- Paperback: 544 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books; New edition edition (11 Sep 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330376519
- ISBN-13: 978-0330376518
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 652,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Siddalee Walker's mother Vivi disowns her daughter when a reporter, who interviews the 40-year-old, successful director, describes her mother as a "tap dancing child abuser". Devastated, Sidda postpones her wedding. The Ya-Yas, Vivi's strong circle of friends since childhood, are horrified and agree to send Siddalee the scrapbook of "Divine Secrets" to try and help her to understand her mother and herself.
Sidda submerges herself in the wild, wondrous and wicked world of the Ya-Yas as she reads through half-a-century's worth of letters and clippings contained in the Ya-Ya Sisterhood's parcel of "Divine Secrets". Middle-class Louisiana quakes as the quartet makes its way through adolescence: from being disqualified from the Shirley-Temple-look-a-like competition because Teensy did a "poot", to attending the premiere of Gone with the Wind in Atlanta, only for Vivi's hoop skirt, "much to her confusion, to go entirely over the head of the person sitting in the seat in front of her", to spending a night in jail after floating naked on a hot southern evening in the town's water cooler.
Rebecca Wells, author of Little Altars Everywhere (in which Siddalee Walker describes the anguishes of childhood), has created a beautifully crafted, penetrating insight into society, friendship, the mother/daughter divide and religion. No subject is taboo as you dip in and out of the lives of Vivi, Teensy, Caro and Necie--the Ya Yas. --Nicola Perry
Review
"A very entertaining and, ultimately, deeply moving novel about the complex bonds between mother and daughter." -- "Washington Post"One heck of a rollicking good read...You'll laugh. You'll cry. But you'll mostly want to laugh and offer Wells a hearty merci." -- "Columbus Dispatch"An insightful, delicious novel." -- "The Oregonian
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Tap-dancing child abuser. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tap-dancing child abuser. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Murmur from a mere male ?,
This review is from: Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood (Paperback)
If a humble (British) male is permitted a view on this, I'll say forget all those 'Mars' & 'Venus' theories. Read this book and a few more males may get to understand why we guys so often just don't understand!Having just viewed the movie, it's prompted memories of reading the book about a year ago. Both experiences were thoroughly enjoyable - in a vividly coloured, brightly populated, emotionally roller-coasting kind of way. I've never been to Louisiana, but I felt I could bathe up to my chin in the lushly sensual atmosphere created here. I have, though, experienced something of the colourful/dysfunctional personalities of some of the main characters, and there are many strong resonant chords to be felt. As others too have said, there are good lessons, delightfully conveyed, to be learned here - about shared lives, parenthood, childhood (the good, and the less so), friendships, understanding, betrayal, and most of all, that sometimes most testing act of grace - forgiveness. I laughed out loud, I quietly wept, I got completely drawn in. Thank you Rebecca Wells. Go read it - the characters just sashay off the pages straight into your heart - I loved it!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Divine Reading for a would-be Ya Ya,
By
This review is from: Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood (Paperback)
I defy anyone to read this book and not call someone 'Dahlin' before they finish! Or at the very least begin to read in a Southern drawl! This book made me laugh out loud and cry at times - and it even made me examine my own treatment of people - mainly other females in my life. A fantastic gift for a well-loved friend/sister/mother.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So moving it is hard to believe it is a work of fiction,
By A Customer
This review is from: Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood (Paperback)
If I had realised this book was a self help guide I probably wouldn't have read it. It is cleverly disguised in a rich, sensual and beatiful story of sisterhood and relationships between mothers, daughters and friends that makes you ache to be a part of it. As someone who has spent a large part of my teenage and adult life blaming my "Vivified" mother for being somewhat emotionally retarded, each time this book moved me to tears and nearer to understanding and forgiveness was like a punch to the chest. The bursts of crying and laughter you will experience are inevitable and it really is one that you will press on every female you love.love to Ya-Ya's everywhere x
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