Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: You either love it or hate it. I LOVE IT!!
Review: This is a wonderful story about relationships -- among friends and among family. It is funny, touching and gives a great picture of life in Louisiana (which is very different from life in "the South") and of friendships that last from age 3 to 73 - and beyond. It reminded me of the relationships my mother had (and still has) and those I have (and still have) -- and those I wish I still had. In this day when we are all so far flung, it's nice to see what close friendships bring.

Rating:
Summary: what an awful novel
Review: I can't believe this was a bestseller. The writing was on the level of a junior high school creative writing assignment. The characters were completely unbelievable and the "plot" was just plain stupid. Save your brain cells and don't buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty weak novel
Review: I was disappointed by this book. I'd just read "The Triumph and the Glory", which I thought I wouldn't like all that much because it was set during the Second World War and is supposed to be s guy book, but IT WAS SUPERB, it was just beautiful there at the end. I expected that I would like Ya Ya Sisterhood but it left me cold. Go figure . . .

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Ever Read
Review: This book is full of odd characters, funny situations, and tells of a daughters special bond to her mother. If you were to read one book this year, it should be this one. The sequel, "Little Altars Everywhere" is just as good.

Rating:
Summary: My greatest regret is having actually finished this book.
Review: Having read "Little Altars Everywhere" all I can say is---How disappointing! I find it very difficult to believe that the same woman wrote both books. The quality of writing was so poor, it was almost embarrassing to read. The dialogue (especially between Sidda and Wade and May) was so contrived and awkward. Please explain some things to me: Where was Big Shep in this whole story? (Dear God, gearing up for another sequel?????) What happened to the wonderful relationship Sidda had with Baylor? In fact, where were Baylor and Lulu and Little Shep? How do you expect intelligent readers TO FORGET THAT VIVI SEXUALLY MOLESTED BOTH OF HER SONS? In "Little Altars Everywhere" she was an irresponsible, alcoholic, CHILD MOLESTER. But now we are supposed to either forget or disregard this fact because we discover she had to go to Catholic school and her boyfriend was killed in the war? How insulting. I can tell you the problem with this book. It is the First Novel is a Big Hit--Quick, Whip Off Part Two Syndrome. The first story was a story of a young girl and the complex relationship with her mother, who was flawed. Nice. Interesting. Stands alone. Then some idiot editor must have decided, "give us more on the friends. make it fun, make them wacky and campy. oh yeah and make the whole abuse thing some religious furor. And throw in some youthful angst to make them feel sorry for vivi. kill her boyfriend or something. then don't mention her husband much to show how important the 1st boyfriend was. hell, half the people didn't read the first one, so skip the whole molesting the boys bit. as a matter of fact, barely mention them, only bring them in for the predictable Big Wedding Scene. Finally, what was with the ya-ya's reaction when they met Connor? they all reacted oddly, something about his eyes. Please don't even try to tell me this is not some hideous setup for another dreadful installment in this saga. Let's guess. Who does he remind them of? Jack? If the author sits down in a quiet place, takes her time, really fleshes her characters out, perhaps goes back to her original format of different viewpoints and tells a real story, there may be a chance. Avoid the contrived plot--scrapbooks and reporters and broken engagements ("I don't know how to love" WHAT?)just tell a simple story....there is real potential there. Please. Please. Please. Make it possible to give a book 0 stars

Rating:
Summary: A remarkable book, i read it twice!
Review: Funny and at the same time painful and sad. An joy to read. one of my favoite books! i couldnt put it down! enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving emotional thriller
Review: I have read many books, rarely does a story make me laugh and cry. As a woman I found the unique nature of the ya-ya's to be very intriging. I feel they learned how to survive tough times through love and compation for each other. This book also makes it very clear that we are all imperfect but still have the need to love and to be loved! Survival is a challenge for all of us. It's very refreshing to have a story that illustrates a womans special ability to nurture those whos lives are lucky enough to be touched by her heart. Thank you, Rosie O'Donnell for introducing Rebecca Wells and her 2 outstanding books on your show.

Rating:
Summary: YUCK
Review: Unfortunately this book came highly recommended to me by a girlfriend who I will no longer trust when she says she likes what I'm wearing. This book is a downer. I felt like I was watching someone's therapy session third party. I could have done without all of the profanity coming out of this grandmotherly woman, and I could have skipped the vivid descriptions of how she beat her children with a belt buckle until they bled. I couldn't even finish this book, how depressing.

Rating:
Summary: Complexity of family relationships
Review: This book portrays highly complex relationships between family and friends. There is a lot of humor, which breaks up the heaviness. However, it is a very serious book. Wells writes colofully, captures accents, and eccentric personalities.

Rating:
Summary: Will I ever find a book to leave me satisfied again??
Review: Rebecca Wellls' Divine Secrets is by far the best novel i have read in a long time. I took the Divine Secrets and Little Altars Everywhere with me on vacation last week and could not put them down... Wells' tells her story in a way that enables the reader to picture themselves as part of the story, identify with the characters, and when the novel is over, makes them wish it wasn't... I have spent the last week trying to find a book that could come close to comparing with the Divine Secrets and have as of yet failed...i'm still hopefully searching though. I highly recommend this book as well as Little Altars Everywhere to anyone who is looking to lose themselves in a story this summer...you'll laugh, you'll cry, and when it is over you'll feel like you've made new friends!!!