Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses [Paperback]

Julie Dolan (Author), Liz Dolan (Author), Lian Dolan (Author), Monica Dolan (Author), Sheila Dolan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2002

Who's your satellite sister?

She's the one you turn to when the best thing in your life happens-or the worst. She's a satellite sister, a friend or sibling or college roommate who supports, accepts, sometimes busts, and always encourages you. She can get you through a bad haircut-or a bad marriage. And, because nothing beats old-fashioned hilarity, your satellite sister makes you laugh so hard that Diet Coke comes out your nose.

Meet the Satellite Sisters: Five real-life sisters who grew up, grew apart, and then came together again, united by the belief that whether by nature or by choice, being someone's sister or friend is what gives meaning to our lives. In Satellite Sisters' UnCommon Senses, the Dolan sisters apply their big-family wisdom to the range of experiences and issues we face in our grown-up lives. The result is their UnCommon Senses-5 essential traits needed to face the challenges and demands of our over-subscribed modern lives...and still end the day with our laughter intact. Warm, spirited, wise, and hilarious, these Satellite Sisters will remind you of your own satellite sisters.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Dolans are known to listeners of PRI as the engaging Satellite Sisters, living in four cities on two continents, who have a weekly on-air conversation about topics that people really talk about, from clearing up bad credit to finding a breast lump. Having grown up in a family of 10, they believe their experiences have given them a unique perspective on how to get along in life. In their tenuously connected reminiscences, lists of dos and don'ts and even a few recipes, the women advise readers to develop their five "uncommon senses" those senses being connection, self, humor, adventure and devotion. Each sister's life story emerges from her brief essays. Julie, the oldest, lives in Bangkok and has dealt with a dozen household moves during her married life. Liz, usually the sensible one, left a powerful corporate job to "get a life" by pursuing the nonprofit road. Sheila and Monica, closest in age, have been best friends and rivals since childhood, and Lian, the youngest sister, relates the perks and trials of being the baby girl. The authors extol the advantages of a large family, but readers may wonder about the unmentioned, inevitable disadvantages, such as the amount of attentive nurturing their parents could give them, or the resentment older children may have felt when forced into a parenting role. While the appeal and popularity of the Satellite Sisters' radio program is undeniable, on the printed page their collective wisdom is limited. There is nothing wildly entertaining or groundbreaking here, but there are many readers (and radio listeners) out there who won't care, and this book will make them laugh. (Nov. 5)Forecast: With first serial rights sold to O, the Oprah Magazine, second serial to Good Housekeeping, its status as a featured alternate of the Literary Guild and its inclusion in other major clubs' selection lists, as well as a 30-city author tour, the Satellite Sisters are gearing up for a true media blitz. A simultaneous audio edition from Putnam Berkley Audio will round out the effort, and this book will definitely profit.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Springing from their weekly one-hour Public Radio show, this book brings the Dolan sisters' words of wisdom to the printed page. From New York, Portland, L.A., and Bangkok, the Dolans connect once a week via satellite hook-up to chat live among themselves and with callers about any topic that arises. In their book, they share stories of birthday parties, holidays with 25 cousins, vacations, trips, college, and divorce. The book also fills in the blanks regarding the authors' personal lives, telling how growing up in a family of eight has given them a gift of gab that they heartily exploit. Features in O magazine and Good Housekeeping will fuel interest in this feel-good book. For public libraries. Lisa Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, NY

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (November 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573229547
• ISBN-13: 978-1573229548
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lian Dolan is a mother, wife, Satellite Sister, Chaos Chronicler, contributor to Oprah.com, and talk show host. She writes and talks about her adventures in modern motherhood for her website, www.chaoschronicles.com and her weekly podcast, The Chaos Chronicles. Lian has always used her voice to take on all aspects of motherhood, from common-sense parenting to all-consuming school volunteering to overcoming handbag envy. She is known for her humorous take on the day-to-day issues that face women everywhere. The Chaos Chronicles is currently being developed by Nickelodeon as a half-hour comedy.

