This book is the second in the series of 5 books which begins with Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. It follows on directly where the previous book left off, and it can't be read without having read the first book. There are a lot of references to the events of the first book and ... Read review
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
This book is the second in the series of 5 books which begins with Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. It follows on directly where the previous book left off, and it can't be read without having read the first book. There are a lot of references to the events of the first book and it is assumed that the reader already knows not only the events but also the characters.
I will attempt to review this book without giving away the ... ...of those of you who have read neither, however it would be impossible to do so without telling you that the children spent almost four years locked in an attic waiting for their mother to inherit a fortune and three of the four have now escaped.
The story picks up with the three children, Cathy, Chris and Carrie on a bus heading south where they plan to work in a circus to earn their living. They are all three extremely weak due to ... more
This book is the second in the series of 5 books which begins with Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. It follows on directly where the previous book left off, and it can't be read without having read the first book. There are a lot of references to the events of the first book and it is assumed that the reader already knows not only the events but also the characters.
I will attempt to review this book without giving away the plot of the first book too much for the sake of those of you who have read neither, however it would be impossible to do so without telling you that the children spent almost four years locked in an attic waiting for their mother to inherit a fortune and three of the four have now escaped.
The story picks up with the three children, Cathy, Chris and Carrie on a bus heading south where they plan to work in a circus to earn their living. They are all three extremely weak due to the circumstances of the previous book and Carrie is dangerously ill. A large black woman comes to their rescue and takes them off the bus to the doctor she works for as a house keeper and he takes them into his home and works to bring them back to health.
The story is told from the point of view of Cathy, who as we know from the previous novel is a romantic young girl who has been forced to grow up and matured beyond her years. Her brother Chris has developed an almost godly love for his sister while they spent so long confined in the attic together and she is longing to set him free of is love, as they are sibblings and it is not feasible for them to share this kind of love.
There are several competitors for Cathy's affections, one of these being the doctor who took them in. Paul is old enough to be her father although Cathy believes she owes him for his hospitality. She is deeply attracted to him and it is clear that he is infatuated by the beautiful young girl who has graced his life.
Cathy's childhood dream of being the most famous prima ballerina brings her to the second competitor for her love, a strange handsome and talented danceur named Julian. He is in some ways like her, he has had a troubled childhood and has difficulty commiting to relationships. he also has a violent temper which he often directs towards those he cares for most. Cathy hates him for his brash behaviour, and yet when they dance it seems they are made for each other.
The third man who Cathy chooses as a prospective lover is her mothers young lawyer husband, Bart. As her mother is forbidden to have children if she wishes to keep her hefty inheritance, Cathy decides that the perfect revenge would be to take what her mother can't have, Bart's baby. Bart is totally unaware of his wifes children and knows Cathy only as a ballet star he has seen dancing on stage.
So will Cathy manage to break the love between herself and her brother, and who should she love instead? Will she succeed in hurting her mother as much as they have been hurt by her, and even if she succeeds, will it bring her the peace and happiness she craves? Can she fulfill her dreams and become the worlds greatest ballerina, and will her brother succeed and become a doctor? And what will become of their sister, Carrie, who was robbed of her health and fails to grow to a normal height?
This book follows on perfectly from the first, the characters you grow to know and love are once again brought to life so vividly you feel as though you are there with them, and it is easy to feel at times that you are in fact one of them. The events that unfold are sometimes far fetched but because of Virginia's amazing storytelling and the realistic reactions of the characters, even the most bizzarre events are convincing.
There are a few points in the book though when you feel some important details have been added as an afterthought. For example, (attempting not to give anything away) Cathy describes her thoughts and feelings as she visits a certain place, and then a few pages later reveals that she found something thouroughly shocking in that very place, but it wasn't mentioned at the time of her visit.
This type of thing happens a couple of times towards the end of the book, and although it may have worked well in adding drama and suspence to certain scenes, it is more the type of thing you expect from a movie than a novel. It did seem slightly out of place but it didn't really effect the novel as a whole.
I would say that this book is every bit as good as the first, and every page you read makes you want to turn over and read more. The characters are so true to life even if the events that unfold require a stretch of the imagination at times. You can really feel the turmoil, the romance, the uncertainty and the desperate hope that is shared by Cathy and her sibblings. I defy you to get through the book without reaching for the tissues at least once (OK maybe not the guys, but then it is a girly book).
Highly recommended, along with Flowers in the Attic, the first book. The remaining books in the series are If there be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday and Garden of Shadows. Although the entire series is a hefty amount of reading, I would certainly say it was worth it. Equally if you choose to read only the first two books, enough loose ends are tied up to leave you feeling satisfied with the ending should you not wish to read any more.
