Don't ever admit you know a thing about cooking or it'll be used against you later in life

Don't ever admit you know a thing about cooking or it'll be used against you later in life

In Rebecca Wells' novel "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," the character Siddalee Walker learns a valuable lesson about the dangers of admitting to knowing how to cook. Siddalee, a successful playwright living in New York City, is forced to confront her past and her complicated relationship with her mother, Vivi, when she is interviewed for a magazine article. During the interview, Siddalee casually mentions that she knows how to cook, a fact that she quickly comes to regret.

Growing up in the South, Siddalee was expected to learn how to cook and take care of the household, but she rebelled against these traditional gender roles and pursued a career in the arts instead. However, her admission in the interview triggers a series of events that force her to confront her past and the unresolved issues with her mother.

Vivi, a larger-than-life Southern belle with a flair for drama, takes Siddalee's admission as a personal affront. She sees it as a rejection of her own values and a betrayal of their shared heritage. Vivi uses Siddalee's cooking skills as a weapon against her, constantly reminding her of her failure to live up to the expectations of a proper Southern woman.

As Siddalee delves deeper into her past and the secrets of her family, she realizes that her ability to cook is not just a practical skill, but a symbol of her connection to her roots and her mother. By rejecting cooking, Siddalee was rejecting a part of herself and her heritage. Through a series of flashbacks and revelations, Siddalee comes to understand the importance of embracing all aspects of her identity, even those that she had previously rejected.