BOOK BRIEF

Mating

Norman Rush
Guide cover placeholder

Mating

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
Norman Rush

Mating

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992
Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction

Anthropology
Setting

Botswana • 1980s

Topic
Anthropology

World History
Publication Year

1992

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Mating by Norman Rush is a novel set in the Botswana desert during the 1980s. It follows a graduate student focused on anthropology and her encounter with a charismatic American leading an experimental community. The story explores themes of love, intellectual exploration, and self-discovery against an African backdrop.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Emotional

Challenging

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.8

5,300 ratings

66%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Norman Rush's Mating is praised for its intellectual depth and innovative narrative style. The novel's exploration of complex themes, such as love and utopian ideals, resonates with readers. However, some criticize its dense prose and slow pacing. Despite this, it remains a thought-provoking work that challenges conventional romance narratives.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Mating?

Readers who enjoy Mating by Norman Rush typically appreciate intellectually rich narratives exploring themes of love and anthropology. Fans of Middlemarch by George Eliot or The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, which combine intricate character studies with sociopolitical themes, would likely find this engaging.

3.8

5,300 ratings

66%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction

Anthropology
Setting

Botswana • 1980s

Topic
Anthropology

World History
Publication Year

1992

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!