Little Altars Everywhere & Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Ya Yas #1-2

by Rebecca Wells

Little Altars Everywhere

The companion to the beloved bestseller Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, here is the funny, heartbreaking, and powerfully insightful tale that first introduced Siddalee, Vivi, their spirited Walker clan, and the indomitable Ya-Yas.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

When Vivi and Siddalee Walker, an unforgettable mother-daughter team, get into a savage fight over a New York Times article that refers to Vivi as a 'tap-dancing child abuser,' the Ya-Yas, sashay in and conspire to bring everyone back together. In 1932, Vivi and the Ya-Yas were disqualified from a Shirley Temple Look-Alike Contest for unladylike behavior. Sixty years later, they're 'bucking 70' and still making waves. With passion and a rare gift for language, Rebecca Wells moves from present to past, unraveling Vivi's life, her enduring friendships with the Ya-Yas, and the reverberations on Siddalee. The collective power of the Ya-Yas, each of them totally individual and authentic, permeates this story of a tribe of Louisiana wild women who are impossible to tame.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Adult, Southern, Humor, Book Club, Adult Fiction

579 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 1999

About the author

Rebecca Wells was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. “I grew up,” she says, “in the fertile world of story-telling, filled with flamboyance, flirting, futility, and fear.” Surrounded by Louisiana raconteurs, a large extended family, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor’s Parish, Rebecca’s imagination was stimulated at every turn. Early on, she fell in love with thinking up and acting in plays for her siblings—the beginnings of her career as an actress and writer for the stage. She recalls her early influences as being the land around her, harvest times, craw-fishing in the bayou, practicing piano after school, dancing with her mother and brothers and sister, and the close relationship to her black “mother” who cleaned for the Wells household. She counts black music and culture from Louisiana as something that will stay in her body’s memory forever.

In high school, she read Walt Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric,” which opened her up to the idea that everything in life is a poem, and that, as she says, “We are not born separately from one another.” She also read “Howl,” Allen Ginsberg’s indictment of the strangling consumer-driven American culture he saw around him. Acting in school and summer youth theater productions freed Rebecca to step out of the social hierarchies of high school and into the joys of walking inside another character and living in another world.

The day after she graduated from high school, Rebecca left for Yellowstone National Park, where she worked as a waitress. It was an introduction to the natural glories of the park—mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, and geysers—as well as to the art of hitchhiking.

Rebecca graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, where she studied theater, English, and psychology. She performed in many college plays, but also stepped outside the theater department to become awakened to women’s politics. During this time she worked as a cocktail waitress--once accidentally kicking a man in the shins when he slipped a ten-dollar bill down the front of her dress—and began keeping a journal after reading Anais Nin, which she has done ever since.

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Reviews

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If Wells set out to create a truly dislikable character, then she succeeded in Viviane Walker. In universe, Vivi is supposed to be charming and funny, despite her many faults. But it’s hard to see how or why. Unable to bear not being the centre of attention, she has no qualms about being as obnoxious as possible to make sure she and her troop of equally spoilt, privileged friends are always in the spotlight. Now in her twilight years, Vivi is a sad, self-pitying nobody, racked with jealousy over her daughter's success. A decidedly average woman who dreamed big and thought she was the bee's knees, but in truth never had the aptitude or self-discipline to make anything of herself. This in itself might be relatable, or even endearing, were it not for the awful abuse that Vivi inflicts on almost anyone who isn't a Ya-Ya. Vivi takes her problems out on everybody around her, most notably her children and herself. The cruelty starts early with the stupid name she gives her eldest daughter, Siddalee.

Whilst Siddalee shows signs of an actual personality in ‘Little Altars,’ she grows out of this by ‘Divine Secrets’, in which she somehow manages to be both terminally dull and completely neurotic. I completely failed to see why perfect, thoughtful, sexy Connor (whom everybody just adores. Yawn.) is even remotely interested in her. Connor, if you’re even half as wonderful as the author makes out, move on. You can find someone much better than wet blanket Sidda, and you won’t be saddled with a crazy, ‘diva’ mother-in-law either.

After reading ‘Little Altars,’ I have no idea why adult Sidda would want any sort of relationship with her abusive, alcoholic mother in ‘Divine Secrets’. Or why the other Ya-Ya’s continually gloss over Vivi’s abuse. Perhaps they didn’t know the worst of it, but they certainly knew something wasn’t right. Teensy pays for Sidda’s therapy, and Caro even goes so far as to tell Sidda that at least her mother ‘f*cked her up with style’. Yes, I’m sure the belt Vivi used to whip her children bloody was just the height of fashion, and sexual abuse is always de rigueur.

This book paints the bond shared by the Ya-Ya’s as the pinnacle of female friendship, but let's be honest here. Real friends are the people who love you enough to call you on your crap, and tell you to get help. In contrast, the Ya-Ya's are a sisterhood of enablers who have stifled each other from girlhood to dotage. There is nothing divine about these ladies.

