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Mating for Life by Marissa Stapley

Mating for Life

by Marissa Stapley

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  • Published:
  • Jul 2014, 336 pages
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for Mating for Life
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  • John P. (Boca Raton, FL)
    Authentic
    What is true love. The author introduces us to the many aspects of love in family relationships, friendships, lovers and partners as well as ourselves. The reader will continuously be treated to insights that are warm and vibrant.
  • Wendy F. (Kalamazoo, MI)
    Mating for Life
    How can three sisters grow up to be so different? Or are they. Marissa Stapley's Mating for Life is an entertaining look at three women whose mother was a Joni Mitchell-esque singer who never really thought much about marriage. Until….in her later years she is contemplating this while her daughters are dealing with their own partnership issues. Fiona states toward the beginning of the novel, "how strange it was that there were truths that could exist in families that everyone ignored, even though they were devastating." Many of us can relate to that I'm sure. Each daughter's father was absent in some way either by death or non-interest. Do we need that man to guide us or do we just need each other? Interesting stuff. As Fiona discovers and states with a Cezanne quote, "We all live in a rainbow of chaos." And yes, I believe we all do!
  • Deb Y. (Parkersburg, WV)
    What a lovely book!
    I am so lucky - I haven't gotten a bad book yet. Some need a little work, but this is not one of those books.......Read it, it will make you smile, most of the time. It's true to life and I have seen myself in all the ladies at one time or another.
  • Ariel F. (Madison, WI)
    Is it really mating for life?
    This book about families and their functionality vs dysfunction was interesting. A hippy mom who did not to be monogamous and her 3 daughters, each with their own issues. I found myself thinking of how I would handle some of the situations that the daughters encountered. Would I decide that I wanted to swim over to the pier of the man next door and introduce myself? Or would I just let things play out as they would.
    I think this would be an ideal book for a ladies book club and would bring forth an enlightening discussion.
  • Susan H. (Chappaqua, NY)
    Families, oh my!
    Mothers and daughters, sisters … there is nothing better and yet nothing more complicated and often times difficult. I enjoyed reading about the relationships … the ways the family related to each other, the way they love, dislike … often outright hurt one another ... and then put it all back together in the name of love and family. No-one can hurt your soul like a sister and then give you the shirt off their back to make it better!!!!
  • Diane M. (Walden, NY)
    mating for life
    A heartwarming story of the a mother and three daughters.Their relationships, dating, infidelities and secrets all intertwine to make this a very touching book that most women will be able to relate to.
  • Carol J. (Isle, MN)
    Mother, daughters, husbands: who matters
    It took me awhile to get into this book. I did enjoy the characters, but it took awhile to get them organized. I had mixed reactions to the structure of the novel. The chapters which were introduced by various animals became distracting vs unifying. The structure detracted from the plot in my opinion. It interrupted the flow of the story.
    Overall the characters and story line were interesting and engaging. I think it was the structure that became distracting for me.
    With the intertwining of characters it Mating for Life would be a fun book club book. Always fun to discuss the intertwining of lives.

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