Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

19 reviews

newhope's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Um ok.... Too repetitive, could've wrapped this up in 200 pages. The writing was awful too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Vomit, and Blood

chamomile_calm's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexism, Murder, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Blood

tiiiger35's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I can see why, when published in 1979 ‘Flowers in the attic’ had shock value. It certainly makes for uncomfortable reading with its dark topics, including the underlying theme of incest. 

I assumed a story about four children locked in an attic for years on end, would offer dull & lethargic pacing but V.C Andrews writing was compelling. I’d never read anything quite like it before. 

Taboo subjects aside, there’s betrayal, tragedy, tension & constant twists and turns. I was enthralled by the mother, how she turned from damsel in distress to villain. Poisoned by greed, her powers of manipulation & guilt were truly horrific. The Grandmother was evil incarnated, with her extreme religious views, her demonic, callous nature & sadistic tendencies for brutality, she made the ultimate evil sidekick. 

As is natures way, where there is dark, there is light to be found. The creativity of the children was magical, they turned that dingy attic in to a safe place full of colour and play. Their determination to survive despite their daily horror, gave them a sense of purpose. 

I wondered if Cathy & Chris were pushed in to a scenario that would never have occurred if they weren’t prisoners? or if their parents relationship & the shared bloodline, made it inevitable they were doomed to repeat family history?

I’m definitely reading the next book in this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

dizzyizzyy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexism, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Incest, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

madelinequinnee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Utterly heartbreaking and truly disturbing. 

I decided to read this book because i’m a big fan of Nicole Dollanganger and i know she takes a lot of inspiration from this series. I knew what to expect when going into this, but it didn’t make it any less horrific. I didn’t, however, anticipate this to be so sad. I ended up feeling really connected to the characters by the end, and Cory’s death made me cry. 

I think this book can go in the same category as Lolita, they’re both beautifully written but contain dark content 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Rape, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Torture, Murder, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Vomit, Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Car accident, Confinement, Incest, and Injury/Injury detail

isibeal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Death, Child death, Sexism, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Rape, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Animal death, Cursing, Vomit, and Blood

raybudbury's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Insane. Absolutely insane.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Animal death, Incest, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Self harm, Grief, Confinement, Blood, Murder, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse

hue's review against another edition

dark

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

Well, that was truly something huh. Not sure how I'll melt that but I'm glad I picked it up. One twisted telling of a seemingly perfect family that implodes the moment the Father falls into the hands of death. A lot of topics that aren't easy to melt are delt with in this book, what about child abuse and gaslighting, incest born children doing incesty things, kids being deprived from the contact of other human beings aside from their siblings and their grandmother, as well as an occasional visit from their fairly narcissistic mother. Definitely as horrid as been told.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Car accident, Emotional abuse, and Incest

maggiemaryamos's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Hate crime, Grief, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I took my time with this and only extended my grueling stay, felt like I was in the attic suffering with them. I was a prolonged fly on the wall unable to help these poor children but I couldn’t look away either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Incest, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, and Rape