Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Ya-Yas in Bloom
Author: Rebecca Wells
Publisher: Harper
ISBN: 0-06-095365-9
Release Date: April 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: General Fiction
Year/Setting: Current
Overall rating: 4.25
Sexual content rating: Subtle (Eluded to more than anything)
Rebecca's Website:
www.ya-ya.com
In The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, the reader met Viviane "Vivi" Abbott, Caroline "Caro" Brewer, Denise "Necie" Kelleher, and Genevieve "Teensy" Whitman. But, did you ever wonder how they came to be the "Ya Ya Sisterhood"? Ya-Yas in Bloom starts its pages as a story of the past – a flashback of sorts. There is new understanding gained into who these dynamic four women are and how they came to be who they are today.
Once that understanding is gained, the reader then moves into the present with the "Petite Ya Yas" (children) and even welcomed the "Tres Petites" (grandchildren). So while the first half is the background into the youth and then marriages of the Ya Yas, the second half is devoted to their children and the lives which are still entwined. While their children would probably have very little in common if they just met on the street, the original Ya Yas provide that common bond. None of them truly understand their parents but the love and enjoyment of each other is truly evident.
All of the offspring reside in these pages but the main one I connected with was Sidda (who falls from Vivi’s tree). However, when Joanie’s (Necie’s "tree") daughter Rosalyn is missing, all of the families come together to work towards bringing the child home safely and then helping Joanie with all of the emotions caused by this event.
Ya-Yas in Bloom is an interesting layout, quite dynamic. I found myself enjoying it and often chuckling over some of the antics. Every year for example there is at least one party. By themselves this group makes up quite a bunch of people but there is always some kind of skit or pageant to entertain. I won’t give anything away but some of them are pretty darn funny.
The hard part of this story, however, is keeping track of exactly where you, as the reader, are. Plus there are so many characters I often found myself referring to the family trees in the front of the book to keep putting people together. Married couples who have split and now have new spouses or partners. Which child belongs to which Ya-Ya or which child belongs to which sibling. The story itself was really a good story with a lot of emotion being called forth. Rebecca Wells covered the gamut in this genealogical study – from bigotry to distress to joy to confusion and so many more. It is well worth the read but make sure you keep a bookmark on the family tree pages unless you have a photographic mind.
Lori
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Lori know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews