Subject
Friendship -- Fiction Books
Best books
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables
"Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1908. When eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm by mistake, the Cuthbert siblings had requested a boy to help with farmwork. Imaginative, talkative, and eager to belong, Anne must prove herself worthy of staying. The story follows her adventures in the village of Avonlea—making friends, excelling at school, clashing with rival Gilbert Blythe, and transforming the lives of everyone around her.
Kenneth Grahame
The Wind in the Willows
"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame is a children's novel published in 1908. It follows Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they attempt to help the wealthy but reckless Mr. Toad, who becomes dangerously obsessed with motorcars and lands himself in serious trouble. Their adventures along the riverbank and through the Wild Wood blend friendship, excitement, and humor. Based on bedtime stories Grahame told his son, this tale of anthropomorphized animals has become a beloved classic of British literature.
Willa Cather
My Ántonia
"My Ántonia" by Willa Cather is a novel published in 1918. It follows orphaned Jim Burden and Ántonia Shimerda, a Bohemian immigrant girl, as they arrive as children in the Nebraska frontier. Their friendship deepens through shared adventures and hardships on the harsh prairie. As they grow older, their paths diverge—Jim pursues education while Ántonia faces family tragedy and hard labor. The story explores memory, pioneering life, and the enduring bond between two people shaped by the American West.
Kenneth Grahame
The Wind in the Willows
"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame is a children's novel published in 1908. It follows Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they attempt to help their friend Mr. Toad, who has become dangerously obsessed with motorcars and fallen into serious trouble. Through adventures along the riverbank and battles against wild woodland creatures, these unlikely friends must rescue Toad from himself and reclaim his ancestral home from invaders. Based on bedtime stories Grahame told his son, this tale of friendship and folly became a beloved classic.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne's House of Dreams
"Anne's House of Dreams" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1917. The story follows Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe as newlyweds beginning their life together in Four Winds, Prince Edward Island. In their seaside home, they meet unforgettable neighbors including a lighthouse keeper, an outspoken spinster, and a woman trapped in a tragic marriage. Through joy and heartbreak, Anne discovers that even dreams must make room for life's unexpected turns.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Poor Folk
"Poor Folk" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel written between 1844 and 1845. Told through letters between two impoverished distant relatives, Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova, the story reveals their struggles with poverty in St. Petersburg. As they share books and support each other through hardship, an unusual friendship develops. When a wealthy widower proposes to Dobroselova, their bond faces its greatest test, forcing both characters to confront their circumstances and desires.
Ford Madox Ford
The Good Soldier
"The Good Soldier" by Ford Madox Ford is a novel published in 1915. Set just before World War I, it chronicles the seemingly perfect marriage of Edward Ashburnham and his friendships with two American couples. Told through flashbacks by an unreliable narrator, the story gradually reveals hidden affairs, deceptions, and tragedies that shatter the facade of respectability. Using pioneering literary impressionism, Ford masterfully unveils how nothing in these relationships is as it first appears, leading to devastating consequences for all involved.
Willa Cather
My Ántonia
"My Ántonia" by Willa Cather is a novel published in 1918. The story follows orphaned Jim Burden from Virginia and Ántonia Shimerda, daughter of Bohemian immigrants, as they arrive as children in pioneer Nebraska. Their friendship deepens through shared adventures and hardships on the prairie, including a brutal first winter and family tragedy. As years pass and their paths diverge—Jim pursuing education, Ántonia working as a hired girl—the bonds forged in childhood continue shaping their lives in profound ways.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables
"Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery is a novel published in 1908. When eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm by mistake, the Cuthbert siblings had expected a boy to help with farmwork. Instead, they receive a red-haired, talkative girl with a vivid imagination and strong opinions about spelling her name with an "e." The story follows Anne's adventures as she navigates friendships, schoolyard rivalries, domestic mishaps, and her dreams of a brighter future in rural Prince Edward Island.
Gene Stratton-Porter
Her Father's Daughter
"Her Father's Daughter" by Gene Stratton-Porter is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative centers around the life and struggles of Linda Strong, the daughter of a prominent nerve specialist, as she navigates the complexities of adolescence, sibling rivalry, and personal identity amidst the backdrop of her father's death and its impact on family dynamics. The opening of "Her Father's Daughter" introduces Linda Strong and her relationship with her peers, particularly focusing on her conversation with Donald Whiting, a popular senior at her high school. As they discuss the societal expectations of fashion and academic competition, Linda reveals her strong, rebellious nature and hints at underlying tensions within her family, especially with her sister Eileen. The dialogue sets the stage for Linda’s internal conflict regarding her identity and responsibilities, as well as her determination to assert her individuality in a world that seems to favor conformity. Throughout this initial encounter, readers get a glimpse of Linda's vibrant personality and her yearning for a path that honors her father’s legacy while challenging the status quo in her life and community.
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre
Paul and Virginia
"Paul and Virginia" by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre is a novel published in 1788. Set on the island of Mauritius under French rule, it tells the story of two friends raised together from birth who fall in love. Living in isolation amidst tropical landscapes, they lead an idyllic life of virtue and simplicity until family circumstances force a separation. Written on the eve of the French Revolution, the novel explores the corruption of natural innocence by French upper-class artificiality and critiques eighteenth-century social divisions.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sämtliche Werke 14 : $b Arme Leute; Der Doppelgänger : Zwei Romane
"Arme Leute" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story unfolds through a series of letters exchanged between Makar Alexejewitsch Djewuschkin and Warwara Alexejewna Dobrosseloff, two impoverished individuals navigating the struggles of life in St. Petersburg. This poignant epistolary tale explores themes of love, loneliness, and social class, reflecting Dostoyevsky's deep psychological insight and acute observation of human relationships. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Makar Djewuschkin, who expresses his joy over a small gesture from Warwara, indicating a budding connection between them. They share their everyday lives filled with hardship and a longing for affection, as Makar finds solace in the thought of Warwara despite their grim circumstances. The opening portion establishes a tone that mixes warmth with melancholy, showcasing their tender exchanges and the stark realities they face, setting the stage for a deeper examination of their relationship and the societal challenges that afflict them.
Recently surfaced classics