Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood: A Novel [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Rebecca Wells (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 3, 2011

When mother and daughter Vivi and Siddalee Walker get into a savage fight over a New York Times article that refers to Vivi as a “tap-dancing child abuser,” the fallout is felt from Louisiana to New York to Seattle. A successful theater director, Siddalee panics and postpones her upcoming wedding—so Vivi’s intrepid gang of lifelong girlfriends, the Ya-Yas, sashay in and conspire to bring everyone back together.

In 1932, Vivi and the Ya-Yas were disqualified from a Shirley Temple Look-Alike Contest for unladylike behavior. Sixty years later, they’re still making waves. They persuade Vivi to send Sidda a scrapbook of girlhood mementos titled “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”—an album that will reveal more questions than answers as it leads Sidda to encounter the legacy of imperfect love and the unknowable mystery of life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When mother and daughter Vivi andSiddalee Walker get into a savagefight over a New York Times articlethat refers to Vivi as a “tap-dancing childabuser,” the fallout is felt from Louisiana to NewYork to Seattle. A successful theater director,Siddalee panics and postpones her upcomingwedding—so Vivi’s intrepid gang of lifelonggirlfriends, the Ya-Yas, sashay in and conspire tobring everyone back together.

In 1932, Vivi and the Ya-Yas were disqualifiedfrom a Shirley Temple Look-Alike Contestfor unladylike behavior. Sixty years later, they’restill making waves. They persuade Vivi to sendSidda a scrapbook of girlhood mementos titled“Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”—analbum that will reveal more questions than answersas it leads Sidda to encounter the legacyof imperfect love and the unknowable mysteryof life.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Writer, actor, and playwright Rebecca Wells is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Ya-Yas in Bloom, Little Altars Everywhere, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which was made into a feature film. A native of Louisiana, she now lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062040359
• ASIN: B006TQVL7K
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars did not grab me September 10, 2012

By Cloggie Downunder

Format:Paperback

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood is the second of the Ya-Yas series by Rebecca Wells. Set in two main locations, it tells of Sidalee Walker's retreat to a remote cabin near Seattle to examine her past life and prospective marriage to Connor McGill, an examination that is facilitated and augmented by a scrap book of memorabilia her mother sends her from Louisiana, "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood", a book full of photos, letters, newspaper cuttings, tickets and tokens dealing with her mother's dysfunctional childhood and adolescence, and Sidda's own. Members of the Ya Ya sisterhood, her mother Viviane and friends Caro, Necie and Teensy, ultimately help Sidda find her way. From reading about the author's own background, it appears that this novel is semi-autobiographical, as the authenticity from personal experience is apparent. While there are many heart-warming moments, there is also quite a bit of heartbreak, and it is quite slow-moving in places, making me wish she'd just get on with it. Siddalee and Vivi seem to be rather self-indulgent, allowing themselves the neuroses and existential crises that only rich people can afford. This novel touches very briefly and superficially on the subject of The Help. Certainly it did not grab me enough to want to read the companion volume, Little Altars Everywhere.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! June 12, 2011

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I don't have much more to say other than I lived this book and it was much better than the movie. Def a keeper.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood September 24, 2012

By Bookworm

Format:Kindle Edition

Bought this book as I was reading it this month in our Book group. We loved the intertwining between the characters and thought the writer brought the essence of each character out really well. We(as a group)spoke about the relationship between mother and daughter and loved the friendship the 4 women had throughout their lives but felt that the ending let the book down.
The ending would suit the romantic reader. All up though - a good read.