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My Not-So-Still Life
by
Vanessa is wise beyond her years. She's never really fit in at school, where all the kids act and dress the same. She's an artist who expresses her talent in the wacky colors she dyes her hair, her makeup and clothes. She's working on her biggest art project, and counting the days until she's grown up and can really start living. That adult world seems closer when Vanessa
...more
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Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
May 10th 2011
by Wendy Lamb Books
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2.5
This book will have appeal for the artist types who don't feel like they belong. I think there's also appeal for more reluctant readers, since it's short and a quick read.
For me, though, Vanessa was never a fully developed character and a lot of what she did seemed really young and immature for a sophomore in high school. I know that's the point, but I would have appreciated her better as a younger character -- 7th or 8th grade -- but that wouldn't have worked in the context of the sexual si ...more
This book will have appeal for the artist types who don't feel like they belong. I think there's also appeal for more reluctant readers, since it's short and a quick read.
For me, though, Vanessa was never a fully developed character and a lot of what she did seemed really young and immature for a sophomore in high school. I know that's the point, but I would have appreciated her better as a younger character -- 7th or 8th grade -- but that wouldn't have worked in the context of the sexual si ...more

Summary: Vanessa is ready to be an adult, although you might not be able to see that from her appearance—bright pink hair and vibrant clothing. She has friends her own age, but is captivated by the people she meets while working at Palette, her local art store. Vanessa takes steps to become more independent and adult-like, but is she growing up too fast?
My thoughts: The narrator and protagonist of My Not-So-Still Life, Vanessa, is a perfect portrait of a restless teen. She has things she’s good ...more
My thoughts: The narrator and protagonist of My Not-So-Still Life, Vanessa, is a perfect portrait of a restless teen. She has things she’s good ...more

My Not-So-Still Life is a companion book for The Opposite of Invisible - I was unaware that it was a companion book and felt like I was missing something while reading My Not-So-Still Life. I would advise reading The Opposite of Invisible first; maybe it will help understand what happen with Vanessa and Jewel; that relationship is basically the catalyst for Vanessa's behavior in My Not-So-Still Life.
My Not-So-Still Life is told from Vanessa's point of view - she is an artist and like most artis ...more
My Not-So-Still Life is told from Vanessa's point of view - she is an artist and like most artis ...more

Ever read a book that's trying too hard to make a point, but it never comes full circle (because the resolution is oh-so-common sense?
This is it.
The MC is completely so self-absorbed, I'm not sure she could find her way out of a box. Harsh, yes.
The main reason I have trouble with this book is that there's no twist. There's nothing that sets this book about teen angst apart from others I've read. She wants to hurry up and grow up. Don't most teens?
That said, I did like the fact that it incorpora ...more
This is it.
The MC is completely so self-absorbed, I'm not sure she could find her way out of a box. Harsh, yes.
The main reason I have trouble with this book is that there's no twist. There's nothing that sets this book about teen angst apart from others I've read. She wants to hurry up and grow up. Don't most teens?
That said, I did like the fact that it incorpora ...more

This is a quick read and I found the story to be very relevant. Vanessa is the girl you know. She wants to be identified as someone. She wants to be herself but doesn't know who she is. She identifies with some form of fashion statement and colors her hair according to her mood. She wears a colored string according to her mood. She's ready for the next big thing which is nebulous but it's definitely not high school.
Vanessa gets a job at an art store and identifies with some of the characters th ...more
Vanessa gets a job at an art store and identifies with some of the characters th ...more

So maybe part of my problem was that I have so many books I want to read and I wanted to get through this one and it did have a slow beginning. But it picked up and it wasn't too bad.
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Nov 10, 2012
Joséphine (Word Revel)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
art,
growing-up,
text-fiction,
target-young-adult,
friendship,
self-discovery,
family,
format-ebooks,
4-stars,
read-2012
I read "The Opposite of Invisible" before reading this, so her references to Jewel and Alice made sense. I liked knowing who Vanessa was after getting to know Alice in the previous book. I also liked that it gave a sense of continuity to life and was a reminder that every person thinks differently. So yes, I thought it was genius to write about two characters whose lives once intertwined but don't anymore, while acknowledging each of their existences in overlapping settings.
In terms of the voice ...more
In terms of the voice ...more

My Not-So-Still Life was an interesting read for me. I don’t really have that huge of an opinion about it, there were some things I liked and some things that I wasn’t as crazy about, with all the pieces falling in at about a perfect center.
I really liked Liz Gallagher’s writing, it was beautiful prose. Some of her descriptions got a bit lengthy though. I felt like so much of the book was Vanessa’s descriptions, which made sense, as she is an artist and I feel would see the world that way.
Not a ...more
I really liked Liz Gallagher’s writing, it was beautiful prose. Some of her descriptions got a bit lengthy though. I felt like so much of the book was Vanessa’s descriptions, which made sense, as she is an artist and I feel would see the world that way.
Not a ...more

