Books About True Friendship

They are the ones that help us, when we are struggling and cheer us, when we are sad. They are the ones, who share our joy and happiness, worries and troubles, adventures and milestones... Friends.

I must admit, I believe friendship to be one of the most important relationships in our lives. Seriously, it is hard to imagine going through any part of my life without sharing it with my friends. That is why I gathered together a list of great books about true Friendship and where to find it. 

‘The Ship of Brides’ by Jojo Moyes

 “the only people who still have all the answers are those who have never been faced with the questions” 

‘The Ship of Brides’ from the author of bestseller ‘Me Before You’ Jojo Moyes, is a touching story about female friendship, love, post-WWII hardships, honor and courage. This story takes us back to 1946, Australia, where 650 Australian brides are getting ready for eight weeks voyage to England along with aircraft and a thousand naval officers. The plot is focused on four extremely different women, who are forced to spend this long journey together. During this life changing journey the girls get to know each other, and develop unbreakable bond. Together, they learn how to start a new life, part with their loved ones, find love and look past prejudices. 

 ‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’ by Gail Honeman 

“I’ve concluded that there must be some people for whom difficult behavior wasn’t a reason to end their relationship with you. If they liked you, then, it seemed, they were prepared to maintain contact, even if you were sad, or upset, or behaving in very challenging ways”.

I must admit, when I bought this book I was not prepared to face THIS story. As you can see, the cover says ‘incredibly funny’, well… Let me just say, I wasn’t laughing, in fact, I was wrecked. I see it as a heartbreaking story about a girl with an autistic disorder who struggles through her lonely and rather difficult existence. The story is complicated by Eleanor’s messed up relationship with her ‘Mummy’ (I am afraid there is no explaining this part without majorspoilers). Eleanor’s life changes when she meets Raymond, IT guy from her office, and Sammy, an elderly man whose life they saved. For me, this great book is about the value and importance of friendship in our lives – it gives us shelter, support and saves us from isolation and loneliness. 

 ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett

“Every morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision. You gone have to ask yourself: "Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?”

 “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”

This story takes place in 1962, Mississippi, and focuses on racially conflicted community, where segregation and racial discrimination thrives. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter returns from college, and finds out that she doesn’t share the values and traditions of the South. Instead, she starts a project to inforce change and equality in minds and souls of the community. She collects stories of black maids in the neighborhood, and reveals the ugly truth about the lives of extraordinary women, who have been mistreated based on their race. Skeeter unravels the unforgettable characters of Aibileen - calm, wise, respectful and devoted maid, who struggles with the loss of her son  - and Minny, her best friend, - incredibly sassy, passionate, fearless woman, who is not afraid to cross the line in order to get justice. This book covers a lot of essential issues: civil rights, racial prejudice, social segregation, family relationships, female voices and, of course, the value of true female friendship. 

‘Two Captains’ by Veniamin Kaverin

“As a child, it seemed to me that between people, who descended so deeply into the water, there must be some kind of secret agreement, like an oath, which Pyetka and I once gave each other”.

I consider ‘Two Captains’ to be one of the masterpieces of Russian literature. This book has it all: Russian spirit, love, hate, courage, romance, adventure, war, honor and friendship. Moreover, Kaverin managed to create characters that are relatable to children and adults all over the world. The book introduces us to three main characters and their relationships that seem to change over the years. Sanya, Pyetka and Katya… We meet them when they are just children, dreaming about Arctic adventures.  We see them growing up, going through October Revolution and World War II, and facing many challenges together and apart. 

‘Harry Potter’ series by Joan Rowling

“There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them”.

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

What is the better example of friendship experience than Harry Potter series? There is no doubt that Harry’s adventures and fight against evil in the magical world were successful only due to friendship and support of close ones. This series show children and adults that friends are the greatest treasure and best armor a person could have. Even the greatest leader and ‘the chosen one’ needs friends to get through school years, deal with girlfriends, succeed in sports and, you know… kill Voldemort.

‘Three Comrades’ by Erich Maria Remarque

“I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless pit. It had nothing to do with Breuer and the people. It had nothing to do with Pat even. It was the melancholy secret that reality can arouse desires but never satisfy them; that love begins with a human being but does not end in him; and that everything can be there: a human being, love, happiness, life — and that yet in some terrible way it is always too little, and grows ever less the more it seems.”

The plot settles in 1928, post-WWI Germany and focuses on the friendship of three men, Robert Lohkamp, Otto Köster, Gottfried Lenz,  struggling through these uncertain times. The youngest of the ‘comrades’ falls in love with a beautiful girl, Pat, who becomes a great part of all of their lives. This story is about human spirit, strength of character, as well as true love and acceptance. The melancholic writing sets the right mood and creates the perfect setting for the whole story. The war is over and life, although sometimes unbearable, continues. And the only way to go on is by staying together. 

Sincerely yours, Kate Raine