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The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship
by
Lisa Verge Higgins (Goodreads Author)
What makes a wife a lover?
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo, a high-powered career has led her to believe that she doesn't have a single maternal instinct. When an orphan unexpectedly...more
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo, a high-powered career has led her to believe that she doesn't have a single maternal instinct. When an orphan unexpectedly...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
January 26th 2011
by 5 Spot
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I first read Lisa's book "One good friend deserves another" and I loved it so much. It made me feel in a way a bit sad as I would have loved a group of friends like that but as I spent so much time moving around, it just didn't work out. Thank goodness, now though for the internet as I do have a great group of friends online who I can chat to about anything and have a set of good laughs. I enjoyed Lisa's book so much, that I decided to check out what else she had written and came across her earl...more
Four very different friends have remained so with much effort, but when tragedy strikes and deathbed requests are made the least that will happen is head scratching, the most will be life changing.
Ms. Higgins has a sure to be hit on her hands in this her first foray into mainstream women’s literature. The first thing that was apparent to me was her astonishing storytelling capability, the second is her capacity to pull some deep emotions from me while reading. She gives us a heart-wrenching tale...more
Ms. Higgins has a sure to be hit on her hands in this her first foray into mainstream women’s literature. The first thing that was apparent to me was her astonishing storytelling capability, the second is her capacity to pull some deep emotions from me while reading. She gives us a heart-wrenching tale...more
Four friends. Together through thick and thin. And then cancer. The life of the group, the rock, the glue that held them together, was gone. On her death bed, Rachel penned letters to each of the women asking them to do the one thing that eluded them while she was alive.
Kate, the seemlingly perfect stay at home mother of three young ones. Perfect house. Perfect husband. Perfect life. Or so it seems. In her quest to do everything perfectly, to give everything to her children, she has lost herself...more
Kate, the seemlingly perfect stay at home mother of three young ones. Perfect house. Perfect husband. Perfect life. Or so it seems. In her quest to do everything perfectly, to give everything to her children, she has lost herself...more
Sep 15, 2012
Michelle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
women-s-fiction
I picked this up because the Kindle version was $0.99 and it had fairly good reviews. I ended up liking it more than anticipated. It’s not life-changing but the writing is sharp and I was pulled into the story immediately.
Four women in their late thirties have been best friends since college. One passes away and leaves “instructions” for the other three. I found her instructions/tasks for Jo downright irresponsible as well as the way these were carried out. So this was either unrealistic or Rach...more
Four women in their late thirties have been best friends since college. One passes away and leaves “instructions” for the other three. I found her instructions/tasks for Jo downright irresponsible as well as the way these were carried out. So this was either unrealistic or Rach...more
As Cores da Amizade fala-nos de três mulheres e de uma amiga. Fala-nos de três vidas díspares e de uma vida já perdida. Fala-nos de três formas diferentes de amar e de uma amizade incondicional que perdura muito para além da morte.
Sarah, Kate e Jo superam juntas, lentamente, a morte súbita daquela que lhes provou o verdadeiro significado do que é estar vivo e será com força de um afecto comum que ultrapassarão o último desejo da sua amada Rachel.
Sarah é uma flor exótica por descobrir que se perd...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This is a great feel good book. Even though Rachel, one of the four friends, died before the story begins, we get to know her because of the memories of Sarah, Jo and Kate. Rachel has given the other 3 their own challenge to complete, sort of a last request, via a letter she wrote before her death. Rachel is a woman I would love to have as a friend. She's outgoing, adventurous and carefree. Without giving too much away, the women each embark on a journey that is nothing they would have ever done...more
4.5 Stars
Friends Sarah, Bobbie Jo, “Jo”, and Kate are shocked to their core when Rachel, the most daring and vivacious of the group, suddenly dies of cancer. After her passing, each woman receives an unexpected letter from Rachel. In her letters, Rachel requests something of each woman: to experience life outside of her comfort zone.
