sylvainxweber's review
5.0
Recently, my mother and I were having a conversation about different books that we both enjoyed as the two of us tend to have similar tastes in literature. At some point during our conversation, she brought up the Dollanganger series - a series I had heard of, but never quite read - so of course, I had to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible.
While many may be turned off by the macabre, disturbing themes within the book, I found myself becoming even more entranced with the story flourishing within my mind, and I couldn't stop turning the pages! I completely understand the appeal that some may lack for such a novel. I brought this book absolutely everywhere with me, just as I do with any other book I read, but this time, I was truly excited to crack the book open and resume the Dollanganger story whenever I could, stuck in their lives just as much as they were stuck within the attic.
V.C. Andrews' writing style fits perfectly with the Gothic horror feel, and though this is my first experience with the Andrews catalogue, I can only hope that the rest of her books are crafted in a similar manner to this one. Her writing is so excruciatingly detailed in all the right ways during the most disturbing of scenes; I think one scene that will always stick with me is when.
I could talk about this book for hours, but as to not disturb or spoil the experience for others, it's simply a beautifully grim story crafted in such a memorable way. You can really feel the urgency, agony, and mental confusion they face alongside the siblings as they mature and grow, and I think that is one of the greatest aspects this book has to offer.
While many may be turned off by the macabre, disturbing themes within the book, I found myself becoming even more entranced with the story flourishing within my mind, and I couldn't stop turning the pages! I completely understand the appeal that some may lack for such a novel. I brought this book absolutely everywhere with me, just as I do with any other book I read, but this time, I was truly excited to crack the book open and resume the Dollanganger story whenever I could, stuck in their lives just as much as they were stuck within the attic.
V.C. Andrews' writing style fits perfectly with the Gothic horror feel, and though this is my first experience with the Andrews catalogue, I can only hope that the rest of her books are crafted in a similar manner to this one. Her writing is so excruciatingly detailed in all the right ways during the most disturbing of scenes; I think one scene that will always stick with me is when
Spoiler
Chris and Cathy are so desperate to escape and save their younger siblings that they're willing to almost eat dead mice just to get their strength backI could talk about this book for hours, but as to not disturb or spoil the experience for others, it's simply a beautifully grim story crafted in such a memorable way. You can really feel the urgency, agony, and mental confusion they face alongside the siblings as they mature and grow, and I think that is one of the greatest aspects this book has to offer.
taylorscozylibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The was the weirdest book I have EVER read.
The way the author describes a child’s underwear and body in detail gave me the ICK 🤮 The fact that this was pitched as a Teen/YA book when it was released is mind blowing to me 🤯 It was so creepy and weird.
I gave this 3 stars because it did absolutely shock and repulse me, which I think was probably the point of this book and I wasn’t expecting it to be so brutal. I was also really rooting for the kids to be ok by the end and there was a TON of suspense.
Also, all I could think about when reading this was learning about Freud in Psychology class. I feel like he would’ve loved this book 😂
The way the author describes a child’s underwear and body in detail gave me the ICK 🤮 The fact that this was pitched as a Teen/YA book when it was released is mind blowing to me 🤯 It was so creepy and weird.
I gave this 3 stars because it did absolutely shock and repulse me, which I think was probably the point of this book and I wasn’t expecting it to be so brutal. I was also really rooting for the kids to be ok by the end and there was a TON of suspense.
Also, all I could think about when reading this was learning about Freud in Psychology class. I feel like he would’ve loved this book 😂
aiyaivy's review against another edition
4.0
Reread: still a very haunting and strange read.
It doesn't sit well because it contains incest, religious trauma, a mother hiding and even trying to get rid of her children, etc. But it is fascinating to see the characters mature despite living for years in an attic with no contact with the outside world.
The foreword by Gillian Flynn captures the intrigue of this book perfectly: "What kept me circling around to the beginning was that hyper-Gothic female evil. The emotionally cold, physically abusive grandmother. The cloying, manipulative, mind-warping mother. It felt so new and stunning to me--these witches who seemed quite real. I devoured the sequels less to learn about Cath's tragic love story than to see what kind of woman Cathy became -- princess, witch, a bit of both?--and what she'd do with all those awful urges she inherited."
Other quotes:
- When you grow up, and have a million adult things to do, you forget how long a day can be for a child.
-She even had the money to buy a much younger man to love, and sleep with--and what did Chris and I have but broken dreams, shattered promises, and unending frustrations? And what did the twins have, but a dollhouse and a mouse and ever-declining health?
-There is no hate such as that born out of love betrayed--and my brain screamed out for revenge.
It doesn't sit well because it contains incest, religious trauma, a mother hiding and even trying to get rid of her children, etc. But it is fascinating to see the characters mature despite living for years in an attic with no contact with the outside world.
The foreword by Gillian Flynn captures the intrigue of this book perfectly: "What kept me circling around to the beginning was that hyper-Gothic female evil. The emotionally cold, physically abusive grandmother. The cloying, manipulative, mind-warping mother. It felt so new and stunning to me--these witches who seemed quite real. I devoured the sequels less to learn about Cath's tragic love story than to see what kind of woman Cathy became -- princess, witch, a bit of both?--and what she'd do with all those awful urges she inherited."
Other quotes:
- When you grow up, and have a million adult things to do, you forget how long a day can be for a child.
-She even had the money to buy a much younger man to love, and sleep with--and what did Chris and I have but broken dreams, shattered promises, and unending frustrations? And what did the twins have, but a dollhouse and a mouse and ever-declining health?
-There is no hate such as that born out of love betrayed--and my brain screamed out for revenge.
xu_'s review against another edition
2.0
i *cannot* handle the stupidity that was in this book. their circumstances were bad, yes, but i can't take a girl seriously if she would let her siblings starve just because she doesn't want to shave all her hair off.
celestevaliozis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alylentz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
On one hand I can see where if you had read this at a formative age, it would set a standard for thriller or horror novels that would be difficult to measure up to as an adult. So much evil shit goes down in here! On the other hand, it's definitely a book of it's time and the awkward writing style reflects that. The first half was slow going for me, but once I got used to it, it became a page turner. Tempted to continue in the rest of the series just so I can watch the mother die a horrible death .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Abandonment, and Confinement
ouashlee's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books where 3 seems low and 4 seems high. I'm a generous rater though so I went with 4. Anyway the incest was a little much for me but honestly it was written in 1979 and I've read 50 shades since then so it didn't have much of that shock factor for me that it probably did when a bunch of 12 year olds in the early 80s read it. I'll read the rest of the series and then watch the lifetime movie, obviously.
spookystacks's review against another edition
1.0
I like f-Ed up books but this was just beyond. Like, not well written either. I don’t even know what I just read. I feel like a worse person for having read this book. Children don’t talk like this!! Incest is gross!! That’s all.
iivres's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
katelyn_allen's review against another edition
3.0
It's written well, but it does go quite slow, and sometimes gets boring.