nicki_j's review against another edition
3.0
A lot was left unsaid in this book - I just kept thinking, where is this coming from? The beginning and ending felt forced but I liked the middle.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
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 encouraged to open herself to love, and career driven Jo is given the care of Rachel's greatest treasure, her daughter, Grace.
With warmth and humor, Higgins invites us on a journey with these women as they step out side their comfort zone and find courage they never imagined they possessed. The four women, Rachel, Jo, Kate and Sarah are reflections of women we may know, or in fact may be, and as such easy to relate to. Their tasks are not easy for any of them but their doubts and missteps endear you to the characters as much as their triumphs. The friendship which has endured despite their differences, is enviable and Higgins captures the bond wonderfully.
The story is emotive, heartbreaking and heartwarming in turn but ultimately is a light, easy read. The plot is fairly predictable for the genre but in a way that is comforting.
This is a great choice of book for when you need a little reassurance you are not alone. A celebration of life and love, The Proper Care & Maintenance of Friendship is an enjoyable read and a reminder to live every day as if it is your last.
daybreak1012's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't really sure where this book was going, at first, and then I wasn't sure how it was going to get there. By the time I reached the last third of the story, I finally got it: We all have a fear. Maybe we won't admit to having it. Maybe we call it one thing, when in reality it's something else. Maybe we truly just can't see it. But it's there. And the only way through it, the only way to beat it, is to leap. It's terrifying. We might be wrong. We might mess up. We might get hurt. But if we're lucky, we don't leap alone. This book was a love story, but not in the traditional romantic sense. (Well, maybe just a little.) It actually reminded me a lot of the core of the show "Sex and the City": This book was a love story each character has with herself, with her biggest fears and deepest hopes, and with Her People. It was both predictable and unpredictable. A good read.
elphabaj's review against another edition
4.0
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 perde em países de terceiro mundo dando, de com agrado, a sua vida e alma por todos aqueles que nunca tiveram nada. Ela salva vidas, falta salvar-se a si própria enterrando um passado que há muito deveria estar cicatrizado.
Kate é uma mulher com todos os seus apêndices, ou seja, marido, filhos, um lar quase perfeito e uma rotina onde apenas ela e as suas emoções ficam esquecidas. Ela terá de se libertar, para se reencontrar e voltar a ser feliz.
E Jo, bem Jo tem tudo! É rica, bonita, bem-sucedida e um exemplo de força, determinação e independência, mas o tempo passa e quis uma alma recordar-lhe que a assustadora palavra amor exige partilha. Ela terá nas suas mãos a oferta daquilo que mais terno guardava o coração da sua melhor amiga.
Amizade, amor e felicidade são três conceitos preciosos que preencherão as vidas Delas, as mais importantes, as que nunca poderão ficar esquecidas e as que terão de ficar unidas, sempre, independentemente do caminho ou do destino que Rachel lhes reservou.
Sumariamente, em palavras simples, esta é uma belíssima história sobre a coragem de recomeçar, servindo de exemplo para todos aqueles que se acomodam às fragilidades da vida.
Abordando temáticas muito diferentes, extremamente actuais, esta narrativa permite ao leitor explorar diferentes perspectivas de encarar a morte, de analisar o presente e de recordar o passado, tocando nas feridas mais profundas, para alcançar a libertação num futuro.
Da miséria ao luxo, atravessando relacionamentos conturbados, passando pelas dificuldades de carreira, muitos são os temas perscrutados envolvidos em emoções extremas que chegarão com facilidade a um leque alargado de leitores que, através de uma ou outra acção, acabará por se sentir próximo dos intervenientes em algum momento da história.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.pt/2012/06/as-cores-da-amizade-lisa-verge-higgins_26.html
reneesabina's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read a whole book in one day in awhile. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of these four women. Life takes friends in so many different directions and you never know what will bring you back together. Lisa Verge Higgins did a great job of capturing the friendships among these women.
klb72's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable read. Love the title, would that I took such care of my own friendships. The plot was highly predictable, but as i enjoyed all the characters, this didn't really other me. Good chic lit overall.
kayess19's review against another edition
2.0
eeeeeh. I really liked jo...the other two were sad sacks. and now I'm scared someone I know is going to make me do something crazy after they die.
teaganp's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. I loved the character development, although some of it was a bit predictable. I felt that the characters weren't greatly relatable to myself in the aspect of their lives, but the diversity of their friendship group was. I liked that I could see the story from a number of perspectives and the use of humour was well times. A good read!