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Wanted to share this article with all of you. It's a great book.

'Ames' chronicles women's friendships

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB | Associated Press | Story updated at 7:17 pm on 7/9/2009

DES MOINES, Iowa - A year before it became a best-seller, author Jeffrey Zaslow wondered if all the time he'd put into his book about the longtime friendship of 11 women would be wasted.

The women initially had been eager to talk about their enduring relationship, which began when they were teens in Iowa and continued decades later. But after reading a draft of what would become "The Girls From Ames," some thought they might have been too open with Zaslow.

"After we got into it, they got more nervous and the book almost fell apart," he said. "I read diaries and journals and learned things they didn't want me to know. All gave me letters written to them by the others - there had to be a lot trust, which we lost a little and then gained some back."

Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal columnist, to keep the book on track agreed to edit out some personal details.

The result is a book chronicling the friendships of "girls" who endured life's challenges long after their friendships first blossomed living in the small, college town among the cornfields of Iowa.

The women, now in their 40s, are spread across the country and share tales of hardships and successes. Two have been diagnosed with cancer, one suffered the death of a child, two have been divorced and one mysteriously died at the age of 22.

Zaslow's book remains at No. 24 on the New York Times Best-seller list after peaking at No. 3.

"It's a really heartwarming book," said Jan Weissmiller, owner of Prairie Lights Book Store in Iowa City, Iowa. "People, especially women, can really relate to the bonds they build with their friends."

It all started with a column Zaslow wrote in 2003 about women's friendships and how women are better at maintaining such relationships than men. After reading the column, more than 250 women contacted Zaslow to tell their stories about their friendships.

"I think every group of women has a story to tell and I was especially touched by a letter from Jenny from Ames," Zaslow said. "I liked that they were in their 40s and from the Midwest."

Zaslow called Jenny and quickly found that the women had stories that were universal, but also many that were one-of-kind, exhilarating and haunting.

"I found myself spellbound as they talked to me," Zaslow wrote.

Those talks led to "The Girls From Ames," which chronicles the lives and friendships of Marilyn, Karla, Sheila, Kelly, Jane, Diana, Cathy, Sally, Karen, Jenny and Angela. After all these years, the group, down to 10 since Sheila died, still gather yearly for a reunion.

Zwagerman said she's been surprised by the book's popularity because she thought it was more about a journalist's efforts to document the lives of women than a beautifully written tale.

But Zwagerman said she and her friends quickly heard from readers who were moved by the book.

"People read the book and think we're all very close all the time and we're all sort of best friends," she said. "What's best about this group is you have your choices and can connect with different people at different stages of your life."

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Friday, July 10, 2009