Book Review: Violet on the Runway

Title: Violet on the Runway
Series: Violet #1
Author: Melissa C. Walker
Publisher: Berkley JAM Books (Penguin Group USA)
Original Publication in: 2007

Reviewed by Ginny, originally published in Fly
 
Violet Greenfield, who thinks of herself as a quiet, shy  wallflower, has always been teased because of her height (six-one, or 1.85m). She longs to be popular like those BK girls (stands for Bee’s Knees, not Burger King), even though she’d never admit it to her best friends, Julie and Roger.
But when she catches the eye of a Tryst agent Angela Blythe, things change dramatically… because Angela is sure Violet can be “the next Kate Moss – but, you know, taller and without the cocaine problem” (that was Violet’s soon-to-be agent). In the following months, Violet will have to wade through the castings, photo shoots, runways, bitchy models and other difficulties to find herself and what she really wants.

As far as I know, the author Melissa Walker used to work in a fashion magazine and has now (well, five years ago) written a series which gives us backstage insights on the glamorous fashion life.
Let’s talk about Violet first. Violet Greenfield is insecure about her height and her body in general – she’s too bony and all angles, she thinks. Of course, those two complexes are what caught Angela’s attention. Angela is persistent on letting Violet fly out to New York (she lives in North Carolina) for the Fashion Week, and when her parents give in, Violet is whisked away to a world in which she feels beautiful, strong and desirable.
Long story short, designers and photographers are taken by Violet’s naturalness, Angela convinces the Greenfields to let Violet graduate a semester early and live in the Tryst’s model apartment in New York – and make a name as a model!
Now, I know, I know that Violet needs to make stupid mistakes in order to learn and grow up, but I was quite exasperated when she ditched her best friends for the BK. What pissed me off, however, was Julie’s response to that. I get she has a valid right to be angry, I don’t blame her for that. What I consider a true BF reaction is Roger’s, Violet’s other friend. He’s mad, gives her silent treatment, but in the end he cares, and he comes up to check on Violet. They fight, but he forgives. Julie’s just petty.
Back to Violet. I think she is a good and nice person at core – that’s her personality, and her nature. She hardens up in this vicious tangle of competition and criticism, but she never develops an eating disorder or turns to drugs. She is hurt by the harsh words people and fellow model Veronica throw at her – about her weight, her nightlife, her privacy – and yet she remains a softie (in a good way) inside.
Violet on the Runway is a book about self-discovery and mocks the fashion world, but in a light-hearted and believable way.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Published by Razorbill 2007
288 Pages (paperback)

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.
I have mixed opinions on this book, however I know what the most prominent feeling I had about this book. Overall it's a really great book that I think a lot of people should read. It gets down to the core of one of my most valued "ideas" I guess you could say. I really feel that it's really important to treat people as best as you can, especially if you really don't know them. I know that sounds weird but people who you are closer to you know their situations but people you don't know real well at all, you have no idea what they're going trough. Now that's not to say that the people you're close to can't "hide" things from you or not share their whole life with you, but you will get some truth from them. Just as Hannah gave the people she was "closest" to the truth, they just didn't see it. I've always felt that way and that's always been an idea that's been held in higher standards for me and it was the biggest thing I got from this book. Hopefully some of you see what I'm trying to say!

Now for the book! I really feel like this book isn't really about the book or the characters but rather the ideas and situations presented in the story. Don't get me wrong the I really felt for the characters and the story was depressing but good, but this book is about the general situations presented. It was interesting to get into Hannah's head and then to get to hear about the characters outside of her stories. It shows how different people can all come together unconsciously to affect one single person to the point where they don't think they can return. I liked Hannah but I personally couldn't connect with how she got to that horrible point. I don't know, I feel bad for thinking that way but the things that sent her towards that cliff just seemed like things that everyone has to deal with. I mean not everything, or in the combination that Hannah dealt with but I just didn't make that connection with her, but I did feel for her. Clay was a good duel narration, but he had nothing to feel bad about with Hannah, at least not like the others. I really liked him as the duel narrator but it would have been interesting to be able to get into the head of one of the other characters, who had more to deeply contemplate then Clay. Other than that this book was a great book that allows us as readers to really contemplate the affect that we all have on other people. It was a great book that I'll be passing around to my cousins!

4.5 Kisses