[MPOV] Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 3.83/5

Published: December 7th, 2004

Author: Rebecca Wells

Genre: Women's fiction, contemporary, Southern

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.

I'm reading this for May's book challenges below:

1. TBNT Book Challenge: A Bildungsroman (coming of age story) OR exploring relationships & family issues

2. Book Spin / Book Spin Bingo: letters B and R (Rebecca Wells)

My mother is not the Holy Lady, she thought. My mother's love is not perfect. My mother's love is good enough. My lover's love is good enough. Maybe I am good enough.

All the while reading this book, I somehow envisioned Jessica Lange as Vivi. I recently got to know there was a movie based on this book but the actress acted as Vivi was a different one. Am not sure if I will watch it yet. Anyway, back to this awesome book. This is one book which I would loved to be in! The story, the writing, the pact, the everything are so deep yet with so much feels!

The past: Vivi grew up seeking her mother's love and father's approval but her mother, Buggy, was a devout Christian who couldn't tolerate Vivi's wild behavior. Her parents were always arguing due to their different faith and believe. Vivi was also beaten by her own father. Hence after she got married, her husband was rarely home to help her raising their 4 children, she vent her anger on the children with Sidda getting the brunt of it. Vivi finally succumbed to depression and had a huge mental breakdown.

The future: Sidda is having a nervous breakdown and wanted to delay her marriage. Her reason was purely due to her relationship with her family. She idolized her mother, Vivi, and her best friends. As their past is a blur to her, she hopes to find out their secrets and resolved her insecurities once and for all so that she could move on with her life.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood is a story of awakening, family and friends... the relationship of 3 generations of women... the ups, the meltdowns all correlated to one another. From Buggy to Vivi, from Vivi to Sidda, it truly is a cycle from one woman's experience to another. The journey one experienced, so eventful and adventurous, I am envious of it all! On the other hand, it sure proves as relevant even now as most of the time we rarely discussed our feelings, our state of mind to each other or anyone. Mental health is real!

I won't divulge much but I can't help getting over those emotional chaos after reading this book! Definitely having a book hangover now LOL! I do find it is well written, easily absorbed and the way Rebecca Well plots the story is up my alley. If you are looking for a family oriented read with lots to think about, you should give this book a try.

Them that know don't tell; and them that tell don't know. For Siddalee Walker, the need to understand had passed, at least for the moment. All that was left was love and wonder.

Some new words for me:
Equipoise - balance of forces or interests

Vetiver - a fragrant extract or essential oil obtained from the root of an Indian grass, used in perfumery and aromatherapy

Genuflect - lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect

Pissoir - a public urinal

Whippoorwill - a North and Central American nightjar with a distinctive call

Emphysema - a lung disease which results in shortness of breath due to over-swelling of the alveoli