Such wonderful children. Such a beautiful mother. Such a lovely house. Such endless terror!
It wasn’t that she didn’t love her children. She did. But there was a fortune at stake–a fortune that would assure their later happiness if she could keep the children a secret from her dying father.
So she and her mother hid her darlings away in an unused attic.
Just for a little while.
But the brutal days swelled into agonizing years. Now Cathy, Chris, and the twins wait in their cramped and helpless world, stirred by adult dreams, adult desires, served a meager sustenance by an angry, superstitious grandmother who knows that the Devil works in dark and devious ways. Sometimes he sends children to do his work–children who–one by one–must be destroyed….
‘Way upstairs there are
four secrets hidden.
Blond, beautiful, innocent
struggling to stay alive….
It’s been a very long time since I first discovered Flowers in the Attic on a Meijer’s shelf in the book and magazine aisle. I remember being intrigued with the cover, it spoke of secrets – as did the title. Back then I was ALL about the mysteries, I read nothing BUT. If it wasn’t a mystery or a horror novel with a creeptastic element to it, I was not going to read it. I’m so glad I ended up buying the book and I read it in a a day or two, totally enthralled. It’s ironic that Flowers in the Attic, a book about 4 children imprisoned in an attic with no freedom, is the very book that opened up my world to more than just straight mysteries and also onto more adult books.
So, I was a little bit nervous to re-read Flowers in the Attic. What if I didn’t like it as much now that I’m older? Would I end up spoiling how I felt about it back then in the process? That is always my fear when I decide to re-read a book I loved. I never want to ruin that first feeling I felt. I’m really glad to say that for this time, my fears were completely unfounded.
I loved Flowers this time just as much as I did when I was a young almost-teen. I’m especially glad that even though I remembered all the key details, I didn’t remember a lot of the little things, so there were still surprises and enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat. I really think Flowers is a timeless tale.
I do have to mention that I positively HATE the new cover that’s on the paperback and Kindle edition of the book. It’s a cover that’s fit for a “fluffy contemporary” book, as Bex put so well. It does NOT fit Flowers in the Attic at ALL in my opinion. My favorite cover I’ve found is the one I added to my Mailbox Madness post. Although, the cover that my first copy of Flowers had was pretty fitting as well, even if it wasn’t quite as appealing, at least it portrayed the right feeling of the book. The Kindle cover makes you think flowers and roses and happy ever afters. Anyone who has ever read V.C Andrews knows there are rarely perfect happy ever afters. It’s part of why I love her novels so much, there’s a grim reality there that appeals to me.
I think my favorite aspect of Flowers is the relationships between the four children. As they spend more time with each other in the attic, with nothing to do but entertain each other and try to make their space a bit happier, they become so close to each other. The two oldest siblings, Cathy and Chris end up having to grow up fast as they become parents for the youngest twins, Cory and Carrie. Their time alone in that attic will forever shape their lives.
Flowers in the Attic is a very emotional book. I felt so much sympathy for the children of course, locked away. I grew increasingly angry at the mother for her lack of concern and the choices she makes in the end just make me want to strangle her with my bare hands! The grandmother, she deserves a whipping or two. One thing is for sure: I couldn’t walk away from this without the characters and the setting on my mind. And as before, I had to get my hands on the second book in the series as soon as I finished it. I’m addicted once again, and completely loving it!
Flowers in the Attic
More Info on V.C. Andrews: Complete V.C. Andrews website
About April
One of my all-time faves!
Glad I’m not the only one!
It’s good to hear that you fell in love with this book all over again! That is sometimes so scary about re-reading books. Like I said in your haul: I was a big fan of Andrews. What I admired about this book is the fact that it’s never boring. There isn’t much going on, but there is something that makes you want to keep on reading. The intense bond between the children is so well-done. I’m tempted to pick up some of my copies from Andrews too. Who knows
Awesome review!
Yes – that’s exactly it! When you try to describe the book to someone, it sounds incredibly boring, because really there isn’t A LOT going on to explain.. but the way she wrote it, the atmosphere, the intense tension that’s ever present.. it propels you forward. And I totally agree, the bond between the children is exactly how I imagine a situation like that would end up like, especially after ALL that time. You should pick some of your Andrews books up – we should have a re-readathon/challenge for the year
Have you seen the movie? I’ve had this on my Tbr for a while. Let’s see if I get to read it
This year.
I did see the movie! After I read the book originally, several months later I came across the movie while it was on television and I was SO thrilled! I had no idea up to that point that there WAS a movie. It’s not anything in comparison to the book, but definitely worth the watch. I hope you get to the book this year! It’s a REALLY fast read, even for me which isn’t a very fast reader
Glad to hear that you loved this just as much the 2nd time around!
Me to, I was so super nervous to read it again! Glad I did though, it was worth it – esp since I’m addicting to the series again
It’s always so scary re-reading books you loved as a child/teen! I read this one for the first time last year, and I actually enjoyed it WAY more than I thought I would – and that mother, horrible woman!!
Yes it is! I hate the idea of ruining something that I once loved, it makes me so sad! Yeah, that mother gahhh I could strangle her! At first you have a little sympathy for her.. and then the longer things go on and you learn more it’s like “wow, greedy b*tch!” You should watch the movie too, it’s not as good as the book of course, but worth watching once!