Rating: 
Summary: A "Ya Ya" Huge Disappointment
Review: I was so excited to read this book after seeing several favorable reviews of it here at Amazon. When I was about half way through the book, I wondered why people thought it was so good. Sure, there are some great little stories about the women who call themselves the Ya-Yas, but I found most of them to be quite unbelievable. In addition, most of these stories seem to have no real connection, except that they were all experiences the Ya Yas had. I was not able to finish this books because I felt like I was running in circles... the book was going nowhere fast. I spoke to the librarian at the school where I teach, and she felt the exact same way. My advice? Don't waste your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as light and frothy as the title implies
Review: I had resisted this book for a long time because the title seemed silly. But I'd heard from several people that it was a good book, and I was ready to read what I thought might be light and frothy entertainment. I was immediately caught up in the story, however, and soon discovered that this was not a light book at all.Sidda, who was brought up in Louisiana is, at age 40, is a successful theatrical director who has a falling out with her mother, Vivi, when she reveals too much of her childhood in a New York Times interview and her mother is depicted in print as a "tap dancing child abuser". Sidda is so deeply upset by this that she postpones her upcoming wedding and goes off to an island off the coast of Seattle to be alone. Her mother sends her a copy of a scrapbook entitled "The Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and gradually Sidda discovers more and more about her mother as well as about herself. The four women who call themselves the Ya Yas developed their friendship as children in the 1930s and have been friends ever since. They've kept their friendship through their teenage years in the early forties, their marriages and motherhood in the 50s and have continued their friendship right up to the present, being there for each other through a lifetime of living. The story is really Vivi's story though, and the place of the three friends in this novel is of important, but yet supporting players. With ultimate skill, the author brings the reader into the deep south. There's humidity and sweet smelling flowers; there's love and cruelty; there's the inequality of the racial relationships, there's funny and poignant stories; there's deep characterization. And, most of all there is friendship between the Ya Yas. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to learn more and more about Vivi. The structure of incident and flashback worked for me. And I found myself getting into the skin of a Scarlet O'Hara-type character who I might not like if I met on the street. She's a complex person. And VERY imperfect. And that is where the strength of this book lies. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Ya-Ya Crazy
Review: I can see from the number of reviews written for this book that I am far from being the only person who absolutely loves this book. It's the type of book that your dying to see how it ends but can't stand the thought of it ending. When you start reading it, make sure that you don't have any pressing matters at hand, because they will ultimately take a backseat to this book. Given the opportunity, I would definitely make this beach reading....it tops off any great vacaction perfectly!
Rating:
Summary: Pass this book along to a "Ya Ya Sister"
Review: Okay, so it's not great litt-rah-chuh... these compelling characters are drawn with a combination of laugh-out-loud goofiness and thoughtful empathy. And who can't identify with at least individual events in the Ya Yas' childhood and adolescent journey? This book will make you so very, very grateful for your friends who are always there for you.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, reviewers...
Review: I punched in five stars because the reviews of this book are hilarious and I want to thank you all - and I do mean "you-all." I am about to read this book and I can hardly wait to see if I love it or hate it! I loved the review that said, simply "This too shall pass." On the other hand, I can see that it really moved many women, and I look forward to the experience, whatever it will be. When I am finished with this extraordinarily controversial book, I will write a full review.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I don't consider this life-changing literature, but I can't dismiss it off-hand, either. The beef with this book seems to be that the characters are "white trash" who use "hokey" language, and tend to live lives that are less than perfect, which is a judgment call I don't buy. It's a bit contrived, and, as usual with these books, everyone's beautiful and colorful. But I did identify with the child of an alcoholic, a child of emotionally distant parents, with losing a love before you have a real opportunity to enjoy it, with someone who finds it safer to wrap herself in the empty baubles of the world and push away the bonds of family and friends that are the true fulfillment of a life. She's not deeply drawn, but Sidda's meditations on the nature of love are thought-provoking. My favorite line is Vivi's resolution to go home, hug her four babies, the man she has married and "do my best to give thanks for gifts, strangely, beautifully, painfully wrapped." Isn't that what we all have to do, in the end?
Rating:
Summary: I am Jealous
Review: If the story of the Ya-ya's is something that people actually experience, then I am one jealous girl. Having friends like those to share and enjoy every moment of your life with must be something wonderful. Although not everything in this book is perfect (ie: Sidda and Vivi's relationship) the close bond between the ya-ya women makes me wish I had the same. Does anyone agree with me?
Rating:
Summary: I WANT TO BE A YA-YA SISTER!
Review: I read The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood about six months ago and I still think about Rebecca Wells' characters. I had my closest friends and mother read it, and we still laugh about certain parts. Vivi is one of the strongest characters I've met. I loved her, hated her, laughed with her and cried with her. I was extremely sad when the book came to an end. GET IT. READ IT. LOVE IT. AND PASS IT ALONG!
Rating:
Summary: Horrendous
Review: There appear to be people who love this book, but I'm not quite sure what sort of readers they are. I don't mean that as an insult, but I just wish that someone had warned me before I read this about how very wretched it is. If you love books and literature, please ignore your well-meaning friends and enthusiastic reviews and let this one pass you by. It is remarkably bad. If you DON'T buy books from the grocery store or DON'T take reading advice from talk-show hosts, you'll probably want to avoid this book. I wish I had.
Rating:
Summary: No, a thousand times no!
Review: What's the big deal with contemporary fiction these days? First Snow Falling On Cedars, then The Cider House Rules, now Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. They've all been critically accalimed, they're all depressing, they have all made a lot of money, and they're all being made into movies. I fail to see the attraction to these sad "contemporary" tales. If it's not contemporary novels by minority authors complaining about how hard their lives are, it's white-trash authors complaining about how hard their lives are. Yes, life is a long, difficult journey but must we dwell on it? Rebecca Wells chooses to show the good and bad in life but unfortunately does it in a way I dislike and disagree with greatly. Amd the "good" in life to her is swimming in drinking water and other pathetic acts just to cause trouble. She stereotypes close friendships, the Catholic church and Christians in general. She glorifies alcoholism, bad parenting, abuse, bad marriages, and neglect. Why is this being praised?
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