I have made a special place in my heart for both the movie and the book. While I would have loved for them to put everything in the movie, over time I can understand why they didn't. It did not matter whether or not it was an elephant or an airplane that got Sidda to a place of understanding, all that mattered was the journey there. I am sorry they left out why Buggy was the way she was, and the whole episode in the institution after Vivvy's birthday party, because to me, that was a HUGE turning point in the book. But cest le viv. What I loved most about the movie is the friendship between the Ya Ya's. In the book you get a sense of it, but seeing it played out by those amazing actresses was a treat. So, I love them both, but in different ways. Together, they make a bright beautiful portrait of friendships that last.

Finished it in one sitting! Had my misgivings when I first started reading, but thoroughly enjoyed it in a silly-rom-com kind of way. On the bad end - some cringe-worthy moments. Everything was a little too peachy-keen, and all the strings a little too perfectly tied up by the end. And while there were some moments that got pretty real, those moments passed quickly - most of the book was just about the frivolous fun of a gaggle of all-American princesses. On the good end - I'm always a sucker for stories about reparation of mother-daughter bonds. Lots of that...the whole book is about that, if anything. That, and realizing that whatever faults and follies we may find in our parents, there is always a backstory - a backstory that we certainly can't appreciate as children, and must learn to appreciate as adults. In general, I loved reading about the Ya-Yas, as ridiculous (and borderline obnoxious) as they are. Remind me of some of my friends :) And of course I can't help but buy in to the overall message to embrace yourself, embrace vulnerability, and embrace life, yadda yadda. It's like candy.