Full review here: http://girlwellread.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-bridge-club-by-patricia-sands.html. ( )

The eight women in this novel met in the 1960s. They were all from very different backgrounds but their friendships begin to solidify as they started playing bridge together Ultimately, it became more than just a bridge club and their friends became more than casual. They all relied on the women in their club to help them solve issues with husbands, children, lifestyles and life in general. We get a glimpse of each of the eight woman and their major life problems that were solved through the help of their friends. Their problems ranged from alcoholism, to abuse, to discovering their sexuality. The last chapter of the original novel deals with a difficult decision that they must all make to help one of their group members. The chapters that were added on in the new edition discuss the ramifications of this decision and how each of them dealt with it. It ends as the remaining members are celebrating their 75th birthdays and looking back on their friendships realizing again what an important part of their lives their friends were.

I thought it was very interesting to look at a long term friendship between women and the overall effect of that friendship on each of their lives. I strongly believe in women's friendship I have friends from over 60 years go who still are important parts of my life. I loved their book about the importance of women's friendships as they faced the highs and lows of their lives. ( )

Great read, something so many group of friends can relate to. ( )

You can also read my review here: http://bookbybookreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-bridge-club.html

I sat with this book for a while before I took the plunge and read it and I think it had something to do with the title... I am not a card player and I kind of think of 'Bridge' as an older-person game (sorry...). When I finally picked it up, I realized that it was less about the game and more about the connections that came because of it. However, I still have that 'older-person' vibe about the book.

While the story was very enjoyable and the characters unique, I found that I couldn't relate to the story. I am chalking this up to a generational thing. As most of the characters in their early 60's (current time), a lot of the events that took place were before my time or things that I am not ready for in my life. However, that being said, I know a bunch of lovely women who I would buy this book for and know that they would enjoy it.

My main critique for this book was the chapter lengths... WOW, they were long. In fact, I think the last chapter was close to 50 pages long. Sometimes my brain just need a rest period. Speaking of the last chapter... Grrr. ~ You know what I mean, Patricia and readers will too ~

My favourite part ~ being that I am from Canada, I loved that the story took place in all the areas that I am familiar with. The descriptions of Northern Ontario brought me back to my childhood memories of snow-filled fun in Capreol. The stories of skiing the big mountains made me remember my trips to Whistler in which I sat in the coffee shops thinking the skiers were insane. Most of the time, the stories centered around Toronto, my current home, and that made everything very easy to picture. Patricia Sands clearly knows her country and is very proud of it!!

Overall, I felt that this book was well written, the story comes together well at the end. If you are part of a regular group of women that meets monthly, you will want to read this book! ( )

Life is what you make it and who you know it has been said. Well this group of ladies have a life! I read this book with a small group of my friends and it nevr ran out of topics for us to talk about. By the end of the book it felt like the characters became our friends. The author does a wonderful job allowing you in the lives of this group of friends and allowing you to really get to know them on an intimate level. The book covers a span of 40 years and almost every topic under the sun. I loved how it made me think, feel , and hope to be sharing my life with a group of friends as great as these ladies only time really can tell you who your real friends are. I really enjoyed the book and think it is a wonderful read for a book club, small group of friends or a vacation especially. ( )