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comrademun's review against another edition
4.0
read this for the fifth time. i used to be all "omg, that's an awful woman, omg ew incest" (as i was much younger when i read it before) but this time was completely, "how could a mother do that?" made me cry several times. funny how being a mom changes your perception of things.
chemicalsquonk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
clover_lov's review against another edition
I found it very dull and boring. the writing style is pretty but quite clunky
janey's review against another edition
1.0
I'm finished with this, even though I didn't read past the first 100 pages. I apparently misunderstood a comment I read about this book as being a positive endorsement. I think now that it was sarcasm. I might have enjoyed this when it was first published but oh boy I hated every moment I spent on it. Yuck.
librarian_barbie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'm really surprised I liked this book so much! V. C. Andrews is a very talented writer!
stefaniasurikova's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
mx0dd's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Incest, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bowarner's review against another edition
5.0
God I love a fucked up gothic horror about intergenerational trauma!
I love what this book said about victim hood. By putting the children into traumatic situations the grandmother creates the perfect conditions for unhealthy attachments to arise - and then uses the consequences of her actions to justify abusing them. The fact that readers were so shocked by what happens I think is testimony to how much we'd rather ignore what goes on behind closed doors and blame victims of abuse for not being well adjusted.
I need to read on to find out if the mother gets what's coming to her.
I love what this book said about victim hood. By putting the children into traumatic situations the grandmother creates the perfect conditions for unhealthy attachments to arise - and then uses the consequences of her actions to justify abusing them. The fact that readers were so shocked by what happens I think is testimony to how much we'd rather ignore what goes on behind closed doors and blame victims of abuse for not being well adjusted.
I need to read on to find out if the mother gets what's coming to her.