The Friend

by Sigrid Nunez
The Friend cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 703
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780735219465
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2018-02-06
  • Formats: 48
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

The Friend is a poignant and witty novel that delves into the complexities of loss and healing. After the sudden death of her lifelong best friend and mentor, a woman finds herself unexpectedly caring for his traumatized Great Dane, navigating grief and the challenges of their new life together. The story unfolds with a dry, allusive wit, offering a unique perspective on human-canine relationships and the transformative power of love and companionship. Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, this novel is a meditation on memory, art, and the unexpected comfort found in the most unlikely of places. As the woman and the dog struggle to cope with their shared loss, they discover rich and surprising rewards that bring them closer together, making this a deeply moving and unforgettable read.

Reviews
Karissa Reads Books · Karissa · 2023-07-14
reflective 3.80

The book is meandering and thoughtful, with a lack of plot but enough tension to keep readers engaged.

Karissa finds 'The Friend' to be a meandering and thoughtful novel that, while lacking a traditional plot, maintains enough tension to keep readers engaged. They appreciate the book's reflective nature and the way it explores themes of grief and companionship. Karissa notes that the novel's simplicity and depth make it a unique and compelling read, even if it is not a conventional story.

Quick quotes

    The book is meandering and thoughtful and kind of plotless but there is enough tension that I did want to keep reading.

    It explores themes of grief and companionship in a reflective and engaging manner.

    The novel's simplicity and depth make it a unique and compelling read.

Reading Matters · 2020-12-26
poignant 4.50

The novel is a poignant exploration of grief and companionship. The narrative's simplicity and depth make it a compelling read.

The reviewer highlights how 'The Friend' beautifully captures the complexities of grief and the bond between humans and animals. They appreciate the novel's straightforward yet profound writing style, which allows the themes of loss and healing to resonate deeply. The story's focus on an unnamed woman and her inherited dog adds a unique perspective to the narrative, making it both relatable and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    The narrative's simplicity and depth make it a compelling read.

    The story's focus on an unnamed woman and her inherited dog adds a unique perspective.

    The novel beautifully captures the complexities of grief and companionship.

The New York Times · 2018-12-13
enlightening 4.20

The book is wise and rich with literary allusions, yet remains accessible. It is a novel that can help readers navigate themes of loss and friendship.

The reviewer praises 'The Friend' for its wisdom and literary depth, noting that it is surprisingly accessible despite its rich allusions. They believe the novel offers valuable insights into themes of loss, friendship, and the power of literature. The reviewer finds the book to be both enlightening and comforting, making it a valuable read for those seeking to understand the complexities of human relationships.

Quick quotes

    For a book that is so wise and rich with literary allusions, it's actually very accessible.

    It is a novel that can help her navigate the complexities of loss and friendship.

    The book offers valuable insights into themes of loss, friendship, and the power of literature.

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