Friendship

The solace and comfort of true friendship — and the pain of its loss — can rival any romantic or familial relationship. In this collection, we present texts that examine the unique qualities and costs of deep friendships.

The Life of Samuel Johnson

by James Boswell

Publication year 1791

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Guilt, Aging, Friendship, Truth & Lies

Tags British Literature, European History, Life-Inspired Fiction, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Depression & Suicide, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) is often considered to be one of the finest pieces of biographical writing in the English language. Samuel Johnson was an English poet, essayist, and lexicographer who produced a pioneering and influential Dictionary of the English Language. However, he is less well-known today for his writings than as the biographical subject for Boswell, a lawyer from Scotland who first met Johnson in 1763. During their 21-year friendship... Read The Life of Samuel Johnson Summary

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship

Tags Children`s Literature, Mythology, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Book DetailsThe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, published in 2005, is the first installment in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a six-book fantasy series for young readers. It was named School Library Journal’s Best Book of 2005, an American Library Association Notable Book (2006), and a New York Times Notable Book (2005). The book follows its young protagonist, Percy Jackson, as he discovers that he is a demigod and embarks on a journey save his... Read The Lightning Thief Summary

The Light We Carry

by Michelle Obama

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Self Discovery, Friendship, Family, Marriage, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Conflict, Gratitude

Tags Politics & Government, Social Justice, Self-Improvement, US History, Race & Racism, Diversity, Parenting, Relationships, Inspirational, Biography

... Read The Light We Carry Summary

The Likeness

by Tana French

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Mental Health

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Gothic Literature, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature

The Likeness, by Edgar Award winning author Tana French, is the second in her Dublin Murder Squad series, and the events take place approximately six months after the first book In the Woods ends. All the Murder Squad books take place in the same world, and each book focuses on a minor character from the previous novel. Other works by French include The Witch Elm (2018), The Searcher (2020), and The Hunter (2024). French studied acting at... Read The Likeness Summary

The Lincoln Highway

by Amor Towles

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Revenge, Siblings, Family, Friendship, Fathers, Hate & Anger

Tags Historical Fiction, Incarceration, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Social Class, World History, Action & Adventure

... Read The Lincoln Highway Summary

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Publication year 1943

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Friendship

Tags Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, French Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Philosophy, Philosophy

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry drew heavily on his own experiences when writing his 1943 novella, The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince). Like the story's first-person narrator, Saint-Exupéry was a pilot, and the inspiration for the book's central events came from his own 1935 crash-landing in the Sahara Desert. As the story begins, the narrator is still a young child showing off his drawings of boa constrictors eating elephants to the adults around him. The adults react... Read The Little Prince Summary

The Long Walk

by Stephen King

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Politics & Government, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Social Class

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Survival Fiction, Social Justice, Politics & Government, Social Class, Love & Sexuality

... Read The Long Walk Summary

The Lost Girls of Paris

by Pam Jenoff

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Teamwork, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, World War II, Military & War, French Literature, World History, Historical Fiction

... Read The Lost Girls of Paris Summary

The Lying Game

by Ruth Ware

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Four women become trapped in their own web of deceit in Ruth Ware’s psychological thriller, The Lying Game (2017). A text from their old school friend, Kate, sends Thea, Fatima, and Isa to the coastal village of Salten where the body of Kate’s father, Ambrose, surfaces on the beach. The problem: The four girls hid the body 17 years ago and told no one. Now, their lies are catching up to them. Ware deftly moves... Read The Lying Game Summary

The Man In The Iron Mask

by Alexandre Dumas

Publication year 1850

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fathers, Daughters & Sons, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, French Literature, World History

Among the most widely read and translated of all French authors, Alexandre Dumas lived and worked in the 19th century. A playwright, journalist, and travel writer, Dumas is likely best known for his historical fiction, much of which was initially published in serialized form. Along with The Count of Monte Cristo, his most enduring works are the three books that make up his D’Artagnan Romances: The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte de... Read The Man In The Iron Mask Summary