Rating: 
Summary: Violet & Claire
Review: I picked up a copy of Violet & Claire at Barnes & Noble and as I was reading the back of the book, I thought, "Hmmm, this book sounds like it might be cool." It was my first Francesca Lia Block book and as I read it, I couldn't help but love her writing style. Everything is in so much detail and it makes the whole book seem a little like poetry. However, as much as I liked her writing, the book left me a little disappointed by the end.I started reading the book, and really began to like it; about Violet and her movies, and then meeting Claire with her tinkerbell shirt and wings. Everything throughout the book describing Violet & Claire and their friendship was great, but I think all the other crazy things going on in between it were a little too confusing for me to follow sometimes. Don't get me wrong, if you are a FLB fan, definatley read this. You will probably like it. But, don't buy it if you haven't tried any of Block's other books. I am thinking of getting the Dangerous Angels books b/c I hear that is her best work. I won't let my opinion of this book affect my opinion of FLB though, because she is a really good writer, and everyone should read something by her.
Rating: 
Summary: better the second time
Review: I read 'Violet and Claire' immediately after finishing 'I Was a Teenage Fairy' and 'Dangerous Angels', two of my favorite Francesca Lia Block books. Although I did find the screenplay style of Violet's chapter and the poetic feeling of Claire's chapter to be very interesting, the two characters did not hold my attention as much as Mab, Weetzie, and Witch Baby had. The relationship between the two girls didn't seem as genuine and relatable as others Block has written about. Extremely disappointed, I moved onto other of Block's books and didn't pick 'Violet and Claire' up again until a few years later. Maybe I wasn't expecting that much, but I enjoyed this book so much more during the second read. Although the characters (especially Violet) are different from Block's usual, out-there dreamy people, that makes them all the more interesting. There is a reality in this book that is sometimes lacking on Block's other works (that lack of reality isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's just interesting to see her stray from her usual style). My favorite will always be 'Dangerous Angels', but eventually I came to enjoy 'Violet and Claire' as well.
Rating:
Summary: VIOLET
Review: Violet: loner and goth Claire: Loner and faery wanna be come together in this story. They become true friends. They want to do everything together, especially make a movie due to Violets obsession with classic cinema. Life gets more complicated when people come inside the world of violet and claire, can they make it through the ups and downs of life? Go get it, its a wonderful, uplifting story about friendship.
Rating:
Summary: Block Is A Teenage Fairy
Review: I read this book when I was sort of in a slump of mediocre reading. I really wanted something that would hold my attention and pique my senses. VIOLET&CLAIRE did just that. It is the story of two girls who seem very different yet have a similar essence, a quality which ties their fates together. Violet is dark and moody, ambitious and practical; Claire is light-hearted and delicate, innocent and dreamy. Violet dreams of escaping from the mundane life of a seventeen year-old which is her present lot, through making a movie. Claire has images of a secret race of faeries, who are gentle and kind and light as air. She writes poetry. Attracted to Claire's poetic visions and sympathetic to her ostracism from her peers, Violet asks Claire to star in her movie. Things take a drastic turn, shifting dream to reality, when Violet and Claire attend a rock concert and get to go backstage and meet the band's sexy lead singer. Impressed by Violet, the two of them have a fling, and then he gives her his agent's number. Violet soon has a job working for the agent. She finds herself having less and less time for Claire, who pleads with her to come back to her so they can write poetry together. When a sadistic and sudden tragedy occurs, Violet finds that everything she has hoped for is falling into her hands. Yet if this is so, why is she so miserable. Claire, too, is falling apart, and has a fling with an older teacher at a poetry workshop. Ultimately, it is only through vice and destruction, while maintaining a genuine connection and a desire to save one another, that Claire and Violet can find their way back to one another and have ultimate peace. This book starts out in a screenplay format with Violet giving a director's description of how a scene will open. From there, half of it is narrated in Violet's voice, the second half in Claire's. As always, Block proves herself to be glittering and mysterious in her prose. Yet this novel seems to have more plot than some of her others, such as THE HANGED MAN did. Parts are a bit confusing: you will find yourself wondering what really did happen the night Violet went alone to her agent's office to work late. There is a twisting, circular sort of scene where you are wondering did or didn't Claire's poetry instructor have a fling with Violet? The party scenes are dangerous yet great. As always, Block opens herself to the lifestyles of others. VIOLET&CLAIRE is a must-read about friendship, pain, and the true meaning of success. And if you are a Block fan, my only question is why you haven't read this already?
