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Dollanganger #9
Beneath the Attic
“I will probably be clutching Flowers in the Attic …on my deathbed.” —Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl
Forbidden passions have shaped and haunted the Dollanganger family since their first novel— Flowers in the Attic —debuted forty years ago. Now discover how twisted the family roots truly are, and witness the clan’s origins as a result of one wild and complicated relationship. In this evocative and thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author V.C. Andrews, see Corrine Dixon as a young girl and discover the fascinating family history of the Dollanganger clan.
Two generations before Corinne Foxworth locked her children in an attic, her grandmother, a gorgeous young girl named Corrine Dixon, is swept away by the charms of rich, sophisticated, and handsome Garland Foxworth. After discovering that she’s pregnant, Garland does what appears to be the honorable thing and marries her in a huge ceremony on the luxurious Foxworth Hall grounds. Both families fervently overlook the pregnancy, happy for a suitable resolution.
Now the mistress of a labyrinthine estate, Corrine discovers that nothing is what is seems. Garland is not the man once captivated by her charms, and she’s increasingly troubled by his infatuation with memories of his departed mother.
Can Corrine survive this strange new life? Or is her fate already sealed?
Explore the origins of the legendary Dollanganger family in this page-turning, gripping gothic thriller.
Forbidden passions have shaped and haunted the Dollanganger family since their first novel— Flowers in the Attic —debuted forty years ago. Now discover how twisted the family roots truly are, and witness the clan’s origins as a result of one wild and complicated relationship. In this evocative and thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author V.C. Andrews, see Corrine Dixon as a young girl and discover the fascinating family history of the Dollanganger clan.
Two generations before Corinne Foxworth locked her children in an attic, her grandmother, a gorgeous young girl named Corrine Dixon, is swept away by the charms of rich, sophisticated, and handsome Garland Foxworth. After discovering that she’s pregnant, Garland does what appears to be the honorable thing and marries her in a huge ceremony on the luxurious Foxworth Hall grounds. Both families fervently overlook the pregnancy, happy for a suitable resolution.
Now the mistress of a labyrinthine estate, Corrine discovers that nothing is what is seems. Garland is not the man once captivated by her charms, and she’s increasingly troubled by his infatuation with memories of his departed mother.
Can Corrine survive this strange new life? Or is her fate already sealed?
Explore the origins of the legendary Dollanganger family in this page-turning, gripping gothic thriller.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2019
505 people are currently reading
7647 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,073 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
April 6, 2019
This is a cash grab and total garbage. I wanted to give it chance, but there's no pride in this thing (can't even call it a book). I got 9 percent into the e-ARC and I'm not wasting more of my life on this crap. It's supposed to be about Garland's wife Corinne, the original Flowers childrens' Great Grandmother. But it doesn't read at ALL period accurate for the 1890s. Honestly thought I was reading about Chris and Cathy's Mom, not her Grandmother. Also, yes V.C. Andrews wrote about sex, taboos and weird stuff. But really, the Nanny is openly telling 12 year old Corinne about counting her period days so she can have sex without getting pregnant!!! Totally blunt, no finesse to the dialogue and it's making a big deal about how she's got developed sexual fantasies already. It's not Gothic lit like the original V.C. books, it's creepy trash that makes me feel gross reading it. Simon and Schuster really has her spinning in the grave right now and Andrew Niederman should be blacklisted from ever being published again. Thanks Edelweiss, for allowing me to review this early.
May 16, 2019
Andrew Neiderman has destroyed V.C. Andrews' legacy.
Beneath the Attic is riddled with inaccuracies and the lack of research or even thought that went into the novel is absolutely disgraceful. There was obviously no editorial oversight and that is to the detriment of the novel, the reader, V.C. Andrews, and the books that Andrews wrote herself. The books that Neiderman first wrote under Andrews' name, when working with Andrews' original editor, were of far higher quality. Since they have parted ways, we are left with what can only be described as trash.
The book is set in 1890, but although that is stated, there seems to be no effort to actually adhere to the time period of 1890. Corrine visits her former nursemaid at home--which she owns herself and where she lives alone--and the nursemaid opens the door fresh from a shower, dressed in a robe, while drying her hair. When visiting her aunt, her aunt's elderly, long time servant, presumably previously enslaved, speaks with her familiarly and addresses her as Corrine, not Miss Corrine. Corrine and her mother, although wealthy, fix their own meals and do not appear to employ any servants themselves. At one point, Corrine comes downstairs in the morning, clad only in her robe, and fixes herself some scrambled eggs. None of this would have happened in 1890!
