Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

78 reviews

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

I decided to read this cult classic because my mom told me several years ago that it was the first book she remembers really enjoying. I was skeptical, because like many, all I had ever heard about this book was that there was an incestuous relationship depicted in it. However, what I actually read wasn't simply a story about a brother and sister hooking up. That is a thing within the pages, but it is truly a small, small aspect. It is a book that explores child abuse, trauma bonds, and asks the question: just how cruel will a person be in the name of fortune? how far will they go? what makes the world go 'round, love or money? I honestly think that this book is a haunting example of just how cruel humanity can be and there are so many discussions to be had.

Having said that, the writing itself isn't that great. The story itself had me hooked from page one though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Incest, and Animal cruelty

saraellenme's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Child death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Torture and Animal death

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

eyrechrysalis's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Animal death

Moderate: Gaslighting and Violence

ekmoore11's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Torture, Sexual assault, Incest, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment

bookrecsanddnfs's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.0

At first, after seeing that my library only had the first book on Libby and not the entire series, I was sad. I wanted to re-read the entire series that I loved so much at 11 years old. 

After re-reading the first book as an adult, I am very grateful that my library only had the first book on Libby. 

Marked safe. 2 stars for nostalgia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

gracedunne's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Murder, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Car accident

caseyf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

faythfarrar's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Incest, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment