We got to choose our own theme for today’s topic (Readers who like ____), and I chose friendships in fiction, because this is a particularly difficult thing to find! My top ten:
1. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker – There are romances in this book, but the two main characters are just friends, and form a great friendship!
2. the Mistborn trilogy (and Elantris, and Warbreaker, and the Stormlight Archive…) by Brandon Sanderson – Sanderson is the number one master of friendships (individual and group) of any author I’ve ever read.
3. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery – The friendship formed between the two main characters here pretty much saves both of them. Love that!
4. the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater – Raved about this so many times. Love the friendship between all these characters, even when romance is also added to the mix. Friends first.
5. The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist – While this dystopia is horrifying in some ways, the love and communion found in the center are just brilliant.
6. Crossed Wires (and others) by Rosy Thornton – Thornton writes romances, yes, but the friendships always come first and foremost. There is no romance without friendship first.
7. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa – There are only really three characters in this book, all of them without names, all of them forming a tight-knit clan of people who cherish and protect each other.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – The romance that develops in this one takes years to form, comes after friendship first, and then there’s the whole connection of all the people involved in the circus. I was particularly touched by Celia’s relationship with the clock-maker.
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson – I ran out of adult/YA books. I said this was difficult! It’s much easier to find friendships in children’s books because there’s rarely romance at that reading level. Of all the children’s books I’ve read, however, the friendship between the two main characters in this book is one of my favorites.
10. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche – This is another cheater-pants answer, but really, it’s a good one – nonfiction about friendships (forming, keeping, the importance of, etc).
Notes: Interesting that four of these are ones I mentioned as new favorites in last week’s post, plus two more would be on that list if I’d gone back another year instead of putting my cutoff at 2011 last week. Shows how much I value friendships in fiction! Also interesting to note: Not including my last two cheater-pants answers, half of my answers are non-US books, despite the fact that US books make up the great majority of what I read.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
The Zen Leaf 
I have a love hate relationship with Bridge to Terrabithia but it is a great example for this category. Now you’ve got me thinking of the best “friends” I’ve ever read… the babysitters club way back when!!! Eleanor & Park too.
LikeLike
I might eventually need to read E&P!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You will indeed 😃
LikeLike
Ok, #1 and #2 have GOT to happen! The Unit is also still waiting patiently on my Kindle. 🙂
As an excuse to wax on about A Wizard of Earthsea, there’s a particularly touching male friendship there, too. And ZERO romance! 😀
LikeLike
P.S. I liked it so much that I featured it in my list for today: http://shainareads.blogspot.com/2015/03/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-posts-for.html
LikeLike
I’m really hoping to be able to get into the entire Le Guin set of works! Also, thanks for the link-out. 🙂
LikeLike
fun list today, I like the subject you picked. I’ve been meaning to read the Raven Cycle. It’s on a lot of lists today. Kelley at the road goes ever ever on
LikeLike
It’s a good one!
LikeLike
I love that you chose to highlight books with strong friendships in them! I agree, there are entirely too few books with friendships featured. I loved, loved, loved Bridge to Terabithia when I first read it – I think it was the first book to ever make me cry. I loved The Night Circus too! The cover of Golem and Jinni looks intriguing to me, I may have it to add it to my TBR list!
LikeLike
I think Terabithia might be the first book that ever made me cry as well.
LikeLike
This is a great list. It’s frustrating that so few books are about friendship and there are just so many about romance. I wonder if it reflects our priorities in real life, like authors don’t find friendship so important? I don’t know.
I really want to read MWF Seeking BFF and The Golem and the Jinni.
LikeLike
I think you hit the nail on the head with that observation. I think that’s also why friendships are less emphasized in American books compared to other parts of the world.
LikeLike
Great list. I love great friendships in books, especially if the author nails the banter as well. You’re right about Sanderson I love his characters and their friendships.
LikeLike
The banter! Exactly. 🙂 Good to see you Darren!
LikeLike
Nice list of books for this week’s TTT post!! Here’s a link to my TTT post for this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/03/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-for-readers.html
LikeLike
Nice idea. I loved The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and The Unit is on my wishlist, maybe I should check out some others from your list too
LikeLike
Ooh I hope you like The Unit when you get to it!
LikeLike
Great list! My daughter is reading Bridge to Terabithia now.
LikeLike
I hope she loves it to pieces Irene!
LikeLike
The Raven Cycle is as always a great choice. I love the inclusion of The Night Circus as well.
LikeLike
The Circus was such a wonderful family of friends. 🙂
LikeLike
Have you ever read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? It’s more ya contemporary but there’s a have emphasis on friendship!
LikeLike
I haven’t. I’ve heard of it of course, but wonder if I might be too old for it at this point? I’ve considered reading it on and off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re never too old for any book. 😀 And, they’re not wonderfully awesome, but I think it’s something every girl (or guy too, if they’re interested) should read. And it fits with your theme this week really well.
LikeLike
Pingback: Top Five Top-Ten Posts | The Zen Leaf
Pingback: Thursday’s Things #9 | The Reading Wench