"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." — Anaïs Nin
In 2023, one of our more popular Book Bingo categories was "Read With a Friend." We often hear how often friends tackle Book Bingo together, and we couldn't be more delighted!
So why not have a category dedicated to celebrating friendship in fiction and nonfiction? Here are some books to try:
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
This novel brilliantly captures the books and music of the early aughts in Ireland and is focused on a friendship between two college students and booksellers, Rachel and James. Oh, and Rachel's boyfriend is also named James. Rachel's colleague James becomes a dear friend and roommate, and things get complicated when he starts secretly dating her married English professor, Fred. Witty dialogue and observations bring depth to this novel of friendship and affairs of the heart. The ending is spot on, too.
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea is a World War II novel inspired by the author's mother's experiences as a Red Cross worker. Irene is a winning main character full of verve and spark, and the women she meets as a care worker handing out coffee and donuts to beleaguered and homesick soldiers are just as vibrantly rendered. BookList said: "War engulfs everyone in its path, as does the mental strain of constant danger, though Irene 's romance with a fighter pilot boosts her inner strength. WWII fiction fans, who have an abundance of options, should embrace Urrea's vivid, hard-hitting novel about the valiant achievements of these unsung wartime heroines."
The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life With Friendship at the Center by Rhaina Cohen is currently a Peak Pick title that looks at how friendship has been perceived by society over time and how many people now are reclaiming the importance of friendship in their lives. Through historical research and interviews, Cohen creates a more robust sense of how people have and can fit friendships into their lives. Cohen talked more about the book recently, too, on Trevor Noah's What Now podcast.
There are so many great books about friendship or that feature friendship groups. Our list offers more suggestions, and you have our full permission to read this category with a friend, if you choose!
For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk BookBingoNW2024 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2024 on social media. Book Bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures.
No comments:
Post a Comment