Viola in Reel Life – Adriana TrigianiPages: 282
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: 29th April 2010-04-19
Other Titles by this Author: Very Valentine, Big Stone Gap, Cherry Holler, Home to Big Stone Gap, The Queen of the Big Time
Viola doesn’t want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up ay the Prefect Academy, which feels like a million miles away from her home in New York.
Viola’s sure she won’t survive the year - especially since her three new roommates all seem to like being at Prefect. Her only comfort is her camera and her dreams of becoming a filmmaker.
But life at Prefect is nothing like Viola thought it would be and soon she realises that this could be the most incredible year of her life; if she can just learn to put the camera down and let the real world in…
As soon as Jenny told me that I’d love Viola in Reel Life, I knew that I would, but I still didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
My favourite thing about Viola in Reel Life is Viola herself. I want to be her friend! She’s got a snarky, wry sense of humour and a voice that encapsulates the angry angst of teens everywhere. I think that that’s what I loved most about her: she’s a normal girl. Viola’s voice did slip slightly, though and she occasionally said or thought things that a regular fourteen-year-old wouldn’t. Viola is also an unusual character because unlike most heroines of YA novels set in boarding school, she actually missed her parents, her friends and her home. She was openly homesick and it was completely refreshing as this often isn’t made a very big deal of.
But I also love Viola’s journey through Viola in Reel Life. She really changes her outlook on life. Viola begins angry and alienating of those who try to help her at Prefect Academy to someone confident in herself and her skills and with some brilliant new friends. This is one of the things that I often miss when reading supernatural and fantasy books.
Viola in Reel Life also taught me a lot about a subject that I knew virtually nothing about: filmmaking. I have plenty of friends who study subjects like film and media, but I guess I’ve never really taken much notice of what they actually do (I know, I’m a bad friend), and I really wish that I had now. It’s really interesting! Adriana Trigiani closely detailed Viola’s processes and I never realised how much skill and organisation it takes. Viola’s passion for filmmaking was lovely to read about and her enthusiasm infectious.
I loved journeying through Viola’s year at Prefect Academy with her and I can’t wait to join her again in Viola in the Spotlight.
For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge
Sophie
My favourite thing about Viola in Reel Life is Viola herself. I want to be her friend! She’s got a snarky, wry sense of humour and a voice that encapsulates the angry angst of teens everywhere. I think that that’s what I loved most about her: she’s a normal girl. Viola’s voice did slip slightly, though and she occasionally said or thought things that a regular fourteen-year-old wouldn’t. Viola is also an unusual character because unlike most heroines of YA novels set in boarding school, she actually missed her parents, her friends and her home. She was openly homesick and it was completely refreshing as this often isn’t made a very big deal of.
But I also love Viola’s journey through Viola in Reel Life. She really changes her outlook on life. Viola begins angry and alienating of those who try to help her at Prefect Academy to someone confident in herself and her skills and with some brilliant new friends. This is one of the things that I often miss when reading supernatural and fantasy books.
Viola in Reel Life also taught me a lot about a subject that I knew virtually nothing about: filmmaking. I have plenty of friends who study subjects like film and media, but I guess I’ve never really taken much notice of what they actually do (I know, I’m a bad friend), and I really wish that I had now. It’s really interesting! Adriana Trigiani closely detailed Viola’s processes and I never realised how much skill and organisation it takes. Viola’s passion for filmmaking was lovely to read about and her enthusiasm infectious.
I loved journeying through Viola’s year at Prefect Academy with her and I can’t wait to join her again in Viola in the Spotlight.
For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge
Sophie
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did either, but there's something about it. I think you're right - it's Viola's voice!
ReplyDeleteYou were able to post! Does that mean computer crisis is over? Love the post, by the way!
ReplyDeleteI loved the filmmaking parts of this book! Great review, Sophie - I'm really glad you enjoyed it too.
ReplyDeleteKate - Yup! My Dad came to the rescue and gave us his old computer. You won't believe how relieved I was!
ReplyDeleteGReat review! Seems like I have to put this book on my wishlist ;)
ReplyDeleteYAY you were able to post!!! I love the sound of this book, especially because Viola sounds like such an amazing protagonist. I can't wait to read this one
ReplyDeleteThis post clears up the way to better understand the way both activities interact and the steps to be taken to get the best results in your way to success.
ReplyDelete