Title: Shrinking Violet
Author: Danielle Joseph
Pages: 320
 

It’s been in my TBR list for a while and I’ve been putting in on a halt because I felt that it might end up not meeting my likings. So after I read it, it wasn’t bad but I feel there could be more, there’s a little (just really minuscule) dissatisfaction in the execution of story but over all it was… good (really good).

The story is about Teresa Adams (or Tere for short) and her alter ego DJ Sweet T. Tere is shy, as in super shy. I’m shy, I know that I’m introvert, I rather not talk in front of a crowd (it’s really downfall ‘coz my soon career deals with a lot of talking in front of people). But Tere is a league of her own; totally different from what I know about being shy. She always speaks two to three words, she rather nod instead of answering yes, and there’s always something clogging her throat when she past her word quota (ok, that’s cynicism, forgive me). No wonder people thought she is mute. But behind that, she dreamt of being a DJ and she knows she can pull it off. She has passion for music and she is trying hard to make her dream come true. So Rob, her mother’s current boyfriend and owner of a radio station (talk about luck) let her observe the job. One time when she and Jason were asked to temporary handled the program, she became an instant hit. Now enter dream guy, emo- punk (the fashion) also music lover and totally nice to her, Gavin. He is the only one (aside from her bestfriend) who talks to her. She was surprised that Gavin listen to the same type of music as she does and even listens to her favorite radio station, and likes fan of Sweet T. But when prom comes she was decided to be the prize in an amateur song writing contest at her radio station; actually it is more of Sweet T’s identity and being her prom date!

Like I said the book is actually good, not amazing but nice. I can sometimes relate to her but her shyness can be sometimes infuriating. I’m shy but I know when to speak, she is just there unable to speak even she is capable of. But towards the end, the book actually explained as to why she is acts like that. Her mother has high expectations on her so when she was a kid, she decided instead of talking that may risk of embarrassing her mother, she decided to not speak at all. And that’s what happens and she carried it as she grows up. But what I like about her character is that she tries really hard to get what she wants. When she finally stands up for herself and faces her mother, I felt proud of her because she has the guns to do it; all it needed is a little confidence from her family and more importantly to herself.

I like the music part of the book; I might not know the singers (I’m sure they are all made up? (ok, not really sure) but if I were to guess since I’m pretty much open hearing any genres, Shrinking Violet must be the likes of Green Day or Linkin Park or maybe alternative rock, say Oasis? And no doubt the bubblegum pop are those of Britney and the likes (which isn’t really bad, I like this kind of music as well). I absolutely love the ending. Like Jason said, it’s like a Cinderella story without the glass slipper or the 12 midnight curfew. I know it’s so obvious who the-moon-stops-for-you composer is but it’s still came to me as a surprise. I love Gavin, he is the only who dares to talk to her, understand her in some point so I’m really happy they end up together. I like Jason as well and Derek (I think I’ve been reading a lot of Jessicas and Dereks, haha ignore this side comment). This pervert DJ hits hard core, his funny (a bit offensive for his age) but still amusing. If wasn’t for this guy, the match made in radio-song-writing-contest isn’t possible. Gavin and Tere owe their love life to this guy.

I love the message of this book that shyness isn’t a hindrance (and will never be) and Tere’s realization that she no longer fear – speaking her mind. A really good book for everyone and specially to the shirking violet ones (uhmm me!).