John groaned and got to his feet. “I suppose I'm making food for this event?”
“Of course. Now, get to it. They'll be here in half an hour.”
I watched him leave the room, knowing he wasn't in the least angry about cooking for the women in his life. His groaning and my bossing were part of our dynamic, part of our unique routine, our version of the daily stuff that keeps people together. Who knew the mundane could be so valuable, so productive?
“Eva!” John called out from the kitchen. “Where's my big spoon?”
I rolled my eyes. “Where it always is,” I called back.
“I don't see it.”
“I'm coming!” And I headed for the kitchen to find my fiancé's big spoon.
Please turn the page for a very special Q&A with Holly Chamberlin!
Q.
The device of The Answer Lady is something you abandoned at the end of
The Friends We Keep
. Do you miss her?
The device of The Answer Lady is something you abandoned at the end of
The Friends We Keep
. Do you miss her?
A.
Not really, though I had a lot of fun writing those Answer Lady bits. After a while she was running out of steam, so it was time for her to retire. Now when I read her words of wisdom I'm surprised at how snarky she can be! I'm not sure I could resurrect her at this point. I might have lost my edge. And there's the fact that she's living happily in the south of France with the owner of a very successful winery.
Not really, though I had a lot of fun writing those Answer Lady bits. After a while she was running out of steam, so it was time for her to retire. Now when I read her words of wisdom I'm surprised at how snarky she can be! I'm not sure I could resurrect her at this point. I might have lost my edge. And there's the fact that she's living happily in the south of France with the owner of a very successful winery.
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Q.
In this novel The Answer Lady alternated with excerpts from books with interesting titles such as
The Imprecise Nature of Truth, Hypocrisy for Beginners,
and
Give Them Nothing: Silence Speaks Volumes
. Tell us about those excerpts.
In this novel The Answer Lady alternated with excerpts from books with interesting titles such as
The Imprecise Nature of Truth, Hypocrisy for Beginners,
and
Give Them Nothing: Silence Speaks Volumes
. Tell us about those excerpts.
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A.
All my own creations, of course! The excerpts were a fun way to riff or expound on the themes of the storyâlies, deception, avoidance, etc. Writing them forced me to think more deeply about the characters and their choices. And it allowed me to poke fun at some of the incredibly silly self-help or lifestyle advice books on the market.
All my own creations, of course! The excerpts were a fun way to riff or expound on the themes of the storyâlies, deception, avoidance, etc. Writing them forced me to think more deeply about the characters and their choices. And it allowed me to poke fun at some of the incredibly silly self-help or lifestyle advice books on the market.
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Q.
The current edition of
The Friends We Keep
was first published in 2007. Did you re-read the book while preparing this edition?
The current edition of
The Friends We Keep
was first published in 2007. Did you re-read the book while preparing this edition?
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A.
Yes, I did and, as always when I revisit a book I wrote some years back, I feel as if I'm reading a story created by someone else. Seriously, every page is a surprise. It's a very strange experience to be confronted (that's how it feels) with words you have no recollection of having chosen, with characters you have no memory of having created. Luckily, most times (not all times) I'm pretty pleased with the work overall, though I can't help but notice an awkward sentence or construction here and there. That's when I cringe.
Yes, I did and, as always when I revisit a book I wrote some years back, I feel as if I'm reading a story created by someone else. Seriously, every page is a surprise. It's a very strange experience to be confronted (that's how it feels) with words you have no recollection of having chosen, with characters you have no memory of having created. Luckily, most times (not all times) I'm pretty pleased with the work overall, though I can't help but notice an awkward sentence or construction here and there. That's when I cringe.
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Q.
How do you feel about your three main characters at this point in time? Differently from how you felt about them when you wrote the book?
How do you feel about your three main characters at this point in time? Differently from how you felt about them when you wrote the book?
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A.
I don't really remember how I felt about John, Eva, and Sophie back then! After this last reading I felt very sorry for Eva; such a sad, brittle person. Also, in the end, a brave one. Sophie annoyed me at times, though I did admire her ability to cut the cord that bound her to her immature son. And there isn't much, if anything, to dislike about John!
I don't really remember how I felt about John, Eva, and Sophie back then! After this last reading I felt very sorry for Eva; such a sad, brittle person. Also, in the end, a brave one. Sophie annoyed me at times, though I did admire her ability to cut the cord that bound her to her immature son. And there isn't much, if anything, to dislike about John!
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Q.
Finally, how has your work changed over the years?
Finally, how has your work changed over the years?
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A.
