This story was Virginia Andrews first novel and amazingly it was based on a true story. It was first published in 1979, but it remains a top seller even now. It is the kind of book that is passed through generations of families.
The book follows the lives of the Dollenganger family, father and mother, and children Christopher, Cathy and twins Carrie and Cory, and what happens to them after their father is killed in a tragic accident. The family are forced through necessity (lack of funds!) to go and live with her mother's family, The Foxworths who she has had no contact with since marrying her husband, and you find that there are many skeletons in the seemingly respectable family closet. The grandparents are hateful people who want to try and erase the fact that the children ever existed.
The story follows the childrens lives as they are forced to live in an attic, like animals, while their mother begins a new life back where she grew up, eventually meeting a new husband. The mother even seems to wipe all memory of her children in pursuit of money, and lies to the children when she tells them that life will get better, when behind their back she is enjoying the life a single, passionate and most importantly, eligible woman without the baggage of her children.
The children try to detach themselves from the horror that has become their lives by play acting and developing imaginary scenarios.
The story grabs every emotion, anger at the treatment the children receive, sadness at the events that occur and frustration as the story carries on and their treatment worsens and they have no way to prevent this. There is little humour in this book, and the story is told in a very dark way, and it makes no excuses for portraying the way the children were abused, which comes as a bit of a shock considering how perfect their lives were at the start of the book.
This book was passed to me to read by my mum and her mum loved it too. It is a book that so many people have read and been affected by. I have since read some more of the books written about this family and they did not disappoint, so when you have read this, try Petal On The Wind, If There Be Thorns and Seeds Of Yesterday, but a big tip, do not bother with the film of Flowers In The Attic, it is a poor representation of the book.
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I read the whole series of these books when i was younger they are so gripping arent they there was also a film made about flowers in the attic it was quite good but not as good as the book, Julia
Advantages: Harsh insight into selfish, selfless, obsessive & paranoid behaviour; affects and effects. Disadvantages: Interesting story, dreadfully written. Sorry! Monotonously repetitive, packed with cliches - not my 'cup-of-tea' at all.
Advantages: Continuing the monumental Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind is a formidable sequel that is definitely worth picking up and reading through the night! Disadvantages: Cathy's strange ability to ruin everyone who loves her. You may well get annoyed with her!
Advantages: You won't be able to stop reading, gripping, great plot, beautiful imagery. Disadvantages: You won't be able to stop reading, could find Cathy's decisions a bit frustrating at times.
Advantages: A horrwing yet compelling read, almost as good as the first book in the series Disadvantages: Some parts of the story didn't flow well, can be upsetting
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