Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Hey y'all.

I'm at a busy point in my Summer (the post-vacation, catch up on school, prepare for heavy-duty work) point.  But I know that is no excuse to stop reading.

So here is what I am currently reading. 

And let me tell you, I'm pretty excited about it.

I love these feel-good, "southern" novels with charming female protagonists.  (Think The Secret Life of Bees/Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt).

So... without further ado... here is the plot synopsis for...

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

When Vivi, Teensy, Necie, and Caro were younger, they created the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. The Ya-Yas caused shenanigans and chaos everywhere, but also had a sisterly bond that could fix anything. Now, at 70 years old, the Ya-Yas are determined to fix the struggling relationship between mother and daughter.
Siddalee "Sidda" Walker, a play director, has never had a smooth relationship with her mother, Vivi; but when a New York Times reporter twists Siddalee's words around in an article about her recent play, Vivi and Sidda's mother-daughter relationship goes spiraling down. Not only is Sidda having trouble with her mother, but she is also having trouble with her fiancé, Conner. Once the Ya-Yas hear of this, they give Sidda a sedative and sneak her away to their cabin, with the Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood scrapbook. The entire time, Vivi is unaware, and the only way Sidda can go back to her fiancee is to "knock the chip off her shoulder" and read the scrapbook to better understand her mother.

If you're looking for me between the hours of 7-10AM the next few days, you may find me on my porch swing, sipping some tea, eating "hummingbird cake" while reading this novel. (who am I kidding?  I don't even have a porch.  Let alone do I wake up before 9AM on my days off.)  But still, I'll be reading.

All my loving,
SGH

Me Talk Pretty One Day Review

1/5 stars
I suppose I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book.  (And perhaps diving into it blindly was my downfall?)  But in any case, as I started reading, I became fascinated with the craft of this author.  The whole idea of compiling 26 essays seemed brilliant.  However, as I read on, I found myself skimming pages and hoping that each chapter would quickly end so I could get on with the book.  Yes, the author's writing is witty, funny, and unique.  I did laugh out loud on a few occasions.  (Especially in the first chapter when the author recounts his experiences in speech-therapy.)  But despite the four times I laughed, this book was not a worth-while read, and I would not recommend it to anybody.  (And I do feel like that says something, because I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to light reads like this.)  I'm also quite content that I did not actually purchase this book as I do not want it taking up precious space on my bookshelf.  #Overdriveforthewin.  I wanted to like this book... I really did.  But all in all, I'm real happy it's over. 

The Stand Review

Y'all, I did it.  I finished The Stand.  
And here's what I thought of it...
*****
(4.8 out of 5)



(My review for Amazon.com)

Anyone that knows me well knows that I love

(worship)

Stephen King.

I’ve read some of his lesser-known works and adored them, and so imagine how thrilled I was to pick up perhaps his most acclaimed piece of literature, The Stand.  Never did I think it would take me almost 2 years (yes, 2 years) to finish it.  But hear me out.

I was given the “complete and uncut” edition and let me tell you, that sucker is very complete and uncut.  Now, I know Stephen King is known for plopping in some extraneous detail here and there.  And believe me when I tell you, I live for that detail.  I love it.  I’ve always been shocked at the hundreds of constant readers who murmur about his excessive use of detail.  For that’s what makes the King the wordsmith he is, amiright?

But no, the first 34(ish) chapters of the book are full of massive amounts of detail and pure character development.  And yes, I love learning about characters and gaining a fondness for certain ones.  But I don’t love 34 chapters of it.

BUT… after the 2 years it took me to get past those first 34 chapters (stop judging me, will you? I did read other books during that time), I became more and more engrossed in the world Stephen King had created.  And I’d even go as far to say that the story was painted so vividly for me, that I really did feel more absorbed in this book than I have any other book.  I found myself truly invested in certain characters (okay, okay… maybe that’s why he put in 34 chapters of character development?), and I constantly had to refrain from googling what happened to them, and whether they went to the good or the bad side. 

I think we all love ourselves a “good versus evil” story, and this has to be the epitome of the ever-constant conflict between good and evil.  Because even though you know that good (usually) triumphs, you don’t know what Stephen King’s take on it will be, who will die, who will switch sides, and what will be of either society in the end. 

So… what I’m trying to allude to, is that despite the time it took me to get into this book, I would recommend it to anyone.  I would add the discretion to perhaps try and get your hands on the original version, to avoid any difficulties delving into the delicious storyline that awaits.  But if the original version isn’t available, I strongly urge you to buy the 1,153 page edition.  And if you wade through the first 300 pages questioning why you are lugging a book that seems as heavy as an encyclopedia around, just know that it will be so much more than worth it in the end.

Stephen King’s genius never disappoints, and though I thought for a minute there, or for 2 years, that I wasn’t actually the constant reader I thought I was, he redeemed himself and I learned I shall never question him

(the master)

again.