Viola in Reel Life

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Continue shopping Checkout Continue shopping. Chi ama i libri sceglie Kobo e inMondadori. It's free and yours to keep. Available in Russia Shop from Russia to buy this item. Left to rot in boarding school. But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in. About this title Audio Format. Ratings and Reviews 0 0 star ratings 0 reviews. She has to leave her friends and all the things she has known her whole life. To put more into the mix, she will have to live with three other girls.

Marisol- the smart Hispanic on scholarship, Romy- the b Viola feels like her life has been taken away from her. Marisol- the smart Hispanic on scholarship, Romy- the bubbly athletic one, and Suzanne- the tall blond one, and these are the roommates she will learn to love in time. Of course Viola tops off the group as the sarcastic girl that loves film making. The story was cute, but not overly so and had its good attributes.

She learns to not be so judgmental, has her first relationship, learns how to live with others, and just knowing who she really is. Going away from home is thought more about during the college years, but this can constitute to be somewhat of the same experience. This is your first time away from home and your familiar surroundings, and that is tough. I think if I were more of a film junkie I could have appreciated it more because most of the time I had no idea what movies she was talking about.

She survives her first year in a boarding school and is better for it. Just the way it should be for parents and children-together as best they can be, on Christmas.

KIRKUS REVIEW

She is an only child and it shows. But she did mature and that is what counts. And I have to give the author kudos for taking on a character like this. Some aspects of the story seemed a little too convenient at times, but I have to say the descriptions she makes of Indiana totally make up for it. Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict I came across Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani, the first in the Viola series, a year or so ago and finally got around to reading it while on my trip.

This was a surprisingly quick read, yet it lacked a few qualities that would normally make a book stand out for me. What I surmised as I concluded Trigiani's novel is that yes, this book can be read in one sitting, but not because the book is fascinating, original, or gripping--it is simply a Review first appeared on my blog: What I surmised as I concluded Trigiani's novel is that yes, this book can be read in one sitting, but not because the book is fascinating, original, or gripping--it is simply an easy read.

While Viola in Reel Life is aimed at a teen audience, the prose feels like it is written for a much younger audience. While I love Viola's friends and the relationships she forms while she is at boarding school, Viola herself is hard to connect with, thanks to her unnatural prose. She is naive beyond comprehension and her narrative is at times redundant.

Viola's relationship with her first boyfriend lacks the emotions that one would equate to first love. This observation leads me to believe that Trigiani tells her readers what her characters are feeling, rather than show them the building emotions as her characters grow. Though the ending is abrupt, I was somewhat sad to see the book finish.

Personally, I think Viola has a lot more growth in store for her. I just hope that Trigiani manages it in a less unattached fashion. There is a fun twist to this novel, however, and that is the short-lived mystery that literally haunts Viola until the conclusion.

Though the story reads more as an angst-ridden novel, Viola in Reel Life does teach valuable lessons to readers caught in similar situations. Trigiani teaches us that not everything is as it appears to be, and to have faith during times where life isn't going the way we plan. Though it is nowhere near perfect, I would recommend this book to younger readers. The writing might connect with younger teens and pre-teens, since it isn't anywhere near the maturity calibre of recently published young adult novels.

Trigiani captures the difficulties of growing up and the importance of just letting go and accepting whatever life throws at you. Nov 05, Nely rated it it was amazing Shelves: She is devastated, sad, lonely - she misses her home, her parents and her BFF's - but most importantly, she can't fathom living with three complete strangers in a new school far away from everyone and everything she's ever known. Luckily for her, she is paired with a great set of roommates, her knack for film-making and a fanciful grandmother, aptly called Grand - she just might be able to survive the year I truly enjoyed this coming-of-age story.

It's about leaving your comfort zone, making new friends, and realizing that not everything in this world revolves around you no matter how hard that seems when you are Viola, who can be spoiled at times , was spunky, witty and had a great sense of humor. I also enjoyed the aspects of boarding school life - maybe it's because I never went to an all-girls school or studied away from home - but I always enjoy novels where the setting is at a school. The girls and their friendship was also something to savor - they were all very different and I really enjoyed how they came together, supported and helped one another.

This is Viola's story - how she navigates in a new school, new experiences, new friendships, a new boyfriend, and how she follows her dream of making a movie. Although this is Ms. Trigiani's first venture into YA - she mastered it without a hitch. This is a fantastic story for tweens and young adults but can definitely be appreciated by adults just the same.

