We all have human friends and non-human friends. But then some of us have non-living friends, too. As a way to cope with work stress, I’ve been spending a lot more time with myself nowadays. I leave work early, brew up some coffee with dinner, and pick up a book. It’s become an everyday thing now, and those are the most peaceful hours of my day. I read some great books this way: To Kill a Mockingbird, When Breath Becomes Air, Catcher in the Rye, 1984, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and more. And along the way, I met some wonderful characters—Atticus, Jem, Winston, Anne Elliot—who I wish were my friends in real-life.
The Chaos Within 
A different way of looking at it…. When Breath Becomes Air is a very moving book, isn’t it?
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Yes, it is, Sue. I spent wonderful evenings with that book—I couldn’t even put it down for a moment to eat. It’s one of those books that linger even months afterwards.
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Yes, I agree….it stayed in my mind for weeks
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A happy choice for this week – one I never thought of!
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Thank you, Tina. I realise now that though inanimate, fictional characters—much like real-life friends—teach us so much just by being who they are.
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Oh my, yes! What a great choice for this week’s topic!
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Yes! What better solace is there than the friends we find in books?
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You’re right, Margaret. Books and characters have a way of speaking to the soul—even without saying a thing aloud. When I’m down or need guidance, an anecdote from Anne’s life, a lesson from Dr Kalanithi’s battle with cancer, or a clever piece of advice from Atticus is all I need. What more could I ask for in a friend?
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