Rating: 
Summary: Rebecca Wells take you down memory lane
Review: This book is more about Vivi's growing up years and her special friendships, her turbulent relationships with her parents, her lost love, her relationship with her daughter Sidda. This is a thought-provoking book where it shows the darker side of Vivi's life ~~ why she turns to alcohol to escape from her sadnesses and frustrations. Though Vivi presents this happy, carefree person to the world, she deals with depression and a sense of loss throughout her whole life. She is not a happy person and though she tries to avoid it, it does affect the lives around her. Rebecca Wells writes with humor and she touches in places that most women hide from the world ~~ even from their own families or those closest to them. This is a book for mothers and daughters to read for every daughter longs to know exactly what her mother is really like and every mother longs to remain the most important person in her daughter's life. Wells really explores the mother-daughter theme with grace and humor. It isn't a book easily forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: Impressed but dismayed
Review: Like many people, I read The Divine Secrets first. I loved it - it moved, amused, and even changed me a bit. But having read Little Altars, I don't feel that way about the sequel anymore. The character Vivi is ultimately is too horrendous to excuse, as we are asked to do in Ya-Ya. And the friends we grew to love for their loyalty were nothing more than co-conspirators and enablers. The women that you love in the second book, turn out to be monsters. I find nothing endearing about alcoholism, child abuse and molestation. I find it even more disturbing that Vivi, throughout her entire life, is never able to see the error in her actions and never able to apologize. There is a line in the second book where Siddalee says that her mother "owes" her something. The YaYa friend she is speaking to, says that her mother owes her nothing because she loved them and raised them in style. Um actually not only does she owe her children at least an apology and explanation, she deserves some jail time. Little Altars is a tragic and haunting novel and is only worth reading because it's author is unbelievably talented. She is the first author who has been able to move me to tears. I hope to see more from her in the future, although hopefully not involving the heinous character Vivi - or her abhorrent friends.
Rating: 
Summary: Can I rate it in the negative zone?
Review: As a woman, I am embarrassed that so many women embraced this book as touching, wonderful and full of rich southern heritage. As a mother, I am horrified. I had to force myself to finish it, so that I would know my negative opinion was fully justified. The story does not flow well with each character chiming in with their own observations. Each is on a different track. Nor did I see the point of this book. A book about a sick, alcoholic woman who abuses and neglects her children can not be heartwarming, funny or entertaining. Since Vivi doesn't seek any professional help or even feel the slightest bit of shame, I found no redeeming qualities in this story. I cringed when I read the reviews which reinforced Wells' descriptions of the Catholic church, small, southern towns and growing up poor as wonderfully realistic. Overall, I found it disturbing and without real-life value. I have no idea what to do with my copy, except throw it away.
Rating:
Summary: Troubling
Review: The book is a good read but I found that I could not finish it...The lesbian angle was disturbing and very offensive. The struggle between the Faith of these women and life is very clear but the choices are always the wrong ones....I felt it made a mockery of catholic life...I was highly offended and fearful that my pre-teen would pick it up....
Rating:
Summary: junk man!
Review: okay I read secrets of the ya ya sister hood first unknowing that it twas the second book in the series. I was VERY disappointed, I really didn't need a repeat of my childhood I mean jesus. I may seem a little cruel about this, but I just couldn't follow the stoey and even some parts didn't make sence to me at all. The characters were very generic, and I was at a loss when I began reading knowing that Siddalee Walker wasn't the main character of this novel too. It sadened me deeply, but I guess some books will do that. Hey If you read this Ms. Wells don't be angry with me, I'm just being honest about it. I thought the other book was much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this one first!
Review: Everyone knows the success of the Ya Ya book, but this one is actually better (if that's possible)and should be read first to get the true vision that the author had in mind. The writing just flows, and you will be swept away. It was one of those books that I savored right down to the last page, and then I went back and read the intro again.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and heart warming
Review: This book was recommened to me by my college Pysch professor. I thought that it was one of the best books that I have ever read in a really long time. I bought it for my mother and then read it and highlighted the parts I knew would touch her soul. My favorite chapter would have to be the one where Rebecca talks about wanting to be like her poor friend, and how she hurts herself because she needs to be a good Catholic. The parts of the Mother inflicting abuse were done so wonderfully, it is not said over and over or with any graphic detail, but the reader still has a great idea of what is happening in that house. I would reccomend this book and the on that follows, The Ya-Ya Sisterhood. They are wonderful reading, especailly for mothers and daughters who are trying to understand each other without knowing the past.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite as "Divine" as "Ya ya"
Review: In reading the second novel, "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood", and loving it last summer, I was enthralled to pick up a copy to the first in the series "Little Alters Everywhere". I found "Alters" to be much more of a downer, going from how mother Vivi, a raging alcoholic, physically abuses, sexually abuses, and verbally abuses her four Southern children. However I was still very impressed at the author's ability to narrate from a childs point of view. With such innocence, and raw humor, you almost forget it wasn't Lulu, Sidda, Baylor, or Little Shep who wrote the chapter. The author weaved in with the tragic reality of how Vivi is traumatizing her children with hysterical, and twisted humor: such as the ugly dogs 'babies', and so on. This is definetly a good book, but I definetly consider "Ya Ya" a reward to read after this book. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Sad, Disturbing, Funny, Beautifully Written
Review: Parts of this book made me breathless with its heart-breaking beauty. Parts made me laugh out loud. Parts have taken up their places in my mind and won't go away. Much of the content of this book is difficult, although it ultimately is about survival. Alcoholism, abuse, casual racism. Although many have called this book a novel, it is more a collection of related short stories told in various voices, most of which seem very authentic and real. Like many people, I read the 2nd book "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" first. This is a more difficult, less funny book, but it is a book worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh & Smile & Cry with a Genuine Southern Accent!
Review: Truly "performed" rather than just read by the author, who I think is just magnificent and love the southern accent (which might give pause to a few of you). This is a well done abridgement, done in a short story format from the viewpoint of different characters, and was a delightful escape into another time and place. Even the Two Teen Terrorists enjoyed the story about Miss Pepe the poodle. If you grew up in the south with a crazy mama, you will need to listen to this story and or read the book. And the ya-ya summers at spring creek will bring out the child in just about anybody. Mules really moved my middle-aged heart. Yes, there is a dark side to this collection - but love and hope are laced through - along with that miracle drug: a sense of humor. Now I've got to go out and buy the book, to see what I missed in the abridgement.
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