I personally loved it. Feb 17, Erin DuBrock rated it really liked it. This was a very cute coming of age book about a 14 year old girl named Viola, who gets sent to a all girls school in Indiana while her parents film a documentary in Afghanistan. I really enjoyed the film aspects because that is something that I don't know a lot about. I related a lot to Viola, she is very stubborn and she seems to never understand that she is acting a certain way until someone points it out to her.

I went into this book wanting to read a teenage romance, but as this story progre This was a very cute coming of age book about a 14 year old girl named Viola, who gets sent to a all girls school in Indiana while her parents film a documentary in Afghanistan. I went into this book wanting to read a teenage romance, but as this story progressed I loved that it was more about Viola discovering herself and a friendship between four young girls. I would love to read more about Viola and her friends, I think that there is a lot of potential in the characters of this book.

Especially, the relationship between Andrew and Viola. I would also like to see more of what Viola films, mainly her video diaries. All in all, this was a very well written book.

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It's the 1st book I've read by Adriana Trigiani and I will definetly be looking into her adult books now. Apr 04, Maren rated it liked it. Mar 18, Jane rated it did not like it. Viola Chesterton is possibly the most self-aware fictional teen I've ever read. Among her crop of difficulties--going to a new school in a strange place, having to make new friends, sharing a room for the first time, trying to understand boys--none has time to so much as sprout before she's busy reaping a bounty of insights from it.

Important Lessons About Friendship and Life are thick on the ground here. The story begins well enough: Viola's a sheltered only child from Brooklyn, knee deep in cu Viola Chesterton is possibly the most self-aware fictional teen I've ever read. Viola's a sheltered only child from Brooklyn, knee deep in culture shock, angst and homesickness on her first day at Prefect Academy in South Bend, Indiana.

She immediately makes the situation worse by alienating her roommates. But don't worry; readers are relieved of any need to empathize with Viola because by the next morning she's had an attitude overhaul and is referring to her roomies as "her family," an about-face that seemed to be motivated mostly by her fear of facing the cafeteria alone. It turns out to be a character overhaul, too.

That snarky, streetwise, vulnerable girl we meet in Chapter One hardly shows up at all for the rest of the book. The trio of roommates are plucked straight from an Edwardian boarding school novel, with a few modern amendments texting! One character even calls Viola 'droll' I assume she picked it up from watching Downton Abbey. These chums always support each other and never, ever fight. Viola's glad to have such sisterly support, especially when spoiler! Just moments after schooling him about emotions and his lack thereof, she muses that it's really okay, because she didn't know him all that well and she's better off with someone who'll like her for herself.

• Reward Yourself.
• Viola in Reel Life.
• I Love Paris!
• Questions?.
• Wake Me in the Morning!
• In A Dark Room;
• VIOLA IN REEL LIFE by Adriana Trigiani | Kirkus Reviews.

This I could almost buy. But when she follows up this analysis with "all in all, it was a good first relationship, and I learned a lot," I gave up. What teenage girl says this about a forty-minutes-old breakup? How can she know that Jared Spencer was a 'good first relationship'?

Meet the Author: Adriana Trigiani

She has nothing to compare it to yet! This kind of assessment does not come from a fourteen year old; it comes from a twenty-four or thirty-four or forty-four year old. It comes with the distance of years. The breakup with your first love, even if he was really only a 'like,' hurts. It hurts a lot. It is raw, unsettling pain that you want to fix, but can't. But throughout the story, Viola never hurts not much, not for long and figures out this whole 'teenage' business without much fuss.

And if nothing is really at stake, why should we care? Just give Viola thirty seconds and she'll be skipping along on her way to the next wholesome, nourishing lesson. If being a young adult was this easy no one would write about it in the first place. Being a teenager is hard. Who cares if the pain is character building? So if you're going to write for young people, honor that struggle, don't dismiss it. There's more to writing a good YA novel than sprinkling your dialogue with "like" and your plot with a few tender kisses.

ADRIANA TRIGIANI:

Jul 08, Nicole rated it did not like it. Many girls are furious to find themselves packaged and shipped off to boarding school, and are sure that they will hate it. But no girl was ever more determined to detest her home-away-from-home than Viola Chesterton, a New York City freshman who is forced to spend a year at Prefect Academy while her parents film a documentary in Afghanistan. Viola's feelings against Indi Many girls are furious to find themselves packaged and shipped off to boarding school, and are sure that they will hate it.

Viola's feelings against Indiana, boarding school, and dorm life are so potent that they become unbelievable.