For Kate, that means sky-diving. Kate was spontaneous and care-free before she become a married mom of three. Somewhere along the way her marriage to Paul become rou...more
Friends Sarah, Bobbie Jo, “Jo”, and Kate are shocked to their core when Rachel, the most daring and vivacious of the group, suddenly dies of cancer. After her passing, each woman receives an unexpected letter from Rachel. In her letters, Rachel requests something of each woman: to experience life outside of her comfort zone.
For Kate, that means sky-diving. Kate was spontaneous and care-free before she become a married mom of three. Somewhere along the way her marriage to Paul become rou...more
The title intrigued me first and then the cover. I'm glad I picked this one up. It's a topic that every woman can relate to - being surrounded by people who are gonna love you through the thick and thin.
Rachel is one of four best friends but she does the unthinkable when she dies. At her death she has letters she wrote mailed out with requests of the recipients. Her three best friends, reeling from the sudden loss of Rachel, are now shocked at her final request of each of them. Wisely Rachel ha...more
Rachel is one of four best friends but she does the unthinkable when she dies. At her death she has letters she wrote mailed out with requests of the recipients. Her three best friends, reeling from the sudden loss of Rachel, are now shocked at her final request of each of them. Wisely Rachel ha...more
I found the story so beautiful. It was a celebration of friendship and I could not help but relate to it through my own friendships with my three closest friends. The story revolves around a circle of four friends, Rachel Braun, Sarah Pollard, Kate Jansen and Jo Marcum. Rachel Braun passes away and leaves a letter for each of her friends to do one thing for her. For Sarah, it is to seek a man she has always loved, Colin O'Rourke. For Kate, it is to jump out of a plane and for Jo, it is to look a...more
4 college friends, Rachel, Sarah, Bobbie Jo (goes by Jo) and Kate. All have fun together and manage to stay friends even after life takes them their paths. Until Rachel dies from cancer and leaves behind letters with her instructions on how to live their lives. Sarah, a nurse with Drs. without boarders, needs to resolve a past love, Jo, to learn how to live outside of her job, and Kate needs to spend less time with her insular life of 3 kids and husband.
Kate goes sky diving and then to Burundi t...more
Kate goes sky diving and then to Burundi t...more
This story is all about taking chances and getting out of your of comfort zone. Four women, friends forever, find themselves at a loss when one member, Rachel, dies of cancer. She has never told the other three about her condition. Before she dies she sends letters to the other members of the group and makes them face their fears. The requests make each person leave their comfort zone and in the process overcome things that are holding them back in their lives.
The story reminded me a bit of the...more
The story reminded me a bit of the...more
Letters, letters, letters...did yours arrive yet?
They weren't letters you would want to receive, though. They were letters from Rachel, a dear friend who had died unexpectedly, and contained her last wishes for each friend to carry out. Would you go to great lengths to fulfill a friend's dying wish?
Most of the requests were outlandish, but were sent to be sure her friends would find happiness or do something they would never dream of doing. She really wanted all of her friends to improve somethi...more
They weren't letters you would want to receive, though. They were letters from Rachel, a dear friend who had died unexpectedly, and contained her last wishes for each friend to carry out. Would you go to great lengths to fulfill a friend's dying wish?
Most of the requests were outlandish, but were sent to be sure her friends would find happiness or do something they would never dream of doing. She really wanted all of her friends to improve somethi...more
The library had this book sitting on their shelf. I decided to give the book a try. I am glad I did take the time to read it. The story started out like a bucket of cold water was thrown over you to make sure you were awake. From that start you are in for a high adventure roller coaster ride. Rachel advises all her friends to really take stock of their lives. I did notice that it helped that two out of the three friends did not have to worry about money. This story was true to life in the fact t...more
Feb 21, 2011
Kristi (Books and Needlepoint)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Kristi (Books and Needlepoint) by:
kherbrand@comcast.net
Shelves:
arcs
This book begins with Kate, a stay-at-home mom afraid of flying, getting ready to jump out of an airplane - to skydive. She has been sent on this "mission" by a letter that she received from one of her dear friends Rachel. Rachel has passed away and sent a letter to many of her friends and family with last requests. This book focuses on three of those - Kate's, Jo's and Sarah's. They were brought together by Rachel and the four of them had remained good friends despite their differences.
