Finding Violet Park is a funny and original novel. It tells the story of Lucas Swain, our peculiar narrator, and how he comes to know Violet Park – a woman who has been dead for five years, who he finds in an urn in a taxi office. The Swain family have their own problems – Lucas’ father has been missing for years, and Lucas’ mother can’t deal with it anymore. Over the course of the novel, Lucas gets to know his grandparents better, deceives a Tony Soprano look-a-like in order to steal the ashes of someone he’s never met, gets a girlfriend called Martha and befriends a dead woman.
Somehow, by stumbling across an urn, he’ll discover his family’s secrets and what really happened to his father, as well as becoming his own person, not a copy of his father.
The premise is unique and the writer’s style is enchanting. I loved the way in which everything tied in together, but the story remained believable. Lucas is a hilarious hero with a great voice. Jenny Valentine is a fantastic author, and Finding Violet Park is an immensely readable novel.
Genre: Young Adult
Recommended Age: 12+
Star Rating: Eight out of ten
In a word: Quirky
4 notes passed:
I read that, and I loved it. Though here, it's called Me, the Missing, and the Dead. The title was the whole reason I picked it up at my library. :)
Jenny Valentine is a genius. And I would definitely say this book was quirky! Have you read another novel by her called 'Broken Soup'?
Dahlia: I think I like both titles of the book ;-) I wonder why they change it from country to country?
Brave Chickens: I have heard of it, but I haven't read it. I might have to go out and find it now, though. I love books that are a little bit left of centre.
Yes, yes, get Broken Soup! It's so good!
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