Little Altars Everywhere

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Summary: Little Altars
Review: "Little Altars Everywhere" is a humorous and heart-breaking look further into the Walker family. Although not quite as good as "Divine Secrets," it is an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and moving
Review: I read "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" before I read "Little Altars Everywhere". I know that it should have been the other way around, but I was unaware of this book before I read "Divine Secrets..." While I thoroughly enjoyed "Divine Secrets...", I was not a huge fan of "Little Altars Everywhere".

This book basically gives you background information about the Walker family from the perspective of each family member. Even the hired help put their two cents in, especially when describing the heart-wrenching beating of the Walker children. While in "Divine Secrets...", Vivi Walker is portrayed as a free spirit. "Little Altars..." portrays her as a selfish, ruthless, alcoholic, bad mother. These characteristics do flow into the next book, but for some reason Vivi didn't seem so bad. In this book, however, you almost hate her. I can understand why Sidda had so much resentment for her mother. I'd probably be the same way.

Each family member has approximately two chapters each in this book. Some of the chapters are very interesting, while some of them get boring after a while. I found myself skimming through a couple of them. That's why I couldn't give this book as high a rating.

Overall the book was pretty good. I wouldn't necessarily say to read one book before the other because, in my opinion, "Little Altars..." doesn't explain that much more than you would find in "Divine Secrets..." I can tell you one thing, you will probably have varying views of Vivi after reading this book. Go and try it out for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing Novel with Some Twists
Review: I read 'Little Altars Everywhere' for my English class this year...it is a wonderful novel. The main character- Siddalee Walker- is not only intelligent beyond her years but she also possesses wit and quirkiness that makes a reader want to hear what she has to say. This book takes you through her life from her view and the views of everyone in her family plus some friends. It really gives the story more depth to have it told this way. It takes place in south and so the speaking style the author uses are really fun to read. Vivi says some funny stuff but I reallllly don't like her. Although there are some evil twists, I still would recommend this book. My favorite character was Big Shep. I thought there was a lot more to him than what the rest realized. My least favorite character was Vivi for reasons you will know if you read the book. Overall I think this was a really worthwhile read.

Rating:
Summary: good, thought provoking book
Review: i read divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood first. this book was a little more serious and didn't give me the same feeling of starting in the middle of the story, which was good. i would recommend reading little altars first since it was written first. i would say that rebecca wells is very good at writing about difficult but colorful childhoods, and she manages to do so in such a way that the reader keeps reading instead of getting depressed. she also brings her characters to vivid life. the characters are noisy and engaging. Ms. Wells also does a good job writing from the different children's distinct points of view and showing how the children change and mature over time. all in all, i was impressed by the fast pace of the story and the skillful characterization. i gave little altars four stars and i gave the divine secrets five stars. the only reason i gave little altars four stars instead of five was that little altars didn't have as much closure, but Ms. Wells probably planned it that way because she was writing a series.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I thought Little Altars Everywhere was very well written. Not like anything else i have read before. I enjoyed reading every minute of it. I wanted to learn more about the Walker Family. Each page was full of interesting comments or stories.

Rating:
Summary: Little Altars Everywhere
Review: Ms. Wells introduces us to the Walker family and various other players in the small town of Thornton, Mississippi. This book did not take me through the emotions that her second book The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood did. I couldn't wait to read this book and was somewhat dissappointed in the less than captivating story. I gained tidbits of information about characters I already knew and that helped me enjoy this book a bit. Ms. Wells has the gift to create wonderful characters and make them real to life. Every emotion that the characters feel is there for you to see and feel. Personally I missed the refreshing sense of humor that the second book displayed. I am glad that I read the book but could not say it keep me enthralled like this author's other work. Ms. Wells please give us more about this interesting group of lost souls but please remember that humor is often nature's balm to a bad situation.

Rating:
Summary: A Southern gem!
Review: This book had me laughing and very sad all at once. I fell in love with Siddalee and her brothers and sisters. I felt compassion and pity towards her parents and can't wait till the next book comes out in March 2005. I would recommend this book to anyone. It isn't graphic just colorful of those times and rich with characters and emotion! I haven't read the first one but will now. I bet it is better than the movie, but isn't that the way it goes anyway?!?!? Add this one to your library you won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: This is AMAZING!
Review: This is such a wonderful book! It's very nostalgic and enjoyable. Wells's tone is comfortable and confiding. It's hard to explain the plot because it's broken up into lots of different stories. I have read Little Altars Everywhere at least four or five times. You're not going to be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This was a nice easy read for high schoolers or adults. It's written in a laid back style with everyday language. The way it's written in all diferent voices and including tons of different points of view also kept it interesting. There were, however, some very disturbing parts and the cover and title seemed misleading to me.

Rating:
Summary: Wow!!
Review: Well this book was not at all what I expected! It's so much darker than I thought it would be. I thought the Ya-Yas where a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky kinda group (I'm basing this on the few previews I saw of the movie)...but no...not at all. I didn't expect constant drunkiness, child-abuse, and cruelty. It did make for a very entertaining read though...as awful as that sounds.

I couldn't put the book down! The messed-up world of the Walker family is funny, tragic, happy and sad all in one. I really recommend this book. I've just picked the 'Divine Secrets', and am really looking forward to what more this family can get themselves into!! Definitely a must read!