And worse, readers find that her three roommates are unreal in their own respect: Another issue with this story is how overly obsessed these girls are with boys. To be fair, they ARE in an all-girls' school, but teenage girls aren't so interested in boys that they'd kiss somebody they've known for two hours. Finally, the storyline of "Viola in Reel Life" was just so ordinary. Nothing exciting happened when one would expect it to. Over all, "Viola in Reel Life" seemed like a book written to sell future boarding school students on their new lives. Viola in Reel Life is a very refreshing read.

Not in an million years would I have thought I was going to enjoy some young adult book that much, but as Adriana Trigiani is one of my absolute favorite authors I just ordered the book before I realised this was actually a book for young adults. Viola and her friends, Marisol, Romy and Suzanne are adorable — yes they seem to be very normal, dec Viola in Reel Life is a very refreshing read.

Viola and her friends, Marisol, Romy and Suzanne are adorable — yes they seem to be very normal, decent and good girls at the age of 14, but those exists and I like that. I like their families, I like their mind-set, their ideology, their drive and ambitions. I like how they are not disappointed in the world, but are still believing in possibilities despite their adolescent confusion.

This is a sweet and original read about lovely young girls that live in our time and that have no big conflicts about their own personality, but nonetheless have their worries and heart aches, and find ways to grow up and make friends being away in a boarding school. Let me tell you: I am certainly going to read the next Viola book. Nov 16, Jodi Papazian rated it it was ok Shelves: I really wanted to like this story. It started off pretty strong - a girl, Viola, is shipped off to boarding school in Indiana while her parents jet off to Afghanastan for a documentary. She has to get used to small town life after growing up in Brooklyn as well as learn how to share a room with other girls.

Viola seemed like a likeable character at first - trendy and snarky - and it seemed like she would be a lot of fun to live vicariously through. Then, Trigiani started throwing all these diff I really wanted to like this story. Then, Trigiani started throwing all these different curves into the plot. I kept finding myself thinking that the plot was going to change to be something different and, instead, none of these story lines were ever developed. Viola experiences being away from home for the first time, having her first boyfriend I think? Did they ever establish anything , and pursuing her dreams of becoming a filmmaker.

However, towards the end of the book, things come to an abrubt end. Nothing was tied up nicely or, in some instances, even resolved. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. Feb 21, Book Concierge rated it liked it Shelves: How is she supposed to sleep with all that quiet!? This is a nice young-adult novel about opening yourself to new possibilities and making the best of a less-than-ideal situation. And what she learns about her parents, her friends and herself will truly make this a memorable year. Sep 30, Ina rated it it was amazing.

This is a great book for young adults or teens. The main character is a young girl in high school. A wonderful coming of age book. Sep 08, Mehsi rated it it was ok Shelves: A girl, her camera, a boarding school. This is one of the books I bought in May at the second-hand part of a book store. I was really interested in this book, it had quite a few elements that I liked. A girl learning to live on her own: Sadly, I quickly disliked Viola.

She is so judgy about everyone and everything. I can imagine that it sucks that her parents dropped her off at a boarding school to work hard. I can imagine it isn' A girl, her camera, a boarding school. I can imagine it isn't fun to have to share a big room with 3 others. I can imagine many things. But really, she was just being a bitch.

Even later on in the story when she is a bit more used to everything, she judges people on what they wear. Oh heaven forbid if someone dares to wear something that is not in style. She barely gave any attention to the teacher when she wearing x outfit. What is up with that? I just found it really rude. And not only fashion, but also other things. Like she keeps comparing where she is now with her home. And no, it isn't pretty. There were moments I liked Viola, during the times when she was dedicated to her camera, she really has a talent with that I hope she will do more and more with it in the future.

But also when she was with her friends and didn't judge them too much. She really has a sweet side, and, since she passed, I guess she also gets good grades and studies hard. Eh, I never really shipped them. Jared was just a bit too much like Viola. It was like he was a male clone of her. They just had too much alike. Plus I found it a bit too convenient that she met him and that they instantly liked each other. She hated that dance, but oh, hey, here is a hot boy who is exactly like you. Well, that was one thing that made me almost drop this book.

But it has to be done well. Here it just felt like an afterthought, like a plot device so that Viola would have a topic for that competition. And I don't like that. It just didn't fit at all. The drama around Christmas? It felt overdone and silly. Yes, it was very sad for Viola, but I think the drama could definitely have toned done a few dials.

Also the story just kept on jumping around in time. For instance in one chapter we are getting the books and the next chapter begins with her writing a letter to her parents and it is a month and a bit later. It was just so disjointed. I would have loved to see more of that first period, to see how she adapted, adjusted, and how she made friends. I barely saw anything of the boarding school. We were there, we saw some stuff, but it just felt lacking. I had liked to see a bit more of the school, of the classes, of the pizza club, and other things.

