Flowers in the Attic

I read this as a girl of 15 and could relate to Cathy D. which is probably why I loved the book so much. This book was banned in many schools in the eighties and beyond for the incestuous scenes in the book, while disturbing (as she ment it to be) it was really a small part of a terrifing tale of straife in the lives of these children. There has also been a lot of controversy over whether or not this is a true story. Most of those rumors started after her pitch to get the book published included a quote saying: "This is a fiction novel of a true story", some in the family say she wrote it after meeting a doctor in a hospital who told her a story of himself and three siblings living in an attic for 6 years (which was shortened to 3 in the book for "belivability") to preserve the family wealth. It was never confirmed.

A small exerpt from her bio...

Virginia C. Andrews died on the 19th of December, 1986, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 63 years old. She was buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia, where she spent her most beloved childhood years. At the time of her death, her accomplishments as a writer were great. She had over 24 million books in print and her books were translated into Dutch, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Turkish. Her estate was estimated at about $8 million. A film version of her cult-classic first novel Flowers in the Attic, was released in 1987 by Fries Entertainment/New World Pictures. This film brought her dreams of being an actress to realization when Virginia appeared in a silent cameo as a window-scrubbing maid.

Two more novels were published after her death: Garden of Shadows, a prequel to Flowers, and Fallen Hearts, the third chapter of the Casteel series. With these novels, the Andrews family declared that more of Virginia's completed stories would be published in the future. Five years before her death, Virginia told the Washington Post that she had created synopses for sixty-three other stories, not including those that were already in print. The Casteel series was brought to a memorable close with Gates of Paradise and Web of Dreams.

A public letter written by the Andrews family (printed in the novels, beginning with Dawn) revealed that the family was "working closely with a carefully selected writer" to expand and continue the story-telling genius of V.C. Andrews. The identity of this writer had been kept a secret from the general public at the request of the Andrews family for years, but it's hard to hold on to a secret that big. The ghostwriter has since been identified as horror novelist Andrew Neiderman. Beginning with the later novels of the Casteel series, this new writer has worked hard to carry the torch that Virginia left burning brightly with a fire that her devoted readers refuse to extinguish.

That about says it!

Yes, audible was better. I could see the characters and the surroundings much more vividlly in my mind.

all

no

cry

I wish the other books in the series were on audible as well. It was dissapointing to find out that they were not.

Perhaps there was a reason this was a bestseller in its time, but the language, style and content are so incredibly dated that it was painful to listen to.

Read this series as a teenager and am now enjoying it again as a 30 something.

I ENJOY AUDIOBOOKS BETTER THAN WRITEN AS VISION IS A PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS MORE ENTERTAINING TO HAVE THE STORY READ TO ME.

I READ THE STORY YEARS AGO SO I KNEW IT. BUT IT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE. THERE WERE MANY PARTS OF THE BOOK THAT WERE SORT OF EERIE.

FIRST OF ALL, SHE READ TO ME--THAT WAY I DON'T MISS A WORD. I LIKED HER READING TOO. IT WAS PLEASANT AND DONE WELL.

WHEN CHRIS WENT DOWN INVESTIGATING THE HOUSE BY HIMSELF THE FIRST TIME. ALSO I FOUND THE ENDING WHEN CHRIS WAS EXPLAINING WHAT HE FOUND ON HIS LAST TRIP OUT OF THE LOCKED ROOM VERY INTERESTING AND IT EXPLAINED ANYTHING THAT WAS LEFT UNANSWERED.

I WISH THE OHTER BOOKS IN THE SERIES WERE AUDIO UNABRIDGED TOO.

haunting, intriging and disturbing

I have always loved this story. Creepy but classic

the little girls voice Cari was like nails on a chalk board

when they watch from the train

I have no idea, how at the age of 13, I managed to get my hands on this book. But I did, and I became completely obsessed with it.
I read it so much, that my Mother took it away from me. She said "I acted different and strange" while I was reading it.

She must not have read "Flowers" before me. Because there is NO WAY she would have allowed me anywhere near this book. What with the child abuse, the incestuous affair, the murdered child, not to mention, the poisoning of the three legged pet mouse . I wouldn't let my kids read it either.

So, imagine my surprise to find "Flowers In The Attic" while checking out the New Release page on Audible. All those old, strange feelings came rushing back. So, of course, I bought the book, downloaded it, and began listening right there and then. All the while feeling the familiar naughtiness of my youth. Like sneaking to the candy store without telling anyone (which I did a lot) .

What are my thoughts and reactions to "Flowers" after all the time that has passed? Well first, I can't believe how much I remember from the story. I can still picture the characters exactly how I saw them as my younger self. And second, I'm amazed how well this story, which was written in the late 70's, has held up to the test of time. It's still a sad and very interesting tale of love, loss, and the ultimate betrayal.

Would I recommend it? Yes, it's credit worthy. Alyssa Bresnahan is an experienced and talented narrator. Which as fellow audiobook readers, we know, can make or break even the best written books out there.

FYI : While listening to this book, I acted "different and strange ". But no one noticed. :)

I had heard about this book when I was younger and finally decided to "read" it. I wouldn't read it again and I don't recommend it. The story was told well and I was glued to listening to this book to find out what happened but it was a pretty warped story.

Yes. This book keeps your attention.

Yes. I always wanted to know what happened next.

no I haven't but I will.

The title flowers in the attic. It's catchy.

I love anything by V. C. Andrews. I hope you get other books by her too.

I have read all her older books at least five times in thirty years. I now have listened to the Audible version at least twice. To here the story being told versus reading it allows you to truly connect with the characters and the stories.

When their mother came back and acted like they were in the wrong for wanting a normal life and that she thought they were selfish. But there are many other parts I love just as much.

Cathy of course, as this is her story.

I wish they would convert all her older books into an audible format for a reasonable price. Her older books are so good. While I enjoyed a few of the books published after her death, they simply can't accomplish what she did.