I picked up this Gem from Rebbecca Wells on the streets of Nairobi in April 2009. And I loved It!
Reading it again for the umpteenth time I thought I would put down what I loved about this book. Which is close to everything.
Siddalee Walker a vivacious talented Theater Director battles the demons of her past and Present (In the guise of her larger than life mother Vivi Walker, her almost perfect-I am green with envy she found him- fiance Connor and her fear of death, dying and being left alone.)
What Rebbecca wells has given us is a feast of lives woven together from the pain, loves, Laughs of the Ya-Ya's (Vivi, Teensy, Neecie & Caro) and their children (the Petite Ya-Ya's of whom Siddalee is the embodiment and the only one we really get to know) And the food. There is nothing I love more than Books about Books than Books about food. I gained 10pounds just reading this book.
The relationship between Siddalee and her mother Vivi is strained and fragile, marked by years of abuse and addiction. And as is the norm for modern day children Sidda finds that she blames her mother for it. She strives to get to know her mother and understand the bond of friendship she has with the Ya-Ya's as part of a way to prepare for her next Directorial task.
In the process she sees a side to her mother that she never knew,Her loves her foibles and the things that she couldn't handle and those that she did. And we learn (as readers) something she never does about the love of her mothers life Jack who dies in the war and how she is never truly happy after that.
Ultimately what Divine Secrets brought for me is how little we truly know about our parents no matter how much we love them or hate them. And how much our relationships with them are the blueprint for our relationships.
"My mother is not the Holy Lady, she thought. My mothers love is not perfect. My mothers love is good enough. My lovers love is good enough. Maybe I am good enough"
Siddalee Walker,Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
So grab yourself a good bottle of wine and a box of tissues and be ready for an emotional roller coaster that leaves you saying aah.
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