It could have been fleshed out a lot more. Also the whole Andrew thing and how that progressed was just eh. They are supposed to be best buddies, but I never really saw that. Maybe also because of how the story skipped around and months just seemed to pass. So yeah, this was a disappointment. I may have given the second book a try, but that is about Viola at home, and I have no interest in that. All in all, I am glad I didn't buy this book for the full price. I am not sure if I would recommend this one. It has a few good things, but also enough that wasn't too good.

Review first posted at https: Sep 08, Sarah J. Bradley rated it liked it. I did not realize that this was a young adult novel when I got it, but it doesn't matter I'll read anything Adriana Trigiani writes. Here the main character is a 14 year old girl and Trigiani must have one living with her, because she's got the voice and manners down cold. While Viola's three roommates come across as one dimensional, it's fine. The book is told from Viola's point of view in Viola's voice. We cannot expect her to peal back the layers of personality in others when she's just disco I did not realize that this was a young adult novel when I got it, but it doesn't matter I'll read anything Adriana Trigiani writes.

We cannot expect her to peal back the layers of personality in others when she's just discovering it herself. Very solid read for teens and a nice, breezy book for adults. Jan 03, Susie rated it really liked it.

Viola in Reel Life (Viola #1) by Adriana Trigiani

I'm biased toward any 'person from a large city moving to a small town and somehow finding ways to cope' plot. Viola's passion for filmmaking and refusal to act like anyone other than herself are great themes for young people. It ended quite abruptly, but it was enjoyable and very sweet overall. Early-teens me would probably have given it five stars. Adult me is often overly critical of YA, and of Viola describing her three roommates as a knockout, a prep, and a Latina seriously, that is not a I'm biased toward any 'person from a large city moving to a small town and somehow finding ways to cope' plot.

Adult me is often overly critical of YA, and of Viola describing her three roommates as a knockout, a prep, and a Latina seriously, that is not a personality trait. How could things compare? Viola leaves her best friend, Andrew, behind in New York. As a way to stay connected with him, she decides to film pieces of her life so he can join in her misery. She makes little to no effort to mesh with her three new roommates and chooses to be withdrawn and mopey until they confront her.

They force her to become more involved so she can walk away after the year is over with new friendships and outlooks. While I overlooked the fact that Viola was only a Freshman when I checked this out, a much younger character than I typically read about, I did enjoy that the focus of Viola in Reel Life was different because of her age. The story was much more about friendship than romance and Viola, an only child, stripping away her independency to rely on new friends with very different upbringings and backgrounds. She had a lot to learn about herself, but she gained a new perspective: You have to sieze the day and make the best of things.

They became her film crew when Viola decided to enter a competition. The camaraderie was a definite strength for Viola in Reel Life and I happily reflected back on my days as a mere high school Freshman. So I got this book a few years ago as a free book from my school and put it at the back of my bookshelf. I probably should have read it then because it's probably too young for me even though the main character is meant to be 14! She acted like a 10 year old most of the time. But I am having a clearout of my bookshelf so I decided to try it.

I've read better, alot better I probably shouldn't have read it after reading one of my favorite books because I couldn't help making comparisons. I tried t So I got this book a few years ago as a free book from my school and put it at the back of my bookshelf. I tried to read it but only got up to p were I couldn't read any more it was OK if you are younger then me. So basically Viola has the best life in Brooklyn or so she says. Until one day her parents have to go off to Afghanistan and they won't bring her with them.

So her parents send her to the Prefect academy I know I mean Perfect or what , she is determined to hate it before she even gives it a try. She's snarky to her roommates who seem to be perfect, she's horrible to her teachers cause they wear something she doesn't agree with and then suddenly she miraculously changes and is lovely an princess sunshine and of course she excels at anything she tries including saving the day for founders day play which apparently would have been a disaster if Viola wasn't there because none of the older people can act and are rubbish!

Then apparently the are all so grateful to her and admit it would have been awful without her. She acts like a completely spoilt brat for the first bit - she suddenly changes to be brilliant to everyone in every-way I mean come on Adriana Trigani you're meant to be a new York bestseller surely you can do better than that lead up a little story. I mean if your my age 12 then avoid this book like the plague you'd be much better reading some Ibbotson or Suzanne Collins but I your ten or under then you'd probably enjoy it alot I might of if Id read it earlier. Its like Trigani is actually trying to be a 10 year old and getting it completely wrong.