Good question. I'm not sure I have the full answer, though! The most obvious change is that the novels are now set in Maine, where I live. I focus more now on family stories, with main characters that span the ages from fourteen to sixty or so, and less on characters in their twenties or thirties who are in the dating world. That said, I really never know what sort of characters or story lines will pop up in the next book.
Good question. I'm not sure I have the full answer, though! The most obvious change is that the novels are now set in Maine, where I live. I focus more now on family stories, with main characters that span the ages from fourteen to sixty or so, and less on characters in their twenties or thirties who are in the dating world. That said, I really never know what sort of characters or story lines will pop up in the next book.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE FRIENDS WE KEEP
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Holly Chamberlin
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
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The suggested questions are included to enhance
your group's reading of Holly Chamberlin's
The Friends We Keep
!
your group's reading of Holly Chamberlin's
The Friends We Keep
!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
“Acquaintanceships rely on frequent face-to-face interaction. Friendships, I believed, could survive great distances.” Talk about the difference between an acquaintance and a friend. Discuss the circumstances in which friendships might not survive a distance of time or a length of absence.
“Acquaintanceships rely on frequent face-to-face interaction. Friendships, I believed, could survive great distances.” Talk about the difference between an acquaintance and a friend. Discuss the circumstances in which friendships might not survive a distance of time or a length of absence.
2.
John admits to harboring savior fantasies, imagining himself as “the white knight coming to the rescue of the damsel in distressâeven though the damsel wouldn't admit she was in distress.” Do you think many men these days harbor such fantasies? Under what circumstances might such a savior complex arise? Can a relationship based on the dynamic of savior and saved work over time? What might happen if the savedâman or womanârealizes that he or she no longer needs, or never really did need, saving?
John admits to harboring savior fantasies, imagining himself as “the white knight coming to the rescue of the damsel in distressâeven though the damsel wouldn't admit she was in distress.” Do you think many men these days harbor such fantasies? Under what circumstances might such a savior complex arise? Can a relationship based on the dynamic of savior and saved work over time? What might happen if the savedâman or womanârealizes that he or she no longer needs, or never really did need, saving?
3.
Eva says: “When you're self-sufficient for a length of time, you fall out of the habit of trading personal information. So, when you find yourself in a rare position to talk, you either say too little or say too much, and one way or the other, the other person is left with an erroneous impression of you.” Have you experienced this in your own life? Have there been times when being out of close touch with people has resulted in a sort of social confusion?
Eva says: “When you're self-sufficient for a length of time, you fall out of the habit of trading personal information. So, when you find yourself in a rare position to talk, you either say too little or say too much, and one way or the other, the other person is left with an erroneous impression of you.” Have you experienced this in your own life? Have there been times when being out of close touch with people has resulted in a sort of social confusion?
4.
Eva tells us: “If the past has to be let go in order to ensure the future, then so be it. Repression or willed forgetfulness can be powerful tools on the road to success.” Discuss how this personal philosophy served the character well, and how it contributed to her lack of emotional maturity.
Eva tells us: “If the past has to be let go in order to ensure the future, then so be it. Repression or willed forgetfulness can be powerful tools on the road to success.” Discuss how this personal philosophy served the character well, and how it contributed to her lack of emotional maturity.
5.
Can you find any justification for Eva's choosing to have an affair with her friend's son? Would telling Sophie the truth from the start have made the situation acceptable? Jake is legally an adult, so Eva is breaking no law in sleeping with him, but clearly she is committing what might be termed a moral transgression. If you found yourself in Sophie's position, how do you think you would react to both your friend and your child? Would your reaction be very difference if your friend were a male and your child a female?
Can you find any justification for Eva's choosing to have an affair with her friend's son? Would telling Sophie the truth from the start have made the situation acceptable? Jake is legally an adult, so Eva is breaking no law in sleeping with him, but clearly she is committing what might be termed a moral transgression. If you found yourself in Sophie's position, how do you think you would react to both your friend and your child? Would your reaction be very difference if your friend were a male and your child a female?
6.
After learning the truth about her son's affair and failing to receive an apology from him, Sophie tells us that while she still loves Jake, she doesn't much like him at the moment. Can you understand this? In what other circumstances might one dislike an otherwise loved one?
After learning the truth about her son's affair and failing to receive an apology from him, Sophie tells us that while she still loves Jake, she doesn't much like him at the moment. Can you understand this? In what other circumstances might one dislike an otherwise loved one?
7.
Sophie, who tends to view the world as black and white, wonders how an adulterer can consider him or her self to be a good person, in spite of otherwise exemplary behavior. Eva declares that she doesn't judge someone she knows to be cheating on his or her spouse because she doesn't really know what's going on inside the mind of the adulterer. In other words, let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Discuss these two different views.