The most glaring mistake of all, Corrine compared to herself to Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. This book is set in 1890. Gone with the Wind was published in 1936. FFS do a modicum of research!
The opening chapter has Corrine spending so much time fixated on her beauty that I had to set it down and walk away multiple times. Even a narcissist would have been embarrassed. Then Corrine's "womanly talks" with the neighbor girls where she educates them about sex--absolutely ridiculous. Again, ill suited to the time period. Any time period, really. The opening chapters only served to make Corrine hateful. The only purpose those could possibly serve was to make it seem as if she "deserved" to be raped when Garland drugged and raped her. For a man who writes books for a primarily female audience, it is apparent that Neiderman is not a fan of women.
This is lazy writing and an insult to his readers. This is not the polished result of a craft that is honed and perfected. This is something that was banged out for a paycheck.
Beneath the Attic is riddled with inaccuracies and the lack of research or even thought that went into the novel is absolutely disgraceful. There was obviously no editorial oversight and that is to the detriment of the novel, the reader, V.C. Andrews, and the books that Andrews wrote herself. The books that Neiderman first wrote under Andrews' name, when working with Andrews' original editor, were of far higher quality. Since they have parted ways, we are left with what can only be described as trash.
The book is set in 1890, but although that is stated, there seems to be no effort to actually adhere to the time period of 1890. Corrine visits her former nursemaid at home--which she owns herself and where she lives alone--and the nursemaid opens the door fresh from a shower, dressed in a robe, while drying her hair. When visiting her aunt, her aunt's elderly, long time servant, presumably previously enslaved, speaks with her familiarly and addresses her as Corrine, not Miss Corrine. Corrine and her mother, although wealthy, fix their own meals and do not appear to employ any servants themselves. At one point, Corrine comes downstairs in the morning, clad only in her robe, and fixes herself some scrambled eggs. None of this would have happened in 1890!
The most glaring mistake of all, Corrine compared to herself to Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. This book is set in 1890. Gone with the Wind was published in 1936. FFS do a modicum of research!
The opening chapter has Corrine spending so much time fixated on her beauty that I had to set it down and walk away multiple times. Even a narcissist would have been embarrassed. Then Corrine's "womanly talks" with the neighbor girls where she educates them about sex--absolutely ridiculous. Again, ill suited to the time period. Any time period, really. The opening chapters only served to make Corrine hateful. The only purpose those could possibly serve was to make it seem as if she "deserved" to be raped when Garland drugged and raped her. For a man who writes books for a primarily female audience, it is apparent that Neiderman is not a fan of women.
This is lazy writing and an insult to his readers. This is not the polished result of a craft that is honed and perfected. This is something that was banged out for a paycheck.
May 29, 2019
Here we go AGAIN. The publisher, ghost writer, and VCA estate continue with their saga of milking a dead cow. Stop FUCKING with Virginia's original plots and characters.
January 13, 2020
V.C. Andrews will probably always be best known for her Dollanganger series which began with Flowers in the Attic. Beneath the Attic is an expansion on that series which takes readers back to the great grandmother of the Dollanganger children who were locked in that attic.
This story introduces readers to Corrine Dixon who was at the age she was looking for a suitor to marry when she met Garland Foxworth. Garland was wealthy and handsome and intrigued Corrine but when she met up with him without a chaperone things went too far leaving Corrine pregnant however Garland did the right thing and married her bringing her to Foxworth Hall.
This section of the series is of course being written by V.C. Andrews’s ghostwriter, Andrew Neiderman who took over V.C. Andrews’s work after her passing. While I’ll admit some of the titles since Neiderman took over are not all that great some of them actually do have that V.C. Andrews feel to the story and are quite enjoyable so I always continue to pick them up and check them out when I can.
