Divine Secrets

Redlass · #1 10-22-2004, 04:27 PM

Has anyone else here read Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and/or its companion book Little Altars Everywhere?

I listened to the former as an audiobook read by the author on a recent road trip and then read the second one when I got home. I'm finding that they've been affecting me pretty profoundly.

What is she writing next?!?!?!

rora07 · #2 10-22-2004, 04:37 PM

kiki gave me one to read a long time ago and I didn't get a chance to read it before I gave it back - loved the movie however. Kiki and Molly and i all brought our own "lemonade" to the theater and had a thouroughly good time!

phoenixx · #3 10-22-2004, 05:09 PM

yes to both books and the Divine movie as well

Redlass · #4 10-22-2004, 05:17 PM

How did the movie hold up compared to the book? I would have thought it would be a very difficult movie to do given how much of the book was introspection and moving back and forth in time. Did they do it as flashbacks?

Rora: I can just bet the three of you had a great time at the theater! Perfect for that movie too.

**taurusmoon** · #5 10-22-2004, 06:32 PM

As you surmised, the movie did not do justice to the book. It followed the storyline, but not the emotions of the book.

Doing an informal survey, the people who had not read the book did not walk away with much from the movie. Those who had read it found the movie a nice supplement to the book.

Redlass · #6 10-22-2004, 06:48 PM

So, do you think Siddalee represents a lot of daughters today?

And do you think our relationships with our mothers are as complicated as hers was?

**theworm**[$] · #7 10-22-2004, 07:05 PM

Loved the book (Ya Ya), thought the movie was pleasant - but not as good.

I think perhaps Bridgette should use one of these books as a book club selection. Since we're already discussing Ya Yas, and I haven't read the 2nd book, perhaps you'll pick that one.

Quote:

So, do you think Siddalee represents a lot of daughters today?
And do you think our relationships with our mothers are as complicated as hers was?

Yes and yes. It's been a while since I've read the book and saw the film, but I remember really liking Siddalee. I think that often mother/daughter relationships are extremely complicated - though maybe not as dramatic as the ones in Ya Ya. I think there is something about the mother/daughter bond that is tricky. Things are a bit different now, but when I grew up it was mostly my mom who raised us - my dad was the bread winner. I think that a mother's identity can get so wrapped up in her children, that she may feel that she loses a piece of herself. There can be a competition almost. Both the mother and the daughter are trying to control the daughters life. This sounds awful as I read it back - mother's and daughters can be the best of friends, but I think years ago it was harder. If you define yourself as primarily a mother, and you devote yourself to raising your kids - what do you do when they grow up. In this case, Sidalee's mom - don't remember her name - Viv? - wasn't the perfect mom, and wasn't there. I think because she had secrets to hide, she NEEDED so much more to be the center of the family and of her daughters life.
Think I'll need to read the book again. I loved Sidalee's "coming of age". I loved the changes in her mom. I loved reading the moms story.
It was a GREAT book.

Redlass · #8 10-22-2004, 07:16 PM

If you get the chance, borrow the audio version from the library. The author does a great job of giving everyone different voices and accents. (Like Siddalee, the author is an actress and playwright. Almost begs you to ask how much was biographical.)

As for making it my pick, my pick is a year away, I want to discuss it now!

brian_igo · #9 10-22-2004, 07:19 PM

We interrupt this conversation for a public service annuoncement from the Y-chromosome.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

**theworm**[$] · #10 10-22-2004, 07:20 PM

LOL!
Ok - since it's not a book club think, can we discuss details without worrying about giving stuff away???

If so
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One thing that bothered me about the movie was that there was too much liberty with some of the changes. I HATED that they changed the elephant ride into a plane ride. The elephant was absurd. I'm not sure what it meant, but changing it to a plane seemed wrong.

**theworm**[$] · #11 10-22-2004, 07:21 PM

Quote:

brian_igo said

We interrupt this conversation for a public service annuoncement from the Y-chromosome.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

Smart ass!

phoenixx · #12 10-22-2004, 08:47 PM

As far as the elephant vs the plane - I got the same general idea from the scene in both th ebook and the movie. i think th emovie made the choice of a plane ride because they have to get the allegory accross (allegory, is that right?....but I digress) without benefit of the books ability to digress.

Redlass · #13 10-23-2004, 01:15 AM

Really? They made it an elephant instead of a plane? Doesn't that take away some of the whole seminal/tribal sort of feel? Or did they take away the tribe of women thread in the movie?

There is a part of me that wonders whether my own relationship with my mother would be stronger if I understood her past. But then, part of what Sidalee discovers is that it isn't knowing, it isn't understanding, it is treating each other with love and courtesy and manners because we can't possibly know another person's life and pain.

I also found the ideas of female friendship discussed to be deeply meaningful.

Redlass · #14 10-23-2004, 01:17 AM

Quote:

brian_igo said

We interrupt this conversation for a public service annuoncement from the Y-chromosome.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled discussion.

:P

And you know what? Guys shouldn't necessarily see it. I hate to say this, but it is a chick thing. Just like The Red Tent is a chick thing. It's about women and how we hurt and love each other. It's about female friendship in a way that almost completely excludes men.

It's not about hating men, it's just that men belong in a different part of our hearts, minds, and lives--no less important or crucial, just different.