[Sheila Mandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adored this book. at some points i wanted to laugh so hard, till i cried other times i wanted to cry till i laughed! i just adore this series

[Julia Denn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tina specifically told me this book was darker than Ya Ya Sisterhood and I ignored her only to see that she was 100% right :-)

[Cassie Benedict · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could give negative stars. This book ruined Divine Secrets for me.

[Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the Divine Secrets book first, which I liked. This book, however, was not as enjoyable. It seemed much sadder and more traumatic, and the characters were not likeable despite their struggles. I was mad and irritated and disgusted with some of them, and they did not earn my sympathy. Not that every character has to earn our sympathy, but I just didn't enjoy learning about their horrible pasts, there was little redemptive value. I really preferred the first book much more.

[TexasMargarita]

I learned that it's great to have friends, and to be Southern, and that everyone probably has mother issues to overcome

[Rini Amier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I'm on chapter 3, and its melted my heart already :-D

[Claudette Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed emotions about this book. Characters were developed well and I liked how each person had their chapter so you can see their point of view. And I like the two distinct timeframes.
This family had struggles in the Deep South in the 1960’s. It was a different time and place. Hearing how Viviana felt about her life was eye opening. Options for women were fewer in that time and place. She could even justify her treatment of her children. Reading how they handled it in that second half was gut wrenching. This was not just a fun, light book to read. The parents were abusive to their children and did not appear to care. It was tough to read through but well written.

[Jill Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked “Little Altars” more than “Divine Secrets.” The formatting of the first reminded me of journals or the free form writing I disliked in “On the Road” but liked here. The second was long but felt like it had holes and inconsistencies in timing in relation to events in the first book. There was so much from the 1940s but I wanted more from the 1960s. I loved the section about the “Gone with the Wind” premiere having read and watched that recently.

[Beach026 · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books have a way of carrying you away to another time that some would wrongly describe as simpler yet it makes you want to live in that era with this group of best friends that are all completely different yet all the same due to their unwavering loyalty and love for each other. Little Altars was a better read for me but you'll definitely want to read Divine first DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE.

[Kathleen O'neill]

Began reading while in New Orleans with Caitline (for her converence)
Completed in the Cabin - Peggy O'Brien

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the writing style. The perspectives from the different characters was illuminating.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

[Brooke Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can hold its own and isn’t merely in the shadow of its sister book. The truths from this book shook me but I was pleased there was some reconciliation in the family.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful short stories, a great primer for the Divine Secrets.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the movie and just loved the book even more...everything came together perfectly and not once was I confused, I was immediately drawn in from the very first page...sad, fun, heartwarming and soo much more...definitely a recommended read...

[Janice Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these books. I remember reading Divine Secrets right after the twins were born, and relating all too well to the part when Vivianne looses it and gets in her car and just drives. I can't tell you how many times I've had that thought - to just get in my car and drive for a few hours, then check into some motel by myself and just SLEEP for 2 or 3 days. I would never really do it (I don't think?) but it was fascinating for me to read about a mother who did and the consequences that followed.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am re-reading this book for the second time because I want to read YA-Ya's in bloom but was havin trouble remembering the specifics of the first two. I like it still but I reading them all in a row, I think I like Little Alters bst.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I loved Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, I wasn't a fan of "Little Alters" at all. It was heartbreaking family story, but I feel like I've just heard it all before. Maybe if I read it first before Ya Ya, I would have thought differently.

[Vivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

If memory serves me right, I think I liked this book better than the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Or if memory fails me, then, it might be the other way around. Maybe I'll read it again someday. For now, "think pretty pink and blue thoughts."

*I swear this is so for-Nicole a book. ;)

[AG Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Wells is a brilliant author who has the talent to put you in the first person point of view with all the different characters from The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood book. I did enjoy it. It was written very well.....in some spots too well.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her writing is so powerful. I read this so long ago but I still have it along w/ the Ya Ya book. I remember being turned on to reading after reading these 2 books. They swept me up and I remember being so completely engrossed when I read them. I love the many voices you hear in this book!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, funny, heartbreaking, and entertaining.

Just the ticket when questioning one's sanity; even if something sounds uncomfortably familiar, overall it will confirm (and induce gratitude for) your own normalcy.

[Haley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood first & loved it. Little Altars Everywhere ruined it for me.

[Doris Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great author.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dysfunction is defined aptly and it resonated with my inner thoughts about how families do not function! Rebecca Wells builds lovable characters like no other author.

[Christine Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read this one after finishing the first book. It was just as good!

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after reading the Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood in 2001. I didn't like it as much as the Ya Yas. But saw the movie of the Ya Ya sisterhood after reading both.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book!

[Lauren Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Divine Secrets