Rating: 
Summary: Designing Women with a Kick!
Review: I listened to the "YA-YA's" while walking. What a delicious treat! This book was not read, but performed with heart. I found myself laughing as I walked and at times emotional enough where I needed to walk a little more deliberately.Sidda is an accomplished play-wright...who happens to mention a little too much about her mother, Vivi, in an interview. (Not the sweetest things) Vivi is furious and will not speak to her. But Sidda continues writing and calling her. "Mama, please talk to me." Sidda is fascinated with the "Ya-Ya's" wondering how their relationships have lasted so long. Vivi gets the Ya-Ya's together and asks what she should do. They bring Sidda a large, old, mildew smelling scrap-book called "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Now this is where it gets good. Sidda relaxs with a cuppa tea and begins reading. Old invitations fall out from 1942, powdery, colorless flowers are pressed inside, and secrets. Many, many secrets. The scrap-book reveals more than Sidda ever imagined or thought she imagined. Vivi as a young, beautiful girl; skinny dipping with the other three Ya-Ya's, bathing in the sun, in love at 15, arrested with the Ya-Ya's for indecent exposure, going through a deep depression after her boyfriend dies in the war. Sidda also learns about Vivi's own childhood dreams, disappointments, and her unbearable relationship with her mother. How the Ya-Ya's supported one another and were there for one another. Suddenly Vivi becomes real. She becomes a person not just a mother. She becomes the mother who had tryed the best way she knew how... to be a mother. Sidda had been seeking perfection but what she found was imperfection. And imperfection would have to be good enough. "Mama you told me you wanted the scrap-book back. So here it is." "I wanted you back, darling. You.
That's what I wanted back." Vivi says. What the reader wants is to go call their girlfriends...Do it now! I am.
Rating: 
Summary: Southern Pride
Review: I read this book within 72 hrs. Why so long? I had to sleep. Growing up a Southern Girl and at 46 Yrs. of age I am still proud of my Southern heritage. Friends from the North that read this book did not understand it. They couldn't, they did not live it like I and so many others did. A truely grest read. I could have been a YA-YA myself and in many ways I am. Down to the same group of friends that have been with me for years and are still there. A Southern bond is a bond that will never break.
Rating:
Summary: See the Movie, Then Read the Book!
Review: No question, the book is better than the movie. But, if you see the movie without certain expectations, you will truly enjoy a great movie and great acting. Then go sit down and absorb the book on all levels, as it is the movie and so much more. You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll be annoyed, angry, and confused, but you'll never be bored. I can't believe that there are some reviewers that absolutely hated this book. I know it takes all kinds, I would like to know what kind of books they do find entertaining. All through the book, I could hear the words reverberate through my mind in the exaggeratd Southern drawl of Siddha's momma. By far, one of my best summer reads. Great characters, dysfunctional lives and the scars they create, forgiveness, fun, and futility--the very essence of life is contained within the pages of this novel. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: The Ya-Ya Secrets reveald
Review: I really loved this book.I saw the movie about 2 weeks before I bought the book. The book was alot better than the movie, but I'm glad I saw the movie because now I can picture the whole setting in my head. This was one of those books that you just couldn't put down. It was so realistic that it's sort of sad to think it was all made up. To who ever reads this review you should really read this book, you'll cry and you'll laugh.I would especialy recomend this book to anyone thatis from or has been to Louisiana and I would say the age group is probably 14 and up. HI Miss Taylor !
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I picked up this book because of all the hype about the movie and now I fail to see what all the hype is about. I found the story very disjointed with too many undeveloped characters including Siddalee. Hope the movie was better.
Rating:
Summary: Pul-eeeze!
Review: Contrived. If you're the type of person who buys into every little glee and cliques of so-called womanhood, you'd like this book. (The movie was even harder to sit through.) If you have any discriminating taste at all, you'll be bored. If still courious, get it from your library.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, lively and funny
Review: "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" deals with the life of Siddalee ("Sidda") Walker's estranged relationship with her mother Vivi. There were a lot of arguments, misunderstanding and conflicts between the mother and daughter. One of the main reasons was due to the fact that Vivi used to hit Sidda with a belt and that memory was stuck to Sidda's mind. She tried to understand her mother and learn more about Vivi's life through Vivi's long-time buddies, the Ya-Yas and a scrapbook that Vivi put together called the "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Reading the scrapbook gave Sidda a glimpse into her mother's life when she was young, from attending the premiere of "Gone With the Wind" to various pictures of her mother having fun with the Ya-Yas. In addition, the scrapbook consisted of letters written to and from Vivi, newspaper clippings, among others. While learning something from the scrapbook, Sidda also had unanswered questions from it. That was when the Ya-Yas came to the rescue and explained to her certain events that took place. Using the as a backdrop, Rebecca Wells seek to explain very vividly the lives of these young Ya-Yas and the events that they went through, particularly Vivi. They were once young, lively and had tons of experience under the belts. Vivi, is especially an interesting character as she is very lively, smart, popular and very loyal to her friends. Another major theme of the book is the close friendships of the Ya-Yas as they were loyal and had each other's interest in their minds and were always there for each other. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a relaxing book and at the same time glances into the lives of four close friends who can always rely on each other.
Rating:
Summary: Moves a bit slower than Little Altars but...
Review: ...still an excellent read. Wish I could have made it 4-1/2 stars. Unlike Little Altars which tells the story from several characters' points of view, Divine Secrets is told only from the POV of Sidda and Vivi. Its story is very close to the screenplay, although a few things were changed, most notably Sidda's location when she is exploring "the book." All in all, very enjoyable and worthy of a few laughs, and a few tears.
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing and Entertaining at the same time
Review: This is the story of Siddalee Walker and a quartet of women the YaYa's. Her mother is one of them and the four women have been friends all their lives. Siddalee grew up in a profoundly disfunctional family, but with a support system of Vivi's best friends and their families. When Siddalee is erroneously quoted in the NYT, and the article insults her mother Vivi, she is cut off. Sidda puts off her marriage to Connor and runs away to an island not far from Seattle. Her mother sends her a scrapbook of her life and Sidda, with the help of the other YaYa's learns to understand her mother and herself. This book made you want to laugh in parts and cry in others. Each character is damaged in one way or another and it is amazing that each character has survived as well as they have.
Rating:
Summary: A divine exploration of one's childhood
Review: This book was a wonderful story of personal growth. Sidda is struggling with the pain of her past. Her main issue is of an alchoholic mother who was abusive at times. Sidda must learn to love herself and her mother, Vivi before she can become happy and fulfilled in her life. Vivi, in an effort to reach out to her daughter, shares a treasured scrapbook with Sidda in a symbolic gesture of her need to be accepted by her daugther. Sidda's biggest obstacle is her fear of intimacy and this is caused by her lack of confidence in her mother's love and relationship. And Sidda must learn to love herself before she can devote herself to her partner. Sidda finally does this and opens her heart to her partner, as well as her mother. Vivi's obstacle is the pain of her own childhood, which was also difficult. Sidda and Vivi must try to reach forgiveness to overcome their fear and pain. I enjoyed this book. It was a story of discovery and looking at one' s past and making it a part of the future, by embracing it and then letting it go. Overall an enriching read, and a good story.
| 
