Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

8 reviews

stars_and_stags's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I really enjoyed this book. I understand why it is controversial, but the main characters were making the best of a horrific situation. 

Generational trauma is a curse that plagues so many families. 

Overall, well written and very accurate to how teenagers would speak. I am glad I read it though parts were hard to get through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Incest, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Child death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, and Torture

ariannay111's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Car accident, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, and Abandonment

books_hay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

I first read this book some where around 8th grade and just now 30ish years later. 
I'm 8th grade it seamed a bit of a love story. This time is was a tale of horrible abuse and imprisonment.

This book takes on shocking turns. It's a good read, but it's horrifying at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Child death, Incest, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal 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

hez30's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Car accident

mbryo's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

The author wrote so passionately in defense of incest you'd think they were incestuous themself 😭 VERY well-written though, and a compelling (albeit nauseating) read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Child death, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Torture, Abandonment, Murder, and Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism, Medical content, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Excrement, Pregnancy, Sexism, Body shaming, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

shairah's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Incest

annalieseagain's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.0

i was so excited to read this book after hearing so many great things, but was sadly disappointed. the story drags on and on with no climax. the characters are for the most part unlikable and poorly explored, which is exceptional considering the book takes place almost exclusively in one room allowing ample time to flesh out the characters. the only exception may be the twins at times, but even then it’s just because they are sweet with one another and most of the time don’t actually add much. also, it makes no sense to my why there wouldn’t even be an attempt made to develop any of the adult characters beyond the weak trajectory of the mother!

additionally, i think the incest plot line was been a bridge too far. the book was plenty dark already and it was quite frankly disgusting and written off in a way that made it seem okay instead of sickening.

. 

finally, it was so blatantly attempting to set up a series in my opinion that it intentionally left too much ambiguous. the twists could be surprising at times, particularly the end bits, but to read 400+ pages to arrive at a lukewarm ending that is just baiting at a sequel… no thanks! the book i bought came with the sequel inside as well but seeing how long that is and how little i care to see what happens next, i don’t think i’ll be picking it up anytime soon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence