Clementine recently joined us on work experience at Readings. As part of her placement, she put together this excellent piece on 5 great books that centre friendship.

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

Conversations with Friends is the debut novel of a most celebrated author of recent times, Sally Rooney. In her book, Rooney’s honest and raw writing style is found within the intersecting lives of the four main characters. Conversations with Friends illustrates the restricting and destructive nature of lies which goes hand-in-hand with the difficulty of sharing friends. Frances’ inability to open up with people serves to destabilise her relationships and prove that attempting to contort and control one’s impression on others is impractical.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend follows the story of two girls, Elena and Lila as they attempt to form themselves into the women they are expected to be while confronting the prospect of growing up. This complex friendship portrays all spheres of female companionship, both the unconditional intimacy and distrustful manipulation.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Through a story of murder, Donna Tartt uncovers the complexities of the human mind as it spirals into madness and trauma-induced insanity. Influenced by the attention and guidance of their Greek professor, a group of incredibly intelligent students isolate themselves from the rest of the campus and, inevitably, each other. Through the glamour of wealth and knowledge, as ethics become blurred, the friends struggle to maintain their last threads of morality. The Secret History follows the results of a friendship bonded by a shared secret - one they agree they will keep forever - however, is it damaging if it’s strengthened only by fear?

Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan

Mayflies is a narrative of two eras; one during the 80s, where a group of Scottish misfit music-finatics embark on a roadtrip of parties and concerts. After a 30 year time-jump, we see the group again in 2017, however their days of fun have since ended. This parallel between a reminiscent past full of youth, and a sombre present sheds light on the pain of nostalgia and the distance of decades past.

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Compared to the previously mentioned books on this list, Raymie Nightingale is more suited for younger audiences. However, I’m not suggesting it lacks the same depth as the others. I read this as it first came out, in 2016, and immediately fell in love with its seemingly simple (but truly complex) group of girls. Although attempting to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition - and reunite her broken family - Raymie cannot help but form a deep friendship with the other competitors. In this story, existential questions are debated, as humour, optimism, pessimism, and realism finds its way into the ‘childish’ activity of batoning.