content: When I first picked up this book I had this nagging feeling that I should read the Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood first, I should have trusted my instincts. Everybody keeps saying what a great book that was and how Little Alters ruined it. Here you are presented with a picture of a hopelessly disfunctional family, and the qeustion is: For what purpose? No resolution or message is conveyed and your left with the horrible vision of Vivi Abbott Walker, an alcoholic, abusive, child molester. In this book the cruel (Vivi) and fake (Sidda) are given the spotlight where the strong (Little Shep)and the noble (Chaney and Willetta) are shoved into the background. This novel seems to thrive and celebrate life crippling disfunction.