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Summary: Deeply Southern. Peculiarly Louisiana.
Review: The plot starts out fun and frolicking- superficial, almost. Gradually, however, you will enter the dark side that is inevitable when you are writing about women in groups. Complex, funny, well-developed and so true to those of us from Louisiana and the Deep South. My only criticism-- at times a little tooooo contrived and planned. Too much emphasis on "brand-naming" everything. Otherwise- a rivoting read.
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Summary: I AM A YAYA SISTER!
Review: What I have to say is short and sweet..I read the book I fell in love with it I gave it to my mother she loved it and know when things get dicey we say what would a Ya Ya do? Its a southern thing honey you wouldn't understand.
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Summary: Couldn't live up to the hype
Review: I was skeptical when this book was chosen by my book club for its latest selection, and I tried to be fair and objective as I began reading. I have to say, though, that my initial hunch was correct. I thought it was a tremendous disappointment. The characters, including all four Ya-Yas were very superficial...I didn't find myself invested in them at all. Characters, scenes and dialogue did not ring true...they were all very labored and clicheed (here's an original character: a gay, witty costume designer), and rendered in pedestrian prose. And am I the only reader who found Teensy's morsels (or, rather morceaux) of French dialogue akin to fingernails on a blackboard? There was no emotional payoff for me, either; Sidda's reconciliation with her mother being triggered by memories of an elephant ride just didn't work, in my mind. The seeds of a good storyteller are there somewhee, I think, but in this work, Ms. Wells couldn't pull it off.
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Summary: The Ya-Ya's are in many of us.
Review: My best girlfriend of over 20 years told me about this book. The antics of the Ya-Ya's reminded her so much of our childhood and I wholeheartedly agree. Anyone who still has a friendship that was cultivated in childhood will appreciate this story, as will any mother/daughter who may still be trying to figure each other out. Rebecca Wells captures each scene so vividly that I found myself laughing out loud in one chapter and then sobbing a chapter later. The author makes you care about her characters.
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Summary: Undescribable inside expressions of womanliness
Review: I teach Medicine Wheel classes that show persons how to BE their own person! I quote lines in the book and recommend everyone in the class buy it! I laughed out loud - alone. My heart cracked, it broke, it mended. I sobbed. I healed. I thank Rebecca Wells for actually feeling the roundness of a woman.
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Summary: Makes you laugh and cry! You'll want to be a Ya Ya!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book . The bonds of friendship we all seem to yearn for and some of us are lucky enough to have. Our book club which spans ages of four decades read this book and loved it! We call ourselves the "Ya Ya Book Club " now in honor of this fabulous book.
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Summary: A wonderful story of female friendship
Review: I was bombarded with recommendations to read this wonderful story from my mother, my and my mother's closest friends, my female boss etc etc. As we are brought through Vivi's life - both the good and bad - what I enjoyed most was the strength, support and sheer joy the Ya-ya's experienced through their lifelong friendship. Any woman would be grateful for to experience such a bond!
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Summary: What a Pleasure to read!
Review: After reading so many glowing reviews, I feel my contribution will be insignificant, however, I just have to recognize Ms. Wells as being a writer that provide substance in an enjoyable read. I couldn't put the book down, yet the pages that I read stuck with me for days...Ms. Wells should be thanked for providing readers with such a gift.
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Summary: I Like the Title Better Than the Book
Review: Rebecca Well's titles are wonderful. " Little Altars Everywhere"...and "The Divine Secrets..." The writing is self indulgent. There are wonderful scenes that you know would never happen...I kept thinking I might accidentally slip over into Madison County and find myself on a bridge. But who doesn't enjoy reading about the South, the bayou, the Catholic Church mixed with voodoo.I wanted desperately to think that this could really occur...but the story went a little too far and bumped into the edge of being absurd. A little too much schmaltz for this reader. Could have been great.
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Summary: Wonderfully written, great story flow!
Review: I bought the book for the title alone. It just sounded like it would be great. Boy, did I under- estimate this book.As I read, I thought, "I can relate to Sidalee" a few times. As I continued to read, I began to think, "Wow, I've been there and done that!". It was so easy to relate to her, and the relationship she is struggling to have with her mother. By the end of the book, when Sidalee draws her life changing opinion of how she is going to see her mother, and what kind of relationship they will have, I was nearly shouting, "HEY! That's me!!!" I loved the book so much that I promptly wrote a note in it and mailed it to my own mother. Besides the great storyline, the book just flows so beautifully. There is no start-stop jerky writing, no "out of place" character moves...it was just a fantastic little book. I can not wait to read her next one, and I urge anyone to read this book.
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