Customer Reviews
Highly recommended - By: Roadrunner, 04 Jan 2008 
A massive congratulations to the author for such a clever piece of work. The only complaint I have about this book is that it was not long enough. An excellent storyline, with a surprising twistin the tale. I loved it & would recommend it to readers of all ages.
Family connection - By: Algernon Flowers, 05 Oct 2007 
Teenager, Lucas is intrigued by the urn containing ashes of Violet Park that rests on a shelfin a taxi office & he is convinced that she is trying to communicate with him. He steals the urn & finding out more about her life becomes his obsession. Her secrets gradually become clear until he is surprised to discover her connection to his missing father.
As I read chapter one, I thought I was going to find it difficult to recommend this book as it had an amateur feel to it. However, either the unusual subject overcame most of my reservations or the writing greatly improved for I was soon as hooked by Violet Park as Lucas was. An unusual & enjoyable teen read.
Original but somehow not one I want to keep - By: charles1832, 07 Apr 2007 This was an original & readable book but it left me feeling a bit disappointed. It describes how 16 year old Lucas gets interestedin an urn of ashes which turn out to belong to a lady called Violet Park. The descriptions of how he finds out more & more about her are interesting. And he & his family, though not very likeable, are well described too. But the crux of the story is the way Lucas feels about his disappeared father, who interviewed Violet Park years ago - & this aspect of the book felt a bit contrived to me. I won't give the story away but I struggled to care about what Lucas felt about himself & his dad. I also began to find Lucas's habit of making little lists rather annoying & self conscious. At the end, although I'd enjoyed the read, I did find myself rather thinking "So what?"
I'm not suggesting you don't read this book - please do, as it's well written & original. But for me, its lack of emotional impact & "flavour", meant I gave it to Oxfam after reading it, instead of keeping it on my shelf to read again
finding something wonderful - By: peter haxton, 08 Mar 2007 I'm not known as a prolific reader. I often lose interest, forget the plot or fall asleep. But when I started reading
'Finding Violet Park' that was it, I was fully engaged immediately, read itin almost one sitting (quick cup of tea, halfway through) & thought it was extraordinarily good. Jenny Valentine has created something truly
wonderful. The book is funny, moving & wise. The characters are very well observed & she gets inside
of the head of the main protagonist, a sixteen year old boy with effortless skill. The storyline doesn't slacken,
in fact it gains momentum before reaching it's satisfactory conclusion. I understand this is her first novel &
she should be congratulated for such an assured debut.
you must buy this book! - By: Adele Nozedar, 23 Feb 2007 A friend lent me this book, & first I found that I read it very fast, because the story was so compelling; then I read it slowly, taking time to savour the language...at times I laughed aloud. This bokk has the feel of a 'classic' - This is an extraordinary book - apparently meant for teenagers but having the same sort of broad appeal that, say Philip Pullman has (although not at all like). I felt a bit bereft when I'd finished it & I want MORE, NOW, so please Jenny Valentine write lots more books please ?
