Looking Back - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Fiction
1996 HarperPerennial
Finished in October 1997
Rating: 5/5 (Excellent)

Publisher's Blurb:

When Siddalee Walker, oldest daughter of Vivi Abbott Walker, Ya-Ya extraordinaire, is interviewed in the New York Times about a hit play she's directed, her mother gets described as a "tap-dancing child abuser." Enraged, Vivi disowns Sidda. Devastated, Sidda begs forgiveness, and postpones her upcoming wedding. All looks bleak until the Ya-Yas step in and convince Vivi to send Sidda a scrapbook of their girlhood mementos, called "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." As Sidda struggles to analyze her mother, she comes face to face with the tangled beauty of imperfect love, and the fact that forgiveness, more than understanding, is often what the heart longs for.

My Original Notes (1997):

I loved this book! It's the kind that I just fell into and didn't want to end. I never would have bought it if it hadn't been so highly recommended by the BookStacks reading forum I've become involved with on the Internet.

I became envious of the Ya-Yas and their close friendships.

I loved the descriptions of Sidda's retreat cabin in the Seattle area. 

This book reminded me a bit of Pat Conroy's Beach Music. Very lyrical. Wonderful descriptions.

Many passages caused me to laugh out loud. And cry.

I loved the letters from Vivi to Necie.

I want all my friends to read this book! Rod read it and liked it a lot, but I think it's more meaningful to women.

My Current Thoughts:

I don't know if I ever got around to reading this a second time, but it's on my "keeper shelf" and I intend to eventually read it again. I also saw the movie, which was very good. Might be time to watch it again, too.