Apologies for the lack of opinions lately. I've been on holiday and had a spot of writers block. I'm...
Apologies for the lack of opinions lately. I've been on holiday and had a spot of writers block. I'm not entirely happy about the new scheme for rewards, but I should still be writing again soon. :)
Member since:13.01.2001
Reviews:70
Members who trust:60
This powerful, moving and compelling novel is the story of Cathy, Chris, Cory and Carrie, four innocent children with a horrifying story to tell.
The ‘Dresden Dolls’, as they are nicknamed, are beautiful, happy and have a seemingly perfect life. This all changes when their beloved father is killed in a car crash. After, their Mother suddenly announces they cannot pay their debts and must leave immediately to go to her parent’s house. They are wealthy, she say’s, and many toys and other fine things await her ‘darlings’ there.
Later their mother reveals her secret, that her late husband Christopher was in fact her half-uncle, and because of their incest, they were long ago cast out from the family and removed from her father’s will. She intends to win back his trust, but in the meantime insists the children are hidden away in a distant quarter of the magnificent house until she receives her inheritance.
Over the three year period they are locked away in just one room, with an attic as their only playroom, they are put in the care of their grandmother. Not only is she strict and heartless, but she has a particular disliking for these devil’s spawn.
Originally, they follow natural instincts to trust their doted-upon Mother who brings them present after present but later they rightfully suspect her intentions are far more sinister and gradually whatever maternal feeling she had for them is also lost in her greed.
The story which unravels is utterly heartbreaking. Unloved and living a restricted and lonely existence, the eldest brother and sister also assume full care and responsibility over their 5 year-old twin brother and sister. They all endure terrible punishments for breaking the grandmother’s puritan rules and on top of this, they are going through puberty. The growing sexual frustration and the high emotion that both of them are going through eventually has cataclysmic consequences.
I have nothing but praise for this amazing book. Writing, characters, story – all brilliant.
The characters come across very strongly in the writing. They are easy to relate to and beautifully textured. By the end you are feeling what they feel and I was in tears thinking about what they had to go through. And although you might expect it to be uneventful and dull in places with so few characters and settings, you’d be surprised as how involved, gripping and dramatic the story is.
‘Flowers in the Attic’ is fast-paced, fluent, full of suspense, gritty, psychologically thrilling and at the end, it’s un-put-down-able. Now I just have to get hold of the sequel!
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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