Prior to The Chaos Chronicles, Lian spent a decade hosting Satellite Sisters, an award-winning talk show that she created with her four real sisters. Satellite Sisters has won 11 Gracie Allen Awards for Excellence in Women's Media, including Talk Show of the Year in 2006. On air, Lian has interviewed everybody from Bill Clinton to Nora Roberts to Maya Angelou.
In addition to her work on air, Lian is a writer. Her first novel, "Helen of Pasadena" will be published in November, 2010 by Prospect Park Books. She is also weekly relationships columnist at oprah.com . Previously published books include "Satellite Sisters UnCommon Senses," published in 2001. Her writing has been featured in many national magazines including regular columns in O, The Oprah Magazine and Working Mother Magazine.

Lian has appeared numerous TV shows including The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

She lives in Pasadena, California with her husband and two sons. Her dream is to ride on a Rose Parade float.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I laughed. I cried. I love the Satellite Sisters, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Satellite Sisters' UnCommon Senses (Hardcover)

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend who had seen them at a recent bookstore appearance. Their stories about growing up in a big family and their observations about life today read like much funnier, better written versions of the tales my friends and I share with eachother. It's nice to read stories about a family that isn't perfect, but like and support eachother anyway.
Their first chapter about the importance of the Sense of Connection is particularly moving in these times. Our families, our communities, our neighbors and co-workers - learning to live with all these people in our lives is important (and we might as well make it fun.) I really appreciate the warm and funny approach this book takes to some of life's challenges. I am a little tired of all the earnest self-examination that some other books preach, and found myself laughing at loud while reading Satellite Sisters, but quoting them later in serious conversations with friends. My suggestion would be for everyone to read this book before the holiday season just to prepare yourself to appreciate the friends and family we have around us.
I have never heard their radio show but I did read the excerpt of the book in Oprah Magazine. I think these sisters are really on to something that we all know in our hearts and need to be reminded of. Our friends and family are the most important things in our lives.
I also love the way this book is structured: five main chapters about the five senses they write about (Connection, Self, Humor, Adventure and Direction). Each of the five sisters writes essays for each chapter, making the book very entertaining to read. The voices and points of view change throughout and each essay is very individual. This is so much more interesting than the usual "let me tell you what's right" point of view adopted in other books. They don't have the answers and they freely admit it. "We are not experts. We are just sisters." How refreshing.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want to be a satellite sister!, November 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses (Paperback)

I love this radio show so I went to a reading two of the sisters did in New York this week. Not only did I buy the book, based on their warm and funny presentation, but I bought three copies for my closest friends for Christmas. Having read my own copy in the last two days or so, I may need to stock up on a few more. This is the kind of book to share with friends - it's a very charming memoir about their childhood mixed with some observations about the importance of friendship and connection in their lives today. Each of the five sisters have a different point of view, but the overall message is about valuing the people in your life. This is stuff that's worth thinking about, especially if you can laugh a little while you do. There are lots of recent books about about women's lives, but they are all about one Bridget Jones-like individual. This one gets at the connections between female friends, which makes it much more original and memorable.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, does this ever ring true...., November 15, 2001

By 

Hearth (Darnestown, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Satellite Sisters' UnCommon Senses (Hardcover)

As the oldest of a similar family (six girls, two boys, Catholic, etc.), a lot of this book rang really true. It's also selective, in the sense that the parents are shown as fonts of all wisdom and more than a little detached. No matter how wonderful they were, they were undoubtedly also human. As a parent myself, I love to hear what they had to say about keeping their family going, balancing among the various kids, etc. The best idea they had, in my opinion, was taking two weeks off by themselves every summer. In 16 years of parenthood, we have only taken off one night without the kids...hmmm...

The relationships among the siblings definitely is true to life, with all the love and all the bickering that real families go through. I love the fact that they have been able to come together and stay close even though there is a lot of distance among them geographically. It's also very realistic that they have very different lifestyle choices, family situations and professions. We all do, too.

Well worth the read.