The Autobiography of Vivian

Rating:
Summary: The best read of summer 2002!
Review: I loved Vivian's story. From the beginning, I felt like Vivian and I were old friends. Like we bumped into each other in a store and decided to go for a cocktail and catch up. The way the book is written is refreshing and easy to follow and I loved how she (Viv) would ask me what I thought of what was happening in the story. (if I agreed, disagreed, could relate, could imagine?) It was a refreshing and familiar and added to the fun I was having. In the book Vivian alludes to a not so nice boyfriend from her past and I could appreciate why she seemed uncomfortable opening up and discussing all the details. It was strange, but good-strange, to read a autobiography where the woman who is the focus of the tale seems a little uncomfortable in the spotlight. I felt like she wanted all of us who were reading her book to enjoy it and get a good laugh. So, the things about her life that were'nt that rosey were only touched on. And the people, places and moments that were thrilling for Vivian, were on the table for the reader to enjoy and at least in my case, be inspried by. Vivian's book made me take another look at the life I've been living and gave me the confidance to rethink some of the decesions that I've made and will need to make in the near future. One of the best things about this book was watching Vivian rise up the corporate ladder. I could realte to how nervous and awkward she was when she first got the job at vh1. As a junior administrative assistant myself, I know how tough that can be. But I thought Vivian held the position of low woman on the totem pole with dignity and grace. Vivian's novel shows you that "you've got to be in it to win it" and that's why it was my very favorite read this summer. Vivian filled me with optimism and made me smiling and even laugh out loud. The best twelve dollars I've ever spent!

Rating:
Summary: Did I miss something?
Review: I read The Autobiography of Vivian after reading a recommendation by Venus Williams. I thought that Venus probably doesn't get to read all that much, so if she liked it... Anyway, I thought this read more like a diary than an actual novel. The action is slow-moving and we don't really get to find out about the -real- Vivian until about 100 pages into the book. While the style may be fresh, I found it a bit too "MTV"--you know, designed for short attention spans and for those who thrive on quirky one word responses. Vivian could be a marvelous heroine, but the pace and chattiness just get in the way. I know that many have really enjoyed the book, but I just found it to be rather cumbersome and a poor reflection of the young adult experience.

Rating:
Summary: Great little book!
Review: I think this book is great for what it is. Grant you, I am not a chick lit type of girl. I enjoy weightier reading, but whenI came across this book and thumbed through it, I was interested. This book is one of THE BEST chick lit books I have ever read. And it was a great time passer for someone who works in an office during the summer when it's quiet (AKA ME!!!!). So this book really was godsend. After all when you're at work who wants to read some heavy book club thinking person's novel during the summer?? NOT ME!! Anyway, this book is a little contrived and things happen easily and conveniently--a complaint that I read in a couple of reviews. But WAKE UP PEOPLE--look at this book for what it is!! Just by looking at the cover you know you're not in for a deeply philisophical tale. So why were you surprised?? I hope you didn't expect a War and Peace-ish story from a cartoon main character with a cup of coffee to go on the cover!! All in all this is a great book, with a great leading lady, laced with enough pop culture references to make any 80's or 90's kid happy. Keep living Vivian!! I am one reader who will keep watching!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Vivian
Review: I thought that this book was extremely good! I loved it! I have been on Vivian's website before and ever since then I check her vivcam every hour! I want to live in the city so this gives me a little taste of city life! Yah, Viv!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I thought that Vivian Lives and Vivian were both very good books. Vivian Lives made me laugh and cry and I was totally wrapped up in Vivian's life and her story. I read this book in a week flat, which must be a record for me! I would recommend this book for teens and women in their 20's.

Rating:
Summary: light entertaining read
Review: I was in the book store looking for something fun and not too heavy, I wasn't in the 'intellectual' mood. This caught my eye. It's a lot of fun.

Rating:
Summary: Bubble Gum...
Review: I won't give this book only one star, since I was at least able to finish it to the last page. I have seen this web site before, and it's comforting to a 20-something female on a rainy day, but this book-version was very boring. I never really understood how Vivian is supposed to be so powerful and such a "womyn rule" type of character because all of her men, career moves, and friends seem to fall right into her lap, once she moves to NYC. Not to be pessimistic, but I assume you have to work your ... off to get ahead in NYC. Her and her friend Sophie would have never been able to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan on a waitress's and a store associate's salary and had the ability to buy red leather pants and pointy shoes. I only live in Chicago and I have a career, and I can hardly afford a studio. The book seems to skip over the parts where we need to find out how Vivian achieved her successes. We are simply told, OH, now Vivian has magically won a song-writing contest. We never read about any nights where she was hard at work learning to play the guitar better and to write impressive-enough songs. So...you ask, why did I finish the book, and, especially, why am I going to keep this book on in my bookcase instead of giving it away to a friend (victim.."so scary!" [who am I?])? Because the only cool thing about it for me is that the only time I have been to NYC, my friend and I went to the cafe where Vivian worked in the book, and we sat right by the door, where the blonde cartoon character is sitting in the picture in the back of the book. I ran around the office showing the picture to people when I found it in the book and put two and two together after wondering why the picture looked so familiar.

I don't know. If you are feeling "like" really, really bubbly one day and are recessing back to 6th grade, I guess you might enjoy this book. But, know that Kelly or Brenda from 90210 is more mature than Viv. Good Lord. Buy one of those ring pop suckers and eat it while you read the book.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh!
Review: If I could say "waste of ink and trees" in 10 languages, I would. I have rarely hated anything I've chosen to read, but I hated The Autobiography of Vivian from the font (wasn't it annoying?) to the character herself. Who cares about Vivian, and, more importantly, why in the WORLD do they keep printing this series? Are you honestly telling me that people so adored the first book that they want to put themselves through the torture of reading another two?

The best thing about this book is that it gives all writer hopefuls the hope that they will be published, because their book has GOT to be better than the drek that is The Autobiography of Vivian.

Rating:
Summary: Disjointed, not-even-fun fluff
Review: It seems like the author felt an annoying need to insert as many pop culture references as humanly possible in order to save this sad, silly drivel. Look, I like chick lit as much as the next girl, and the website is really cute, but this book is a giant waste of time. It jumps between time frames, tells you how situations are going to end when they are just beginning, and speaks like a 15 year old girl.

Rating:
Summary: Its a good book
Review: It wasn't the best book in the world, but it was still a good book. I don't see why so many people don't like it. Its supposed to be for light fun reading. Not something that really makes you think and if it does than good for you, but I liked it and recomend it to others who are looking for something fun to read.