This was a bit meh!
There are no surprises in the story line and everything came to a conclusion just as I expected.
In addition the book manages to combine two of my least favourite tropes from YA and chick-lit: over-enthusiastic misunderstanding of everything going on around you and endless listing of the protagonist's sartorial choices.
I couldn't like the protagonist and there were so many cliches and clunky descriptions it seemed like the author had as much trouble expressing the main characte ...more
There are no surprises in the story line and everything came to a conclusion just as I expected.
In addition the book manages to combine two of my least favourite tropes from YA and chick-lit: over-enthusiastic misunderstanding of everything going on around you and endless listing of the protagonist's sartorial choices.
I couldn't like the protagonist and there were so many cliches and clunky descriptions it seemed like the author had as much trouble expressing the main characte ...more

This book was short but still good. I think it showed good emotion for what a teenager could be going through. Many teenagers are in such a rush to grow up & have things change like the protagonist Vanessa in this book. Some of the emotions she was feeling I could relate to right now with what I am going through myself as a senior college student. I think it has good lessons in it so I will be keeping it for my future classroom if I teach older students.

Love the cover, very eye catching. So it seems this does have Jewel and Alice from the book Opposite of Invisible. I remembered thinking it was okay but still liked it.
I feel the same way about this one. I did like the friendships between Vanessa, Nick and Holly, Vanessa's relationship with her mom and Grampie and her new friends at the art supply store, etc. And the arc Vanessa has throughout the book.
So the book was an okay but has its moments kind of read. ...more
I feel the same way about this one. I did like the friendships between Vanessa, Nick and Holly, Vanessa's relationship with her mom and Grampie and her new friends at the art supply store, etc. And the arc Vanessa has throughout the book.
So the book was an okay but has its moments kind of read. ...more

Aug 17, 2012
PhobicPrerogative
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sorta-read-dnf-skipped-to-the-end
Vanessa may have been wise beyond her years but she was such a snotty main character! That hoity-toity attitude she had about those who are not artistic individuals like her was hard to stomach.
If she had been more down-to-earth about being different, I could have progressed with the book. But she wasn't, which made me dislike her, in turn making me not bother with the book anymore. ...more
If she had been more down-to-earth about being different, I could have progressed with the book. But she wasn't, which made me dislike her, in turn making me not bother with the book anymore. ...more

Gallagher's writing is pedestrian, and Vanessa is a pill.
...more

I gave this book three stars because I really didn't like the main character very much in the way that she was rude to everyone and how she treated her friends. I thought the main character was very narcissistic and very stupid for her age. Also I would like to point out that my library had a stamp on the inside of the book that said Interest Level 9 - 12 and I thought the ages should have been from like 12 - 15. I just think 9 is a little to young to be reading about fake IDs and sex but maybe
...more

The cover wins major, major points! I love her hair and I wish I was ballsy enough to do the makeup! But the story was blah. The book was definitely a snapshot into the mind of a seemingly normal artistic teen who meddles a bit too much in her friends’ lives and doesn’t focus on her own issues. It never got over the hump into greatness though. And, unfortunately, Vanessa’s almost-sexual-encounter with James puts the book into an arena that means I couldn’t suggest it to the tweens who would bene
...more

At first, I didn't think I would like this book because of the "I'm so grown-up and ready to get out of this town" appeal; I see it in so many other characters, but the art and artist plot-line really drew me in. So, if you enjoy art and relate to wanting to grow up ASAP? This is the book for you.
...more

This was one of those books that, personally, felt as if it had no real content to it. It was a book that I simply went through the motions of reading but didn’t really connect with anyone or anything in the book. It was a quick read but I think I wasted my time reading it because, to be perfectly honest, there was no reason for this book to exist. There was no content, the characters were useless, and basically there was nothing going for this book. I feel like I am being way too brutal with th
...more

Just finished this today, and I loved it. I feel like the conflicts faced by the main character represent a lot of teenagers who, sometimes and to varying degrees, feel kind of trapped by their environment (hello). Vanessa might be a bit of an extreme case, with her insistence on standing out and being a walking work of art and her general impatience with all things high school, but I guess sometimes that's what it takes for the author to really convey a message strongly. I also loved how art- t
...more

I loved Liz Gallagher's first novel, The Opposite of Invisible, and have been looking forward to reading something new by her. I was disappointed when I learned her next book would be a companion novel featuring Vanessa, a minor character from Opposite. Vanessa played an interesting role in The Opposite of Invisible as the girl Jewel starts to date while his best friend Alice (Opposite's narrator) dates a cute boy in their class. But she was also "the other woman" to me. The girl I couldn't root
...more

I enjoyed My Not-So-Still Life quite a bit. It was a really quick read filled with humor and interesting insights of life.
This novel follows Vanessa, a teenage girl who, instead of trying to fit in, has tried to stand out. She is constantly changing her hair color, she wears a colored string on her wrist to depict her mood (purple is the best, black, which comes after red, is the worst) and she is on a never-ending search to define herself in the artistic world. She can’t wait until she graduate ...more
This novel follows Vanessa, a teenage girl who, instead of trying to fit in, has tried to stand out. She is constantly changing her hair color, she wears a colored string on her wrist to depict her mood (purple is the best, black, which comes after red, is the worst) and she is on a never-ending search to define herself in the artistic world. She can’t wait until she graduate ...more

