Adventures in Friendship

by David Grayson

Grayson helps us re-discover, through the good people of Hempfield, that plainest, commonest and rarest Friendship.

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 1989

About the author

Pen-name of Ray Stannard Baker


Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name

Reviews

[syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book since I picked it up randomly and had no knowledge of it whatsoever, and while I don’t feel disappointed about having read it, I don’t feel like I just read something memorable or even something that I really enjoyed reading. I got the vibe pretty quickly that this wasn’t meant to be an exciting, fast-paced novel, but I still wasn’t too intent on reading further at some parts. I was, at times, pleasantly surprised with some remarks the author made, specifically in the first half of the book, but as the book progressed my morals differed from the main character’s and I didn’t like reading each small story as the book went on. I’m sure some people really enjoyed this book and there times when I could see why, but this book just wasn’t for me and so I didn’t connect with it.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walking in Michigan in the 1900s. I have the 1927 edition, originally published in 1910 I think, and it has beautiful plated illustrations. I was entranced by the rural descriptions of areas between Lansing and Detroit. I also learned that the "pie plant" the author talks about is rhubarb, one of my favorites (had to ask my 90+ mother).

[Benjamin Barr,]

I liked this book very much. It is on loan to me from a friend who thought that I would enjoy it and she was right. It's written in 1910 during a much slower time in the country. David Greyson's accounts of his encounter with the countryside, neighbors, and such give a picture of what life was like back in the early 1900s.

[Geoffrey Huys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. It was written around 1910 by a person who served as press secretary for President Wilson. He wrote under the pseudonym David Grayson but the author was Ray Stannard Baker. The book is from a time when life was much different than it is today. The view was from a simple farmer who loved his life and the people and the community around him as he depicted them in various chapters of the book. Given the world we live in today I found this a very refreshing look at life. Well I’m sure I could not go back to live like that for long the stories challenged me to think about what it might be like to do that for even a few days.

[Katie Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.
Although it was written over 100 years ,it has much revelant information for today. How one can find joy in companionship while listening to one another, really listening. How taking time to enjoy the growing plants and animals around and having appreciation for them helps one to be at peace . The joys of hard work as well as the joys of being still and contemplating life . Not a barn-burner but wonderful direction for a peaceful, happy life.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially, I thought "gosh this is stodgy", but I fast warmed to the inviting, ambling style of storytelling, and ultimately fell in love with the main characters heart for kindness.

[Christine Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. If we could look at people as the author does we could really consider everyone a friend. This book made me smile.

The author writes in a way that can teach us how to look at and consider other people we meet or know so that the experience lightens our heart and brings pleasure around us.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original hard cover, printed in 1908. Great read. Love the lanquage used and spirit of the book.