Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

The Atomic Weight of Love


In the spirit of The Aviator's Wife, this resonant debut spans from World War II...
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide

Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Created: 03/14/17

Replies: 12

Posted Mar. 14, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

What gifts and challenges does Belle's friendship bring to Meridian? How does Meridian's friendship with Belle differ from her later friendship with Emma? How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?


Posted Mar. 20, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Meri needs both of these women in her life at the different times. There are so many things in life that only another female can relate to and expand on that are key to every woman's ability to see what is going on around them and how it affects them. Some one who knows you well, accepts you as you are and can discuss the various ups and downs in everyone's life with concern and discernment is a valuable asset to all of us.
Belle was the catalyst that initially took her out of her little world and introduced her to socializing and enjoying herself. Emma was there when she was trying to expand her horizons a little and had met with some rather bitchy ladies in the process. She became her confident and safe harbor when things began to unravel. Men are compadres in their relationships with other men but rarely confidants.


Posted Mar. 20, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kbschaffer

Join Date: 03/20/17

Posts: 8

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Absolutely support Joyeces closing comment that men are compadres in their relationships with other men but rarely confidants. Many women seek out confidants in their lives whether through book clubs, long standing friendships, or in the old coffee gatherings at each others' homes when the families were out of the house. We use these to help find ourselves as well as have a sounding board for concerns. In Meridian's live Belle was her support and guide. As I read the book I loved their relationship the most.


Posted Mar. 20, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sweeney

Join Date: 05/24/11

Posts: 185

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

My observation is that women tend to share more of their feelings, hopes and dreams with other women. In my opinion, this allows for discussion, hearing of other opinions, and sometimes just airing thoughts out loud...which can help in decision making. Both of these women helped Meridian in this way.


Posted Mar. 20, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Meri's friendships with Belle and Emma allowed her a freedom that she did not have in her relationships with either man in her life. She felt free to confide in both of them about the issues that were important in her life at the time, and to strategize with them when she needed to deal with an issue neither man could be trusted to treat impartially (generally because they were its subject). Alden's rejection of Belle and her husband, and his reaction to their deaths was a low point in his relationship with Meri.


Posted Mar. 21, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
charleneds

Join Date: 03/21/17

Posts: 68

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Women connect on a more emotional, intimate level than they do in relationships with men. Women tend to open up more an expose themselves when they feel they are with a true friend. You can be who you really are and not the way someone wants you to be or perceives you. Belle was able to bring out a side of Meridian that she didn't know existed. It allowed her to grow an experience life in a different way - beyond the intellectual.


Posted Mar. 23, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyh

Join Date: 01/23/15

Posts: 225

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Women share feelings, men share issues. The friendships with belle and Emma were different as they took place at different times in Meridian life.


Posted Mar. 24, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
andreab

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 101

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

I loved Meridian's friendship with Belle because it allowed her to escape the controlled life she had with Alden. While the alcohol fueled part of her rebellion, Belle reenergized Meridian and allowed her to think of herself as more than a housewife.

I was encouraged by Meridian's friendship with Emma because she was the first female she let in after Belle's death. She was partially responsible for inspiring Meridian to develop the women's discussion group and later form the foundation for young women.


Posted Mar. 29, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lynnw

Join Date: 09/01/11

Posts: 166

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Belle and Emma were both strong, supportive and open minded. These two helped Meridian be more daring and confident. Women tend to share their thoughts and feelings with other women. I have known my best friend since first grade, we share everything. My husband has friends, but they are more buddies to have a beer or play golf with not confide in.


Posted Mar. 29, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Tired Bookreader

Join Date: 08/19/11

Posts: 209

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Men are generally shallow talkers. They talk about their families, adventures, successes. They do not seek approval or direction. They most assuredly would never speak about feelings toward a person or thing. Women sometimes just st need to have someone to commiserate and see the world through their eyes. Two sides to every event, but the stories have totally different narratives.


Posted Mar. 30, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianaps

Join Date: 05/29/15

Posts: 460

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

Women need other women to share and understand what each is going through. If a woman is isolated from other women she will not know that she isn't the only one who has the same experiences, grief or fears that she has.


Posted Apr. 04, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeanniet

Join Date: 06/20/13

Posts: 27

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

I agree with lynnw. Having friendships has been shown to increase your lifespan. The friendships gave Meridian purpose. She needed someone to escape from the loneliness and because she was such an intellectual soul, a petty person would never be able to fill that role.


Posted Apr. 05, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jodig

Join Date: 06/07/15

Posts: 30

RE: Discuss Meridian's friendships with Belle and Emma. How do women's friendships illuminate their lives differently than the friendships between men?

I feel like Meri's friendships with Emma and Belle filled different gaps in her life - addresses different deep needs she had. Belle taught her to love life, be free, to just live. From when she was young and the death of her father, Meri did not have much fun in her life. She seemed happy and had passion (for her birds) but no one was encouraging her to be happy and have pleasure. Belle did this. Emma filled Meri's need for someone to appreciate and stimulate her intellect. She had had that as a young person but that wasn't nurtured by Alden. Emma - and their group - did this for Meri. Women's friendships tend to fill gaps, go deeper than men's friendships. Men make good friends - but at least from what I have witnessed - they do not make soulmate friends with other men. Emma and Belle were soulmates for Meri.


Reply

Please login to post a response.