...with the family I suppose. Petals on The Wind became my favourite of the series, aswell as Flowers in The Attic that is. As much as I love the other three in the series these two stand out as the best of the series. == The Book ==
Petals on The Wind carries on where Flowers In The Attic left off. After finally escaping the captivity of the attic the three remaining children are on a bus heading for Florida. They don't make it very far however before ... ...The older two are scared and don't know what to do. Then a guardian angel in the form of a big, mute, black woman named Henrietta Beech comes to their aid. She helps them off the bus and takes them to a house where she is the housekeeper. The master of the house is a Dr Paul Sheffield. He helps young Carrie and eventually adopts all three of them.
He spends alot of money on them and pays for Cathy to do ballet lessons, her dream is to be a prima ...
buggsy2008 02.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews
Advantages: An unbelievable read Disadvantages: you gotta get the next part!
...fulfilled his dreams of becoming a doctor, And carrie commits suicide.
Petals on the wind is a poignant, moving tale of the three little mice who once lived in the attic, trying to find inner peace, artistic fulfillment and true love. You will not be disappionted with part two. ...
whitewitch21 13.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews
At last to be free from Foxworth Hall and all the bad things that happened there. The three remaining children boaed a train from the very depot the came in by.
They next decide to take a bus to California, and have all sorts of notions and ideas about what they will do when the arrive.
However during the bus ride Carrie becomes uncontrollably sick and they nearly get thrown off the bus. However a large black woman comes to their aid and takes ... ...to be Dr Paul Scott Sheffield.
He decides to take them in and has Carrie admitted to hospital, where she does get well.
Both the older children continue in their dreams of becoming both a doctor and a prima ballerina with Pauls help.
As the book unfolds they tell Paul much of their story and he takes them under his tutelage. The one big blot on the horizon is that Cathy finds it very hard to let go of the past and starts to plot her revenge.
...
tigerthecat 24.11.2007 (03.12.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews
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!
...to Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind continues Virginia Andrews' excellent handling of Cathy, Chris and Carrie's story. The book spans a longer length of time than Flowers in the Attic and we see big changes in all three children's lives and a great deal of growing up.
The story is vivid and addictive. The childhood innocence of Flowers in the Attic has been somewhat lost and the adult lives of the Dollangangers progress with drama, love, ... ...of Yesterday - to be a little disappointing and it was many years before I continued on to read them. I think you would be well within your rights to read only Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind and not read the third and fourth books. ...
jess0910 18.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews
This book takes up where Flowers In The Attic ended, with the children finally on their way to freedom and a new life.
They are taken in by a kindly doctor,Paul, who looks after them and doesnt ask too many questions although he wonders why they are all so pale and underfed. He taes them in, and sends them to school.
He takes a shine to Cathy, who is also loved by her brother Chris, although they both know it is wrong and try to fight it.
Cathy ... ...his of becoming a doctor. Carrie just wants to be tall, and as for Cory, well you will know what happens to him if you have read the first book. Cathy is desparate for revenge, although Chris trys to talk her out of it.
Cathy is about to marry Paul, when she is tricked into believing he is already married so she leaves him and becomes a famous dancer. Various things then happen to Cathy which shape her life, and she starts to seek the revenge she ...
kismet 21.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews
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Advantages: Very well written - fantastic gripping storyline Disadvantages: dragged a tiny bit in the middle
months - and continuously the mother lets them down.
The emotional rollercoaster that the two eldest children go through is very gripping. Both children are heading into the age where they should be having boyfriends and girlfriends - this mixed in with all the changes in their body makes for a very unusual storyline.
*****The Authour*****
This book is written by VirginiaAndrews - and this is the first of 5 books written about the Dollanger family. The next book is Petals on the wind followed by If There be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday. There is then a prequel - Garden of Shadows which VirginiaAndrews never got to finish.
The Authour died in 1986 before she finished her final two books - Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts - these were almost complete and were published after her death.
****My Opinion****
This book is ...
Advantages: Brings the series to a satisfying conclusion Disadvantages: You do need to read the other books first!
Seeds of Yesterday is the final instalment in the Dollenganger Saga – a series of 4 books by VirginiaAndrews following the lives of the Dollenganger children. The saga started with Flowers in the Attic then moved on through Petals on the Wind and If There be Thorns. There is also a prequel to Flowers in the Attic – Garden of Shadows – but these are the 4 books telling the story of the children.
I have recently read the preceding 3 books and enjoyed them all, although If There be Thorns was not quite as good as the first 2. So it was with some anticipation that I sat down to read Seeds of Yesterday, which I hoped would lay to rest the story of these tragic children. And I was not disappointed.
It is slightly difficult to write about the last book in a series without giving too much away for those who haven’t ...
Product Information for "Petals on the Wind - Virginia Andrews" »
Product details
Author
Virginia Andrews
Title
Petals on the Wind
Genre
Romance
Type
Fiction
ISBN
0006161820; 0861880633
Manufacturer's product description
Flowers in the Attic is the story of four children who are locked in an attic by a wicked grandmother for more than two years. Only three of them survive. In this sequel the children who are left remember the dark horror of the attic and they determine to exact revenge.
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