Little Altars Everywhere

When I picked up this book, I thought (based on a skimming of the back cover) that it was going to be a charming book about an eccentric Southern Catholic childhood.

It wasn't until I actually got the book home that I realized it was by the same author who wrote The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. That was when I assumed that this was going to be one of those women's books. You know the kind of thing: a story where there's this group of women who seem to spend every other page crying and laughing together; there are lots of scenes where their husbands are beating them and demonstrating how stupid men are and then somebody dies and somebody leaves their husband yet the women are still strong blah blah blah. (I'm not a tremendous show more fan of that genre, as you might be able to tell.)

Well, there were a few pages of both of those things. But both of those pre-suppositions were thrown out the window somewhere around page twenty, when I came to a scene of a child watching Lesibans have sex.

Mostly this book is about an incredibly screwed-up family. Not funny screwed-up. Not goofy ha-ha screwed-up. Not charming screwed-up. Just SCREWED-UP.

I was not really surprised to find that the author of this book is actually a Theatre person. Coming from a Theatre background myself, I noticed she wrote the stories that comprise this book as if they were supposed to be spoken. I also noticed that she designed the stories in such a way that they elicit strong emotional responses (which is the goal of a lot of modern theatre). In fact, I almost take her to task for the latter, because there was almost too much "strong emotional response" eliciting. It is possible to go overboard in this direction, as there's something just a touch empty in a creation that is all "strong emotional response". It's like an action movie that is all explosions and no plot. Explosions sure are exciting to watch, and there are explosions in a few classic movies, but they do not a classic movie make.

"Strong emotional response" is cheap, which is a lot of the reason why I don't care for a lot of modern theatre. (There are other reasons, but I won't go into that here.)

There were many, many times that I just wanted to put this book down - or even just throw it away. There was one point, reading this on my commute back from work, when something so incredibly awful (strong emotional response) was happening in the story that I just wanted to throw the book down on the floor of the train and leave it there with the discarded newspapers and empty soda bottles.

Originally, when I began writing this, I thought that the only reason that I went on reading it at that point was that it must be terribly well-written. But, on consideration, it occurred to me that maybe it was just that ploy, the "strong emotional response" scene, that kept me going. Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having an emotional response, nor is there anything wrong with a writer trying to smack you in the face with one to get that blood flowing and keep you reading.

And that's why I still have to say that it's a well-written book: she writes a fine scene for causing a strong, emotional response in the reader. There was something very compelling about it that kept me reading in spite of my horror and revulsion (unless I just secretly hate myself and want to feel bad all of the time). So, really, what we have here is a fine example of its type. I've simply had to take a step back and say, "I don't like what it does - but I've got it admit that it's good at it."

To sum up - this book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting light, fun, reading material, and it was none of those things. In fact, there were points when I was in ACTUAL, PHYSICAL PAIN while reading this. I definitely would not call reading it "a good time". This is a serious book; probably written for people who had equally screwed-up childhoods and can emphathise with the pain that the characters were feeling. However, this is an EXCELLENT book for studying the structure of a scene that is built to elicit a strong emotional response. I cannot state that more strongly.

A Post-Script for Catholic Readers: I can't say much about this as "Catholic" reading material. The main characters (you know, the horrible, horrible, screwed-up family?) are Catholic, but I'm not entirely certain that the author was criticising the Church through them; they weren't really screwed up because they were Catholic. They just seemed incidentally Catholic. However, the author does juxtapose them with a happy, emotionally-healthy family --who are NOT Catholic -- which left me uncertain about the author's views. In the end, I would not tell a person to read this book who wants to read about Catholics; I would only tell a person to read this book who wants to read about screwed-up families. And that's all I have to say about that. show less

Little Altars Everywhere is a classic narrative of a simple country life set in Thornton, Louisiana with alternating narration from the characters. The novel is also divided into two parts wherein time becomes a very important aspect that Rebecca Wells focuses mainly on.

I have to say this first and foremost, Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood, (DSOTYS) the novel after Little Altars Everywhere, is my favorite novel of all-time. I don’t really know how to explain it, but that novel just got me every time I read it. I read it when I was a senior in high school and reread it for like three times after that. DSOTYS is a gem, I can attest that to everyone. So when I finally get my copy of this novel, I was beyond excited because I know show more in my heart of hearts that I will feel yet again the great effect brought to me by the DSOTYS before. I’m very glad that Rebecca Wells and Little Altars Everywhere did not fail me. Enough of Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood now, let me focus on this piece of gem more on in this review.

