THE SAME SWEET GIRLS by Cassandra King
As a story of women's lives, Cassandra King's THE SAME SWEET GIRLS ranks right up there with Mary McCarthy's THE GROUP. This story however is more emotional and less dramatic. Still it too offers a look behind the veil of feminism and romanticism that is combined in the modern woman.
The "same sweet girls" are five friends from college plus a substitute. There were originally six college friends - Lanier, Corrine, Julia, Astor, Byrd and Dixie Lee - but Dixie Lee died in a car accident shortly after college and Rosanelle was asked to take her place in the group. Twice a year these six meet to reminisce and catch up with each other's lives. In the spring it is at Dolphin Island where Lanier lives, and in the fall it is Blue Mountain where Corrine has a home.
King first introduces us to these women as they are about to turn fifty. The book is told through the individual voices of Lanier, Corrine and Julia. Astor, Byrd and Rosanelle are spoken about, but never get a chance to speak directly to the reader. This is as it should be as Lanier, Julia and Corrine are the closest in the group and their lives have the most dramatic impact on the story.
The book involves failing marriages, estranged children, chronic illnesses and other assorted elements that are used by King to create a fascinating basis for a dramatic event in the lives of the women. Everything that is related from the first page to the last is part of a pattern that leads to evidence of sisterly love and total friendship by way of support.
There are also some elements of the "same sweet girls'" rituals of friendship that border on the absurd. At each spring meeting a "Queen" is crowned who has been deemed to be the sweetest among the six. She gets a tiara, robe and scepter. She also leads the other women through a recitation of wisdom. This whole ritual borders on the trite and makes the women appear more immature than they are.
The strength of the book comes in the strength of the women. Their iron cores are shown as they battle infidelity, adultery, illness, and isolation. This is where the reader gets to know and admire them.
Cassandra King knows her characters and makes each one an individual. She may make Julia, Lanier and Corrine the best known but the characters of all six women come through the pages loud and clear.
For drama, comedy and tragedy pick up THE SAME SWEET GIRLS. It has it all - just as life does.
THE SAME SWEET GIRLS is published by Hyperion. It contains 416 pages and sells for $23.95.