Novel by
Rebecca Wells. The book is about Sidalee Walker, a woman whose
estrangement from her
mother, Vivi, makes her decide to learn more about her mother's
childhood. The setting is split between
Washington State in the 1990's and
Louisiana in the 1930's - 1990's. The "
Divine Secrets" is a
scrapbook that Vivi and the Ya-Yas, Vivi's childhood friends, put together. The novel is
poignant and
hilarious, full of yearning, disappointment, and reconciliation. A must-read for any
woman (or any guy who wants to understand women!)
The "Pootie Pootwell" scene, the
skinny dipping scene, the Ya-Yas' obsession with
Bloody Marys...all of these give the novel a very personal feel. The
reader will also enjoy the little bits of uncommon wisdom sprinkled throughout: "Life is short but wide, and this too shall pass."
It made me
laugh, it made me
cry, it was better than "Cats"! ;)