Sophie, who tends to view the world as black and white, wonders how an adulterer can consider him or her self to be a good person, in spite of otherwise exemplary behavior. Eva declares that she doesn't judge someone she knows to be cheating on his or her spouse because she doesn't really know what's going on inside the mind of the adulterer. In other words, let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Discuss these two different views.
8.
Eva tells us she feels angry that her sister doesn't seem to want more from her life than what she has chosen. She feels angry that her sister is not more like her. These feelings puzzle her. Discuss how difficult it can be to accept the choices of a loved one when they don't correspond with your own choices. Why is this so? Is it simply a failure of imagination? Is it, as Eva surmises, our natural self-centeredness, which makes us want the world to conform to our opinions?
Eva tells us she feels angry that her sister doesn't seem to want more from her life than what she has chosen. She feels angry that her sister is not more like her. These feelings puzzle her. Discuss how difficult it can be to accept the choices of a loved one when they don't correspond with your own choices. Why is this so? Is it simply a failure of imagination? Is it, as Eva surmises, our natural self-centeredness, which makes us want the world to conform to our opinions?
9.
Jake points out most kids know a lot more about their parents' relationship than the parents realize. Do you think this is especially true in the case of children whose parents are divorced? At another point in the book Jake reminds his mother he doesn't want to hear negative comments from her about his father and v. v. Do you think a child of divorced parents ever truly escapes being dragged into the middle of the fray?
Jake points out most kids know a lot more about their parents' relationship than the parents realize. Do you think this is especially true in the case of children whose parents are divorced? At another point in the book Jake reminds his mother he doesn't want to hear negative comments from her about his father and v. v. Do you think a child of divorced parents ever truly escapes being dragged into the middle of the fray?
10.
Eva says that friends are like moral guideposts, helping you to walk the straight and narrow; the fear of their disapprovalâand the ensuing embarrassment that disapproval will cause youâhelps you to behave properly. And then she tells us that she resents this. Talk about the role of a true friend. Moral guidepost or behavior police? Unconditional supporter or someone whose loyalty is based on your following a particular code of conduct? A combination of these?
Eva says that friends are like moral guideposts, helping you to walk the straight and narrow; the fear of their disapprovalâand the ensuing embarrassment that disapproval will cause youâhelps you to behave properly. And then she tells us that she resents this. Talk about the role of a true friend. Moral guidepost or behavior police? Unconditional supporter or someone whose loyalty is based on your following a particular code of conduct? A combination of these?
11.
John's assistant, Ellen, says: “Marriage is a state of incessant vigilance. The slightest inattention can result in disaster.” Do you agree? Later, she talks about the value of routine in a marriage. Talk about whenâif?âroutine might become a liability.
John's assistant, Ellen, says: “Marriage is a state of incessant vigilance. The slightest inattention can result in disaster.” Do you agree? Later, she talks about the value of routine in a marriage. Talk about whenâif?âroutine might become a liability.
12.
In Chapter 45, Eva and Jake argue about romance and the changing nature of expectations. She believes that she is clear-eyed and clear headed. He thinks she is just bitter. Does each character have a valid point?
In Chapter 45, Eva and Jake argue about romance and the changing nature of expectations. She believes that she is clear-eyed and clear headed. He thinks she is just bitter. Does each character have a valid point?
13.
Sophie opines that an apology is an act of recommitment to a relationship. She says that apologies happen when there's a sense of accountability. Talk about the act of offeringâand of receivingâan apology. Is an apology necessary for the healing of an emotional bond that has been torn? Or can one simply “forget” and move on?
Sophie opines that an apology is an act of recommitment to a relationship. She says that apologies happen when there's a sense of accountability. Talk about the act of offeringâand of receivingâan apology. Is an apology necessary for the healing of an emotional bond that has been torn? Or can one simply “forget” and move on?
14.
“If humans are the only ones to lie, cheat, and steal,” Eva wonders, “does that mean that success as a species depends, at least partly, on the capacity for unethical behavior?” Talk about times when an act of deception might provoke a positive result. Does this result always justify the original deception?
“If humans are the only ones to lie, cheat, and steal,” Eva wonders, “does that mean that success as a species depends, at least partly, on the capacity for unethical behavior?” Talk about times when an act of deception might provoke a positive result. Does this result always justify the original deception?
15.
Eva feels guilty about keeping the secret of her affair a secret from Sophie. She also feels some pity and disdain for her friend. Why is it that we experience this mix of emotions toward those we are hurting?
Eva feels guilty about keeping the secret of her affair a secret from Sophie. She also feels some pity and disdain for her friend. Why is it that we experience this mix of emotions toward those we are hurting?
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