Vanessa is a young girl who can't wait till school is over and she can be in the real word. While everyone else is living their age, Vanessa try's to act older, getting a job, planning what type of tattoos she wants to get and hanging out with older people. That's why Vanessa is astatic when she places a job at her favorite art store. Vanessa has her whole life planned out and she knows who she is, or does she? Someone would want to read this book because it's cool to see how Vanessa changes thr
...more

My Not-So-Still Life is the story of an average teenager, who is ready to grow up, do important things, and who feels stuck in high school. Vanessa wants to be different, unique and wants to explore the person she really is. Which in her case, is dying her hair crazy bright colors, wearing bold makeup and dressing up like no one around her does.
Vanessa finds high school completely useless, and finally wants to go out in the world and do something that has purpose; for her that's art! Its seems l ...more
Vanessa finds high school completely useless, and finally wants to go out in the world and do something that has purpose; for her that's art! Its seems l ...more

I read Liz Gallagher’s first book, The Opposite of Invisible, and fell in love with her sparse but powerful and relatable prose. Therefore, I went into Liz’s second book, MY NOT-SO-STILL LIFE, with great anticipation. Perhaps a little too much—for while MY NOT-SO-STILL LIFE is a solid addition to the YA contemporary genre, it didn’t have the lasting emotional impact I had found in The Opposite of Invisible.
Given a few allowances, I think that Vanessa is a very relatable protagonist. She’s an art ...more
Given a few allowances, I think that Vanessa is a very relatable protagonist. She’s an art ...more

I think this Book is a great adventure into the life of a not so average teenager who looks at her life and the world as a big canvas waiting to be painted by her!!! This book even though using simplistic words is a young adult novel that i think the artist, the undefined, and the searching for their identity teenager would enjoy. This book showes the growing up process of Vannessa who's eager to get out into the world and become an adult so she can be the master of her own destiny. But along th
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This is basically a story of how Vanessa learns that growing up to fast may not always be the best thing, and just being who you are is sometimes the best feeling you can have.
I can't say that I got to much out of this story. I wasn't really interested in the characters, or what was going on with them. If I'm going to love a story I have to be able to love the characters as well, and not just the story. If that doesn't happen then the story better be full of awesomeness. At times I thought Vane ...more
I can't say that I got to much out of this story. I wasn't really interested in the characters, or what was going on with them. If I'm going to love a story I have to be able to love the characters as well, and not just the story. If that doesn't happen then the story better be full of awesomeness. At times I thought Vane ...more

I loved Liz Gallagher's first novel, The Opposite of Invisible. I gobbled it up - I read it in one day. However, I was a little bit disappointed with this novel.
I didn't have a problem connecting with the characters. I connected with all the main characters and could understand where they were coming from when they were talking. That wasn't a problem.
The other thing I didn't have a problem with was the setting. The setting was wonderfully described and I could picture it clearly in my head as I ...more
I didn't have a problem connecting with the characters. I connected with all the main characters and could understand where they were coming from when they were talking. That wasn't a problem.
The other thing I didn't have a problem with was the setting. The setting was wonderfully described and I could picture it clearly in my head as I ...more

I think I got this book because I liked the artistic part of it. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I liked it. I'm starting to read more realistic books, but I am still a fantasy lover at heart. I enjoyed this book because it reminded me of how I felt about photography when I was a student. It also reminded me of how i felt as a teenager. I was similar to this character in the way my mind worked at that age. I wanted to live more when I finished high school and started college though. I was very
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Nov 15, 2011
Shanyn (Chick Loves Lit)
added it
The biggest problem I had with My Not-So-Still Life was with the main character, Vanessa, which unfortunately is a huge issue and hard to overcome. While I did like that she enjoyed art (and, subsequently, that she got to work in an art store), I did not like her poor decision making in attempts to drastically change her life. She wants to be older, wants to be seen as mature and not as a high schooler. I identified with some of her feelings (as I'm sure most high schoolers do at some point), bu
...more

It was overall good, but it was confusing at certain times and I felt that the author rushed to finish the novel. It also seemed that the author wasn't detailed enough, and I felt that the author should have done something regarding Jewel, Vanessa's ex boyfriend because the last time he was mentioned or really talked about was when Vanessa was in the thrift shop. I also disliked that there was such a quick romance between James and Vanessa, it was almost like the author just threw it in there. L
...more

The book my not so still life takes place in a lot of settings for example, an art store and a house. The main charchter Is a 16 year old named Vannesa. She is also my favorite charchter. This book is about Vannesa and she is not considerd normal because she has pink hair. In the begaing she releizes that she will never be normal. Than in the middle of the book all she wants to do is grow up. Than in the last part of the book her friends worry that the guy she meet is not the right guy for her a
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