Since Little Altars Everywhere is Rebecca Wells’ debut novel, I’m glad that I read DSOTYS first (her second) because it helps me to become more familiar with the characters (in fact I fall in love with them already, remember DSOTYS is my favorite novel!). I truly commend and appreciate Wells’ way of creating her characters because it is very authentic. Leaving all the biases behind, all of the characters are one for the books. If only I can meet every single one of them in person, I would trade anything for it. They make me feel like we are just countries apart from each other. Also, the plot is no ordinary one, just like its characters. This makes me love the story even more because it is different but at the same time no different. (I hope you are getting into my point here! ;)) I love the aspect of Little Altars Everywhere wherein the narration varies every entry. That way every character is given the chance to show off their emotions and at the same time gives the readers the opportunity to see their perspectives. Unlike in DSOTYS, I kind of favor LAE’s POV because it gives me more insight of every character’s decision throughout the story. Every entry in this novel is exceptional since it is hard to foretell what’s going to happen at the end of it. I never guess a single entry’s ending right. With that being said, comes my realization that Rebecca Wells is a master creator herself.

This novel is undeniably full of emotions- one time I am laughing with the narrative, and then without further notice I am crying and contemplating about the scene. That is how great the story is. It really appeals to the readers’ emotions. This has been an amazing start of the year of reading for me. My whole reading process of this novel has been fresh, smooth, and very wonderful that I could not ask for more. I only hope that more readers got to read this fantastic story because it is really worth a read. Ciao! show less

The book is compiles as if each character is contributing a chapter of their memories from childhood. Some characters, like Siddah, have more than one chapter. This gave me such mixed feelings to read. It is so sad, yet hopeful. The voices of the different characters ring true for them; it is easy to feel that this all happened. This book is not enjoyable; in fact, I almost quit reading it was so painful. I am glad I persevered to the end because it does in fact show a measure of healing for those involved, and if not healing, perhaps understanding.

I've just finished Little Altars Everywhere and it wasn't at all the book I thought it was. I picked it up thinking it was a pink and fluffy book - probably because my impressions of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood are of a light film with Sandra Bullock dancing around a room. Knowing this was a prequel to "Divine Secrets I assumed, when I picked it up it was a light-hearted read as well.

It's not at all an easy read. This book is essentially about the lives of a family - mum and dad, Vivianne and "Big Shep" Walker", and their four children, Siddalee, Little Shep, Lulu and Baylor - living in the deep south in the USA. The parents are both alcoholics and mistreat the children in a terrible manner. The parents' misbehaviour has a show more huge impact on all four children, driving them to obsessive behaviour to cope with their treatment.

The first half of the book is quite light-hearted and the reader is lulled into thinking the behaviour of the parents is explainable. However the second half of the book is much darker and more disturbing, and much more upsetting. It touches on sexual abuse, alcoholism, obsessive compulsive disorder, religious obsession and more.

The book is written from all six Walker family members' perspectives, plus those of their "hired help", Chaney and Willetta, who live a short distance away. Wells as an author is very skilled at lending very distinct voices to each of the different narrators which really helps this book flow. show less

Little Altars Everywhere is one of my favorite books of all-time. As a Southern girl, some of the stories reminded me of my own childhood and the childhoods of my parents and grandparents. It reminds me of growing up in a small farm town, and playing in the fields. However, it is Rebecca Wells sumptuous writing that kept me coming back for more. She knew just how to describe things so that you felt that you were right there. You could see, hear, feel, and smell everything.

I loved how each story was voiced by a different character so that we could get a little bit of insight into the minds of each one of them. We could become them, if only for a moment. There were some things I wish we could have learned more about like Lulu, or if Big show more Shep truly loved Vivi even if he couldn't show it, or if either one of them realized all the things they had done wrong in their lives.

This is a great novel, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves a good Southern novel, or who likes novels that explore complicated family relations. This is truly a very special novel. show less

This book hasn't grabbed me like Yayas in Bloom did, but I keep finding myself drawn back. I like how it changes perspective from Sidda to Little Shep and back to Viv and Big Shep. Buggy is hysterical. Love the fear and respect for Catholicism, so true.

Do I ge time in purgatory for even considering releasing this at/near a church?

Well after saying that this book hadn't grabbed me like others in the series did, it certainly got its claws into me last night. Forced myself to stop reading when I got to pt 2 and read the rest this morning.

Liked how it fast forwarded to the 90s and reminisces before coming to the then present with Bay's dau's baptism. Only wish I still had Yayas in Bloom to reread now that I know about their past, would tie show more it all together better. This is why serial books should be read in order. o:)

Even though the bits about the Penguins made me laugh, I don't think this can pass as a church appropriate release show less

I finished this and went straight into Divine Secrets. I am southern and it is so endearing to read a book dripping with southern life. Very enjoyable book, it starts light and funny but there is a dark part to this book. Can't wait to finish the second and move on to the third in the series!