With Beneath the Attic I really came away with the feeling that this is just a so-so effort at continuing the Dollanganger series. Some things really didn’t seem to feel as if they fit the historical setting but were more for the shock of the readers who know the darkness of the Foxworth family. It will still be interesting to see where the story goes since this is only the start of the prequel novels.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
This story introduces readers to Corrine Dixon who was at the age she was looking for a suitor to marry when she met Garland Foxworth. Garland was wealthy and handsome and intrigued Corrine but when she met up with him without a chaperone things went too far leaving Corrine pregnant however Garland did the right thing and married her bringing her to Foxworth Hall.
This section of the series is of course being written by V.C. Andrews’s ghostwriter, Andrew Neiderman who took over V.C. Andrews’s work after her passing. While I’ll admit some of the titles since Neiderman took over are not all that great some of them actually do have that V.C. Andrews feel to the story and are quite enjoyable so I always continue to pick them up and check them out when I can.
With Beneath the Attic I really came away with the feeling that this is just a so-so effort at continuing the Dollanganger series. Some things really didn’t seem to feel as if they fit the historical setting but were more for the shock of the readers who know the darkness of the Foxworth family. It will still be interesting to see where the story goes since this is only the start of the prequel novels.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 6, 2019
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own*
I picked up my first book by V C Andrews when I was about 12. I believe it was one of the books in the "Landry" series. I was at my grandmother's house and I found it in her bedroom, and being from Louisiana, thought hey let's read this! Since then I've read just about all of the books that I could get my hands on. I will say that I stopped with probably the Orphans series, and haven't read too many since then. Looking back as an adult there's no way in hell I'd let my 12 year old read these, but hey... the early 2000s were a different time.
Anyway, on to Beneath the Attic. This is another book in the Dollanganger series (Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind...etc). This particular book tells the story of the first Corrine, great grandmother to the kids left in the attic in the original story. In Andrews' books we never actually find out what happens to the first Corrine, just that she leaves her husband and her son to be with her lover. This betrayal is what spurns her son (Malcom) into being the God fearing woman hating character that he becomes later on in the series. At first I thought it would be interesting to find out what happened to Corrine, but while reading the book it was just a big cluster. First of all, in the series Garland is painted as a happy go lucky, friendly man; the opposite of his son. In this story however, it's almost as though he has a dark side, never mentioned in the original books, not to mention a weird fascination with his mother. (Isn't that a running theme in all of these books though?) I wasn't overly fond of the ending either, because it doesn't really tell us anything, just left a stupid cliffhanger that you can tell was only done so that the author can bank on another book. NOW FOR THE WORST PART. THE PART THAT SET MY INSIDES ON FIRE. My favorite book was mentioned in this one. Normally, I'd love a Gone With the Wind reference. However, THIS BOOK IS SET IN THE 1890s. GWTW wasn't published until 1936. So unless Corrine was a mind reader or time traveler, there's no way she would have known to compare herself to Scarlette O'Hara.
Side note, the publication date of GWTW was easily found in a Google search, which was clearly more research than the ghostwriter did before putting all of this together. Reading this honestly just made me want to not read any of them ever again, because it was disappointing.
I picked up my first book by V C Andrews when I was about 12. I believe it was one of the books in the "Landry" series. I was at my grandmother's house and I found it in her bedroom, and being from Louisiana, thought hey let's read this! Since then I've read just about all of the books that I could get my hands on. I will say that I stopped with probably the Orphans series, and haven't read too many since then. Looking back as an adult there's no way in hell I'd let my 12 year old read these, but hey... the early 2000s were a different time.
Anyway, on to Beneath the Attic. This is another book in the Dollanganger series (Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind...etc). This particular book tells the story of the first Corrine, great grandmother to the kids left in the attic in the original story. In Andrews' books we never actually find out what happens to the first Corrine, just that she leaves her husband and her son to be with her lover. This betrayal is what spurns her son (Malcom) into being the God fearing woman hating character that he becomes later on in the series. At first I thought it would be interesting to find out what happened to Corrine, but while reading the book it was just a big cluster. First of all, in the series Garland is painted as a happy go lucky, friendly man; the opposite of his son. In this story however, it's almost as though he has a dark side, never mentioned in the original books, not to mention a weird fascination with his mother. (Isn't that a running theme in all of these books though?) I wasn't overly fond of the ending either, because it doesn't really tell us anything, just left a stupid cliffhanger that you can tell was only done so that the author can bank on another book. NOW FOR THE WORST PART. THE PART THAT SET MY INSIDES ON FIRE. My favorite book was mentioned in this one. Normally, I'd love a Gone With the Wind reference. However, THIS BOOK IS SET IN THE 1890s. GWTW wasn't published until 1936. So unless Corrine was a mind reader or time traveler, there's no way she would have known to compare herself to Scarlette O'Hara.
