This week’s prompt is a relationship freebie. Though occasionally I enjoy romantic relationships in books, they’re rarely the relationships that affect me the most, nor the ones I find most touching. So for this week’s prompt I’m going to share my favourite books that feature other types of relationships.
Intergenerational Friendships
Parent/Child
Friendships Among Older People
These are some of the books with relationships that have stuck with me, and that have made me feel like it’s possible to find people you can connect with at any point in life. For myself, we moved last year and some of my favourite people are the retired couple who live next door to us. They’re becoming great friends – to me, but also to my husband and kid. We’re very lucky to have found some great people, and it doesn’t matter at all that we are different ages.
What about you guys? Do you have any favourite books about non-romantic relationships? Do you have friendships with people who aren’t the same age in your life? Any other books along these lines to recommend?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
One of these days I need to read The Thursday Murder Club.
I really enjoyed the series – I think I’ve read 3 of 4 books so far – or something like that!
One of my favorite intergenerational friendships is in The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. The friendship develops throughout the book.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/characters-with-jobs-i-would-love-to-have/
Oh thank you! I’ve downloaded the audiobook and added it to my TBR! Sounds right up my alley.
I’ve heard good things about A Man Called Ove.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I loved it!
Same! I’m not much of a romance reader, so maybe that’s why other types of relationships stick out to me more. I do like an intergenerational friendship story, so I’ll have to take a closer look at some of the ones on your list. A MAN CALLED OVE is one of my favorite all-time books!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes, romances are harder for me. I am still not exactly sure why, but I think it might have something to do with them usually focusing only on the beginning of a relationship – the meet-cute, growing attraction, pursuing (if that’s part of the story), getting together. But for me, this is the easiest and least interesting part of a relationship now that I’m older and have been in one for quite some time. Yes, it’s magical, and when I was younger it’s what I got excited about. But relationships that last and grow are now more interesting to me, I think just because of the phase of life I’m in. Sometimes I do find a romance that works for me, but usually it’s characters who have been through more things, who are older and more mature, and who are more aware of what it takes to really work at a relationship. So other types of relationships I enjoy because they’re more varied, more individual and can show new ways of relating to people!
You definitely took the prompt for this week and tweaked it in a lovely way. I, too, love stories with intergenerational characters who bond, and I like stories with older characters—I thought this was just me, at my age.
Thank you! Yes, I love those as well. I am middle aged, but some of my favourite friends are older. I also remember spending time with older community members when I was a kid and learning so much from them – and just feeling that true kinship and connection. So I learned early on the value of the person rather than surface things about them, I guess. My parents are older now, and I also love that they both have vibrant friendships and social lives in their own ways. I very much feel like life is an adventure right to the very end!
I love intergenerational friendships too. A couple of recent favourites are Frank & Red by Matt Coyne and Bucket List by Russell Jones.
Here’s mine for this week: https://portobellobookblog.com/2024/08/20/top-ten-tuesday-20th-august-relationship-freebie-daughters-toptentuesday-amreading-bookrecommendations-tuesdaybookblog/
Oh I haven’t heard of those ones! Thank you so much – I’m adding them to my TBR immediately!