As I s...more
As I s...more
Lisa Higgins The Proper Care and Maintenamce of Friendship. Oh girls...you've just got to read this. It helps us understand how we can be so different from each other but BFF's an how we are supposed to be there thru the thick and the thin and I'm not talking about weight! If you are interested in what it's like to have or to be a GOOD friend, this book is for you. It's about knowing your friends well enough to make some difficult calls in their lives. I've been blessed with some great BFF's, s...more
As Cores da Amizade conta-nos a história de Kate, Sarah e Jo. Três mulheres completamente diferentes, mas se mantêm unidas e que o que de melhor têm em comum é a sua amiga Rachel, que acabou de morrer.
A sua morte vai despoletar grandes alterações nas vidas rotineiras das suas amigas. Levando-as a extremos e fazendo com que enfrentem os seus maiores medos, para que as suas vidas se possam tornar melhores.
Gostei de ver as transformações de carácter das várias personagens, que se tornaram mais fort...more
A sua morte vai despoletar grandes alterações nas vidas rotineiras das suas amigas. Levando-as a extremos e fazendo com que enfrentem os seus maiores medos, para que as suas vidas se possam tornar melhores.
Gostei de ver as transformações de carácter das várias personagens, que se tornaram mais fort...more
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Looking at the cover of this book I was expecting a light chick lit type of book but there was much more to this book. Before Rachel dies, she leaves each one of her friends a letter asking them to do a special task. Each one is different and each one takes the recipient out of her comfort zone and will really test each woman in ways even I didn't see coming. Rachel wanted to help each woman grow and help them even if she could no longer be there. The characters are well developed and the story...more
Jun 13, 2012
Shelleyrae at Book'd Out
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
provided-by-publisher
The Proper Care & Maintenance of Friendship is a heartwarming story of self discovery and second chances. After Rachel's death from cancer, long time friends Jo, Sarah and Kate, each receive a posthumous letter with a last request. Honouring Rachel's dying wishes proves to be a challenge for the women who are forced to confront uncomfortable truths and learn valuable life lessons. Kate is asked to parachute from an airplane and rediscovers her lost zest for life and adventure, Sarah is encou...more
1 like · like · see review
Jan 03, 2012
Jessica Miksit
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
girlfriends, bookclubs, anyone who enjoys a book full of emotions and details
This book will tug at your heart! I chose this book because i like to choose books about friendships and share them with my best friend. I loved the closeness the group of friends shared but also of the secrets they held individually. This book will make you laugh and cry and at the end i felt sad it was over. You know the type of friend you are and i think you will see yourself in one of the characters as well as wanting to see yourself in another. You wont want it to end. If you read this book...more
THE PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FRIENDSHIP by Lisa Verge Higgins
Published by The Hachette Book Group
ISBN-10: 044656351X
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (from Amazon):
What makes a wife a lover?
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo,...more
Published by The Hachette Book Group
ISBN-10: 044656351X
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (from Amazon):
What makes a wife a lover?
For Kate, the spark went out of her marriage long ago but her husband doesn't seem to notice. Their role as parents consumes their lives so they need to rekindle the romance they once shared.
What makes a woman a mother?