Side note, the publication date of GWTW was easily found in a Google search, which was clearly more research than the ghostwriter did before putting all of this together. Reading this honestly just made me want to not read any of them ever again, because it was disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2019
Ok y’all. This is a DIFFICULT review to write. As an AVID Andrews lover, I’ve been reading these twisted and crazy reads since I was a child. You can’t imagine how excited I was to get this book and get back into the Flowers in the Attic world.
The issue I have is the historical inaccuracies and I’m sure you’re going to hear about this throughout the reviews that are written. And this isn’t, for me, a proper representation of this series’ work. I do think that as a prequel a couple generations ahead of everything, it’s supposed to be ‘setting things up’. And it’s been literal decades since I’ve read the series so..... for nostalgia alone, I loved it. It was great to be back in it all. I just wish it had that *feel* we all know and love from these books.
That being said, I did binge read it on my flight and I was entertained over all. Would I recommend this? Yes. However, I do think major fans will be a bit disappointed in some of the technicalities of it all. I’m not gonna lie though, if it’s VC Andrews (ghostwriter or not), I can’t help but read it.
With that, I’m rating it in the middle for nostalgia alone.
The issue I have is the historical inaccuracies and I’m sure you’re going to hear about this throughout the reviews that are written. And this isn’t, for me, a proper representation of this series’ work. I do think that as a prequel a couple generations ahead of everything, it’s supposed to be ‘setting things up’. And it’s been literal decades since I’ve read the series so..... for nostalgia alone, I loved it. It was great to be back in it all. I just wish it had that *feel* we all know and love from these books.
That being said, I did binge read it on my flight and I was entertained over all. Would I recommend this? Yes. However, I do think major fans will be a bit disappointed in some of the technicalities of it all. I’m not gonna lie though, if it’s VC Andrews (ghostwriter or not), I can’t help but read it.
With that, I’m rating it in the middle for nostalgia alone.
September 11, 2019
If it was possible to give a 0, I would.
How could anyone enjoy this drivel? An obvious cash-grab with the 40th anniversary coming up in November.
It felt like he took the outline for Garden of Shadows and just changed (most) of the names and no consideration of the time period.
We learned nothing about the characters and the characters we thought we knew were rewritten into sex-crazed weirdos.
A slow build up to nothing happening... all of this could have been 5 chapters, instead of 350 pages that dragged on. The ramblings of Corinne's feelings about sex with her new husband and whether or not they even love each other was slow and difficult to get through.
STOP WRITING AND JUST RETIRE! We fans deserve better.
How could anyone enjoy this drivel? An obvious cash-grab with the 40th anniversary coming up in November.
It felt like he took the outline for Garden of Shadows and just changed (most) of the names and no consideration of the time period.
We learned nothing about the characters and the characters we thought we knew were rewritten into sex-crazed weirdos.
A slow build up to nothing happening... all of this could have been 5 chapters, instead of 350 pages that dragged on. The ramblings of Corinne's feelings about sex with her new husband and whether or not they even love each other was slow and difficult to get through.
STOP WRITING AND JUST RETIRE! We fans deserve better.
December 11, 2019
The writing is poor, the story doesn't work, sigh.
My biggest beef with this is the author chooses to set this in 1890 but doesn't research the period. The main character is given way too much info about sex and birth control. That's just not how things were handled during this time period, especially with the upper middle class.
She seemed upset that upper class married folks don't share a bedroom when that was a class marker at that time. Couples living in large houses tended to not share bedrooms. Even if they mostly slept together in practice🤷🏽♀️
Department stores with ready to wear clothes aren't a thing in 1890. I'm sure in major cities a few cheap ready made items were available. In 1890 customers typically purchased cloth themselves from a merchant or store. If they were poor they made the clothes themselves. If they could afford it they engaged a dressmaker/atelier. Rich people went to Paris. The top designer at this period is House of Worth in Paris, France.
Departments Stores full of ready to wear clothes are still a few decades off at this point.
