Review: Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

I'm marooned.

Abandoned.

Left to rot in boarding school . . .

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far, far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in the sherbet-colored sweater capital of the world.

Ick.

There's no way Viola's going to survive the year—especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like it there. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.

Boarding school, though, and her roommates and even the Midwest are nothing like she thought they would be, and soon Viola realizes she may be in for the most incredible year of her life.

But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.



First Thoughts: Okay, my Moms bought this for me a few summers ago. I thought it would be pretty good, and I liked the cover. I felt like it was suiting and sophisticated. So I gave this a shot!

Plot: ♥♥♥
This plot is so-so. It's cliche but it's not, if that makes sense. There's nothing really unpredictable about the plot. Viola finding romance, Viola not wanting to go but she finds herself loving it etc. (I'm not spoiling. It's all in the front and back flap) Ordinary, except that Viola's parents are Richies trying to get rid of their delinquent daughter. And there is a minor twist in the end.

Characters: ♥
This is where the ranting shall begin. Hang tight to your socks....
Viola is the only two-dimensional character, and she isn't even that greatly fleshed-out. No one is. Everyone is too happy. Like I said in another review, there doesn't have to be anything horrible going on like depression or suicide. But everyone has a dark side and a light side. Granted, there is something going on with Suzanne, BUT, that's it. Everyone is happy. Suzanne is a 'natural beauty, doesn't care about anything superficial' SUPER perfect girl. So is Romy, except she is SUPER DUPER happy, and Marisol, a SUPER easily pleased girl. And I thought they were acting unrealistically. If a girl is being a witch to you, you do, what, welcome her with open arms, thinking so optimistically? I don't think so. And there's Caitlin, Viola's Indian best friend, who thinks EVERYONE is wonderful. No. ma'am.

Writing Style: ♥♥♥
Viola's voice shows wit and occasional puerilism, but it's just too sophisticated to be an authentic 14 year old voice. So, I couldn't exactly relate to Viola. Or think, 'Hey! That happens to me too!' Not to say it was bad. It was alright.

Other: N/A
Hmm... there aren't really an extracurriculars. Just regular writing, with beyond boring characters, mixed with a semi-interesting plot. But the cover is nice :)

Overall: ♥♥♥
This book is okay. Okay writing, with nothing that makes me want to get up and party and yell for everyone to read this book or I will send an army to your house. Maybe this is your kind of read, but it's not for me.

Jia