For Jo,...more
I can't recall the last time I cried and laughed so much during the same book, sometimes during the same passage. In my opinion, author Lisa Verge Higgins has captured the true essence of friendship in The Proper care and Maintenance of Friendship. It is not a fair weather venture where you only get together for celebrations, rather it's a 'through thick and thin' continuation of events that is maintained even after death. (yes, I still involve my best friend in my life even though she passed aw...more
Book was lighter than I expected. I didn't like the story like about Jo at all - nothing about it rang true to me. Child wasn't drawn well, and I can't imagine any parent/family who actually cared about the child just dumping them without basic health information and other planning. I identified to a certain extent with Kate, but thought again, it was a simplified version of what would happen in real life. I guess it seemed a little trite, or too easy to me. It would be a good hollywood movie, t...more
I was engaged throughout this book because it touched on several questions that I ponder a lot lately, as I wind my way through my forties:
What have I done well/poorly so far in life?
What risks are reasonable? Which ones am I glad I took or regret that I haven't?
What do only my closest female friends seem to "get" about me? And, I about them?
Originally, I read it because my neighbor and friend wrote it, but that has nothing to do with why I really loved it!
What have I done well/poorly so far in life?
What risks are reasonable? Which ones am I glad I took or regret that I haven't?
What do only my closest female friends seem to "get" about me? And, I about them?
Originally, I read it because my neighbor and friend wrote it, but that has nothing to do with why I really loved it!
This book was fantastic! The characters were really interesting and you were drawn into their individual stories. It was a wonderful reminder of how amazing friendship can be, despite differences between friends. I especially loved Kate and Sarah's characters. It definitely makes me hope I never lose one of my friends too early and that I won't ever forget who I am. I couldn't put this book down and would gladly recommend it to anyone.
Not something I would ever pick to read myself, but thanks to my excellent book group, I read this one and enjoyed it. The title is misleading and/or very arrogant, so that was irritating. Some of the reactions/actions of the characters made me angry .. but I would chalk that up to the author using her characters well to evoke emotion from her reader. I enjoyed the stories and the general background plot. A great summer read.
One friend dying and leaving letters to the other three trying to direct their lives, seems a little presumptuous to me but they all "do what they are told" and live with the consequences, good and bad. Jo, the least likely mother candidate, gets responsibility for her child and turns out to be my favorite character, not trying to do anything out of character, just doing the best she can.
I would reccomend this one; great character development, flow and story line.The characters were really interesting and you were drawn into their individual stories. It's about three friends who each take on a new life changing challenge after the death of a mutual friend who has left each friend a letter that requests each person to leave their comfort zone and in the process overcome things that are holding them back in their lives.
The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship is a book about friendship and a reminder as to how important friends are in our lives.
Rachel, who has recently died of cancer, has sent letters to her friends Jo, Sarah and Kate. The letters are last requests from their dear, departed friends. As each friend takes on the task given by Rachel, they find that having friends is the only thing that gets them through the difficulttimes at hand.
Great book to renew your faith in friendship.
Rachel, who has recently died of cancer, has sent letters to her friends Jo, Sarah and Kate. The letters are last requests from their dear, departed friends. As each friend takes on the task given by Rachel, they find that having friends is the only thing that gets them through the difficulttimes at hand.
Great book to renew your faith in friendship.
Four friends............one dies and leaves letters for the other 3 that will change their lives on many levels. This is a fast reading "chick" book that I thoroughly enjoyed and would have liked to have given another half star (C'mon Good Reads). Maybe because of the kind of book it is I could not rate it as high as some of the others.
Let's petition good Good Reads for those half stars.
Let's petition good Good Reads for those half stars.
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Lisa Verge Higgins is the RITA-nominated author of fifteen novels that have been published worldwide and translated into as many languages--quite a switch for this former PhD candidate in chemistry. Now this opera loving mother of three is creating heartwarming new stories revolving around women's lives and women's friendship. THE PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FRIENDSHIP, her first foray into mai...more
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“Any fool could see that you're at the reeling end of a long, strong rope - soon enough, It'll be tugging you back.”
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3 people liked it
“Any sharp transition such as this was like birth; the pain was necessary to remind you of its importance.”
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3 people liked it
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