Rating:
Summary: Floating somewhere in the middle...
Review: I was torn on what to review this, because the book was entertaining...but it was most definitely lacking. I was able to pick up on the characters right away, and found things that I could relate to...however, aside from Violet and Flint, I found everything to be under developed. Violet and Claire were best friends...why? There was no development in this story. You don't see anything happening, you're told it's happening. The great stories are the ones that are painted out for you, not the ones that are stated bluntly...however, in this case, I think that actually worked for the book... I settled on 3 stars. Not everyone is going to like it, but if it's your style, you're going to fall madly in love with it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of Both Worlds
Review: I couldn't help but be drawn into this book. It's about two teenage girls with personalities at completely opposite extremes - Violet, a cynical rebellious Goth who has raised herself on TV and cinema, and Claire, a lonely freespirited but fragile poet who believes she may be descended from an ancient race of faeries - and how they meet and become best friends. This friendship brings them both inspiration, adventure, and a lot of pain, but in the end they are both somewhat happier and stronger than they had been in the beginning. The way the book is written is very appealing and original. It starts out script style, the way Violet might start one of her screen plays, and is divided into three parts - Violet's narrative, Claire's narrative, and, at the conclusion of the story, a chapter combining their viewpoints. The writing style is vibrant and beautiful, and plays up both girls' personalities. It isn't a total fairytale. There's a good dose of reality in here - Violet's ambition for writing leads her right into the world of celebrities, where getting hurt can be as easy as making the wrong decision, or the wrong friends, and Claire's hunger for love, and love for both her new poet boyfriend and her new friend Violet, leads her to a lot of heartache - but the overall appeal of the book isn't lost, and in the end everything turns out alright. It's hard to stick this book in a category, but if you're a fan of Francesca Lia Block, or if you just like well written, touching stories, this is well worth checking out.
Rating:
Summary: Violet & Claire
Review: I picked up a copy of Violet & Claire at Barnes & Noble and as I was reading the back of the book, I thought, "Hmmm, this book sounds like it might be cool." It was my first Francesca Lia Block book and as I read it, I couldn't help but love her writing style. Everything is in so much detail and it makes the whole book seem a little like poetry. However, as much as I liked her writing, the book left me a little disappointed by the end. I started reading the book, and really began to like it; about Violet and her movies, and then meeting Claire with her tinkerbell shirt and wings. Everything throughout the book describing Violet & Claire and their friendship was great, but I think all the other crazy things going on in between it were a little too confusing for me to follow sometimes. Don't get me wrong, if you are a FLB fan, definatley read this. You will probably like it. But, don't buy it if you haven't tried any of Block's other books. I am thinking of getting the Dangerous Angels books b/c I hear that is her best work. I won't let my opinion of this book affect my opinion of FLB though, because she is a really good writer, and everyone should read something by her.
Rating: 
Summary: violet and claire
Review: this is one of my favorite FLB books. its about violet and how she wants to make movies and claire who's into faeries and tinkerbell and glitter and stuff. They're opposites but Violet thinks that claire could star in her movie so they become friends right away.
This book is so poetic and beautiful and i could relate to both violet and claire even though they are different. i think that a lot of people can relate to both of them.
Rating:
Summary: Poetic and Interesting
Review: This book was endearing in some ways but a little confusing. I loved the characters and you really could tell what they were feeling. Violet is severe at times but her thoughts and actions are understandable. Claire is so kind and innocent to outsiders but I liked getting to know her from her own point of view. The imagery and poetry were better than in any other book I've read, which is the main reason I like this book.
But in Claire's chapter, she brings up some issues from her past and never fully explains them. There are problems with her parents and her childhood that are mentioned that are never really made clear.
Other than these unanswered tidbits, this is a wonderful book full of poetry and imagination that shows how even the bad things in life can be resolved.
Rating:
Summary: violet
Review: I read this book in 2 hours last night. What a great way Block wrote, it was like Violet's life was the movie, and the movie was her life. I related to the character of Claire on many levels, and it was just an all around great story and I hope to definately read more of Block's books!
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