Customer Reviews

Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

A friend who is addicted to this radio show gave me this book as a birthday gift. I was skeptical reading about five sisters because I do not have any sisters myself, but so much of their attitude and approach reminds me of all my friends. Their self-deprecating humor is such a nice relief after too many books by people who think too highly of themselves (think Bill O'Reilly!) Their messages may be simple, but in these times it is nice to remind ourselves that yes, it is important to laugh, have fun with your people, and even count our blessings. It is not themselves they think highly of but the people who have been important in their lives.

what's so funny about this book is that many of the situations and dilemmas sound familiar (getting out of a bad volunteer organzation, dealing with a problematic family member) but their approach is both funny and positive. We all hear a lot of the family dysfunction stuff but these sisters rise above it and remind us how nice it is to have friends and family. I laughed out loud at their essays like Get Over Yourself and Buffer Guest. I wish I had more Satellite Sisters like these sisters, but I do have a few, so I am passing on the word to all of them that this is the first book I have read in a long time that captures wny I love my friends and family (and why they can occasionally drive me crazy.) My Christmas shopping will include many copies of Satellite Sisters. I just wish they were on the radio near me somewhere.

The Dolans evoke an era (70s) and a place (somewhere in CT, Fairfield, Southport, I couldn't figure it out), that those of us in our 30s and 40s can all relate to (I had forgotten about rainbow belts until Sheila's lyrical pursuit of Landlubber hiphuggers in Westport brought it all back in one patchouli-scented wave with a James Taylor soundtrack) Too positive, too nice to their parents? I find it a refreshing change and a great gift suggestion for people who need to get over their inner child and learn how to make a family and live a life.
Go girls!

these women are the oprahs of public radio. they are funny, warm and inspiring. their spirit is much needed during these weird times. the book is a heartfelt and hilarious exploration of growing up in a family of eight, where no body and everybody was special. a must read and great gift for friends and family.

I enjoyed the sisters' book. Though I identify more with Julie- I think Liam is an excellent writer- I would read another book of theirs. It is a satisfyingly civil book.

As I don't always have my ear tuned to the radio to hear their show, or my biological sisters nearby, I enjoy turning to this book in small doses for a bit of wisdom and wit. It is a celebration of siblings and sisterhood. Each of the Dolan sister's personalities comes through and it's like having the work of a family member on my bookshelf. Thanks, girls.

I love this book and I love the Satellite Sisters. Reading thier book takes me back to my own childhood, growing up in a big family with my sisters. I'm sending a copy to each of my sisters. We're all getting together for Thanksgiving and I'm sure UnCommon Senses will be the talk of the table. Thank you Dolan Sisters.