Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: phoney-baloney sisterhood
Review: Rebecca Wells: I demand you give me back the three days it took to get through this mush. Why, why, why, are we supposed to like characters who think it charming to swim in folks' drinking water? Why does "southern charm" often equate with "annoying as all get-out"? This novel was worse than bad. Bad, I can forgive; manipulative, cloying, greeting-card sentiment I find abhorrent. I could just see the author, big-buck$ movie in mind, churning out her self-indulgent, Zelda Fitzgerald-wannabe, stereotyped characters and thinking "ok, this is very Shirley McLaine, and...I wonder if Olympia Dukakis can do southern...?". And the thought that Bette Midler--the QUEEN of overacting--might be involved with the movie--oh, IIIIKKK. Suffice it to say that from now on I consider my reading life a ya-ya free zone.

Rating:
Summary: Southern cutie-fied formula
Review: Shame on you, 'becca. I hail from the very area you write of. I never heard anyone speak such French phrases! If they were Cajun, some may count. But rarely does a mid-to-upper class clique-like gal-group speak so; they'd deny their Cajun heritage in a heartbeat. I wanted to love this book, but couldn't. I wanted to like Vivi, in her lush-like splendor, but she came up so Hollywood, so thin, she disappeared after I put the book down. Wish Miss Wells hadn't welshed with such superficial and formulaic-contrived characters. Loved the cover of the book, though...

Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I loved the book, the characters, and the story line. The book made me mad and sad, sometimes at the same time. The characters seemed to come alive and i could picture the story happening.

Rating:
Summary: Ya-Ya? No, No!
Review: Oh, please. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought a man wrote this book. It just didn't ring true. The writing itself is not particularly good, and the story seemed rather pointless. I just didn't buy the whole Ya-Ya sisterhood.

Rating:
Summary: A great read that will keep you up past bedtime.
Review: This was an excellent read, with rollicking, funny, catchy characters. It may not be great literature, but it's what I wanted to read. Like some other readers, I do have problems with how the plot was constructed. But, unlike others who have reviewed this, I liked the Sidda character. Even identified with her, to some extent. Nonetheless, I think she was a much more forced, contrived character, unlike the Ya-Ya's who seemed to just flow from the author's pen. In the same way, the attempt to produce closure between Sidda and her mom seemed rather forced and contrived, not flowing. In the end, the resolution did seem to work for me, but was also a bit of a let down. Maybe I was just bummed out that such a wonderful read was ending.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: This is one rare treasure, Rebecca Wells. It will make you laugh, cry and want to be a part of the Ya Ya's! It was given to me as a BD present from my sister. It is a hearwarming story and one book that you won't want to end! Wells writes straight from the heart for women everywhere. I have recomended this book to other family members and friends.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book about mothers,daughters and sister/friends
Review: I LOVE this book about the relationship between a southern mother and daughter,and the mother and her lifelong friends,the YaYas. You will laugh,cry and be astonished at the depth of characters in this book. You will probably learn a little about yourself and your own mother as well. A must read for every women, and lots of men too! A book I will return to again and again!

Rating:
Summary: Fun! Hilarious! Memorable! I loved it!
Review: I hope the mighty Bette Midler, who has bought the movie rights, can do justice to this fabulous story on the screen. The story centers around a deeply bonded group of women in the south. You'll wish you were one of them because their experiences are so unique. The characters and imagery are rich and rewarding. The book does not disappoint. I will remember some of those scenes forever.

Rating:
Summary: Depressing
Review: This book glorifies dysfunctional relationships

Rating:
Summary: Would Get Five Stars, If Not For Sidda
Review: I, like others, just could not find a liking for Sidda in this book, but devoured every minute of the Ya-Yas with relish. I then read Little Altars Everywhere, which gave so much more insight into the Walker family. What I find hard to believe is that the Sidda we met in Little Altars grew up to be that whiny, wimpy characature of a character who took us through the Divine Secrets.