Top Ten Tuesday: Books About Friendship

The Top Ten Tuesday meme is brought to you via The Broke and the Bookish.

Hello all of my book-loving friends, and Happy Tuesday!  Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is friendship.

I consider the most important aspect of storytelling--whether it's in the form of books, movies, or television--to be character development.  I am not intrigued by static characters--I need characters that are multi-dimensional and dynamic.  And, I think that it is impossible for characters to grow without some kind of support system.  That's right, I'm talking about friends. These are the people who push us to do and be better, who challenge us mentally, and love us and stick by us no matter the situation.

Without further ado, here are my Top Ten books about friendship.  Enjoy!

1) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I think that what made this story so great for me was the relationship between Charlie, Patrick, and Sam.  Patrick and Sam are the definition of true friends.  And, they befriended Charlie although he was quiet and considered odd.  They each taught him so much about love, life, and friendship.  

After reading this, I wanted Patrick and Sam to be my best friends, and that's one of the best effects a book can have.

2) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This book is so heart wrenching.  The story about the friendship between Amir and Hassan is one that will stick with you for the rest of your life.  And, it should definitely be re-read throughout the years.  The Kite Runner teaches how friendship extends beyond caste systems, differences, and borders.

3) A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Another of Housseini's bestsellers, A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of Mariam and Laila's lives, and their friendship which blooms under unfortunate circumstances.   Their friendship allows them to do what is considered impossible for women in the Afghan society they live in.

4) Looking for Alaska by John Green

Everything that John Green writes is perfection, and Looking for Alaska is no exception.  This was the first novel of Green's that I read, and there was no going back after that.   

The story of Miles (aka Pudge) and his adventures at Culver Creek High School with a group of fun and intelligent friends is one that I highly recommend.  These friends, including the beautiful Alaska Young, as Miles says "make [him] different".  And, in his case, different is better.

5) One Day by David Nicholls

Some may classify it as a romance, but I consider One Day to be a story of friendship more than anything else.  Readers witness the friendship of Dex and Em fall apart, rekindle, and eventually evolve into something more.  If you have ever struggled with being in love with one of your close friends and not knowing what to do about, this book is for you.

6) My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This is my favorite Jodi Picoult novel, and I have read nearly all of them.  This is a complicated story about a family with a daughter named Kate who has leukemia, and another daughter, Anna, who was manufactured to save her life.  Although the story is about family and the relationship between these two sisters, I think it touches on friendship as well.  I like to consider my sisters as my lifelong friends, the friends who have to stick with me because they share so much with me, they are bound to me, and they are the only ones who understand just how crazy my family is.  

That is why I love My Sister's Keeper so much: it is a story of friendship and love that I can truly relate to.

7) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Do I really have to explain this one?  The Harry Potter series is a seven-book story about magic, mischief, and adventure.  But, it is also a story about friendship and love.  Harry, Hermione, and Ron are thicker than thieves and this story would not be the same without their compelling friendship.

8) The Maze Runner by James Dashner

(I did not list the entire series of The Maze Runner because I have not yet finished it.  I am currently on The Scorch Trials.)

When Thomas first enters the Glade, he feels alone and confused.  But, eventually he gets the swing of things, understanding how the system works and how the doors of the maze close every night.

The Maze Runner is an adventurous dystopian story that leaves you asking many questions.  But, what helps you to keep turning pages isn't just the mystery of what's in the maze or why there is a maze, it's the friendships Thomas forms with the other members of the Glade--Chuck, Alby, Minho, and Newt.  

I love these books and I am extremely excited to see the movie adaption starring Dylan O'Brien in September.

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I only made it to 8 this week.   But, I think this is a great list nonetheless.

Talk to me in the comments:  What are some of your favorite books about friendship?  And, if you completed your own Top Ten Tuesday, be sure to link it as well!

Thanks and see you next Tuesday!

--Teisha xx