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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
“We were another of the unpleasant subjects that people don’t like to talk about, like mice in the attic.”
- V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic
I couldn’t have been much older than twelve when I borrowed Flowers in the Attic from my older sister. Hiding it under the bed like porn, I’d read it in secret late at night, absorbed in the unsettling yet thrilling tale of children in peril, negligent mothers, tyrannical grandparents, and, most taboo of all: consensual incest. Back then, reading the novels of V.C. Andrews made me feel mature and sophisticated – feelings a girl of that age covets with every fiber of her being. Andrews had a talent for weaving familiar fairy tale tropes of evil witches and damsels in distress into her gothic horrors, conjuring terrifying glimpses into the darkest sides of humanity. Her books were like Harlequin for teenage girls, passed down discreetly from older sisters or friends at school with whispers of the forbidden deeds inside. Enticing us from the shelves with haunted faces peering out through the keyhole (or “stepback”) covers, opening to ominous illustrations of the characters we’d soon meet on the pages. The works of V.C. Andrews awakened a taste for shocking and illicit content and confirmed that telling a teenage girl she’s too young for something is the quickest way to get her undivided attention.
Although Virginia C. Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) died of breast cancer in 1986 – having completed only eight of the numerous novels bearing her name – her legacy continues thanks to ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman (The Devil’s Advocate). By the time of her death, Andrews had sold more than twenty-four million copies of her books, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts and outlines that Neiderman was hired by her estate to complete. While the ghostwriter’s identity was kept secret for many years, today he writes novels openly in the style of V.C. Andrews, adding to her bibliography of more than twenty bestselling series. Maintaining the format Andrews launched, each series dives deep into a tangled web of family secrets, exploring themes of greed, abuse, incest, and various other nightmares. But the horrors began with the Dollanganger children, locked away and left to die in their evil grandmother’s attic.
Read full review on the book and film here
- V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic
I couldn’t have been much older than twelve when I borrowed Flowers in the Attic from my older sister. Hiding it under the bed like porn, I’d read it in secret late at night, absorbed in the unsettling yet thrilling tale of children in peril, negligent mothers, tyrannical grandparents, and, most taboo of all: consensual incest. Back then, reading the novels of V.C. Andrews made me feel mature and sophisticated – feelings a girl of that age covets with every fiber of her being. Andrews had a talent for weaving familiar fairy tale tropes of evil witches and damsels in distress into her gothic horrors, conjuring terrifying glimpses into the darkest sides of humanity. Her books were like Harlequin for teenage girls, passed down discreetly from older sisters or friends at school with whispers of the forbidden deeds inside. Enticing us from the shelves with haunted faces peering out through the keyhole (or “stepback”) covers, opening to ominous illustrations of the characters we’d soon meet on the pages. The works of V.C. Andrews awakened a taste for shocking and illicit content and confirmed that telling a teenage girl she’s too young for something is the quickest way to get her undivided attention.
Although Virginia C. Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) died of breast cancer in 1986 – having completed only eight of the numerous novels bearing her name – her legacy continues thanks to ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman (The Devil’s Advocate). By the time of her death, Andrews had sold more than twenty-four million copies of her books, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts and outlines that Neiderman was hired by her estate to complete. While the ghostwriter’s identity was kept secret for many years, today he writes novels openly in the style of V.C. Andrews, adding to her bibliography of more than twenty bestselling series. Maintaining the format Andrews launched, each series dives deep into a tangled web of family secrets, exploring themes of greed, abuse, incest, and various other nightmares. But the horrors began with the Dollanganger children, locked away and left to die in their evil grandmother’s attic.
Read full review on the book and film here
I read this when I was in sixth or seventh grade--a long, long time ago. It was good then, for a 12 year old!
Really enjoy my time here. Will make a better review but I think it's a good book. Beware that this novel is just a part one. You will feel incomplete only reading this one. Prepare yourself to read at least two more. (I know there are more but at least two more or three, don't know ) are require to have a complete feeling. 87/100
mysterious
slow-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5 stars.
I absolutely loved re-reading this book. I forgot how much I enjoy V.C. Andrews writing and I'm so excited to finally continue with this series. The symbolism in this book is insane and I only hope that it continues throughout the next books.
I absolutely loved re-reading this book. I forgot how much I enjoy V.C. Andrews writing and I'm so excited to finally continue with this series. The symbolism in this book is insane and I only hope that it continues throughout the next books.
wow, i ate this up. i genuinely enjoyed this book so much, everyone except for the kids (but chris) is going to hell.