Also there are a lot of class issues that still need to be worked out. Shopping at this point wasn't to waste time or 'look'. Items were not on display, especially ready made clothing as it was largely undergarments 'unmentionables'. People knew what they wanted and specifically made a trip to purchase. How we think of shopping and department stores will really start closer to WWI. There wasn't looking or impulse purchases. Shopping wasn't seductive nor was it a family affair. Her mom would've taken her or she'd have gone alone with her ladies maid/companion/sister/etc.
Spoilers below:
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The situation with Corrine and Garland would not have been possible really, not as stated, in 1890.
Well-bred women were chaperoned at a times. A woman of Corrine's class would likely have traveled with a ladies maid at minimum. She could've never dressed and undressed herself in clothing of that period. Her mother probably would not have let her travel alone like that either. Unmarried women had very little freedom, especially in her class.
The idea that they would be left alone much less the only people awake when a gentleman caller visited is preposterous.
A women's reputation was pretty much all she had. Class restrictions would've made this tremendously shocking.
I'm not saying unmarried women in her class didn't sneak around, they absolutely did. It's just this storyline is implausible. Another way would need to be found ir she'd need to be poor. Working class women were far less protected and coddled. This would've been a lot for them too.
Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't have been unchaperoned long enough to sneak away.
That said if she left with him, even just to the front yard, her reputation would be ruined. It's highly doubtful a woman of that class would agree to go a gentleman's house alone. Especially not someone she wanted to court her.
Also she would not recognize that Garland had done anything wrong. The bar for rape was considerably higher in 1890. If she left with him willingly and drank with him willingly it would be judged her fault. He would not even be besmirched if it became known. Her lapse in judgment is severe and needs to be treated that way in the text.
This is just bad bad.
My biggest beef with this is the author chooses to set this in 1890 but doesn't research the period. The main character is given way too much info about sex and birth control. That's just not how things were handled during this time period, especially with the upper middle class.
She seemed upset that upper class married folks don't share a bedroom when that was a class marker at that time. Couples living in large houses tended to not share bedrooms. Even if they mostly slept together in practice🤷🏽♀️
Department stores with ready to wear clothes aren't a thing in 1890. I'm sure in major cities a few cheap ready made items were available. In 1890 customers typically purchased cloth themselves from a merchant or store. If they were poor they made the clothes themselves. If they could afford it they engaged a dressmaker/atelier. Rich people went to Paris. The top designer at this period is House of Worth in Paris, France.
Departments Stores full of ready to wear clothes are still a few decades off at this point.
Also there are a lot of class issues that still need to be worked out. Shopping at this point wasn't to waste time or 'look'. Items were not on display, especially ready made clothing as it was largely undergarments 'unmentionables'. People knew what they wanted and specifically made a trip to purchase. How we think of shopping and department stores will really start closer to WWI. There wasn't looking or impulse purchases. Shopping wasn't seductive nor was it a family affair. Her mom would've taken her or she'd have gone alone with her ladies maid/companion/sister/etc.
Spoilers below:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The situation with Corrine and Garland would not have been possible really, not as stated, in 1890.
Well-bred women were chaperoned at a times. A woman of Corrine's class would likely have traveled with a ladies maid at minimum. She could've never dressed and undressed herself in clothing of that period. Her mother probably would not have let her travel alone like that either. Unmarried women had very little freedom, especially in her class.
The idea that they would be left alone much less the only people awake when a gentleman caller visited is preposterous.
A women's reputation was pretty much all she had. Class restrictions would've made this tremendously shocking.
I'm not saying unmarried women in her class didn't sneak around, they absolutely did. It's just this storyline is implausible. Another way would need to be found ir she'd need to be poor. Working class women were far less protected and coddled. This would've been a lot for them too.
Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't have been unchaperoned long enough to sneak away.
That said if she left with him, even just to the front yard, her reputation would be ruined. It's highly doubtful a woman of that class would agree to go a gentleman's house alone. Especially not someone she wanted to court her.
Also she would not recognize that Garland had done anything wrong. The bar for rape was considerably higher in 1890. If she left with him willingly and drank with him willingly it would be judged her fault. He would not even be besmirched if it became known. Her lapse in judgment is severe and needs to be treated that way in the text.
This is just bad bad.
December 31, 2019
I must begin by thanking Simon and Schuster for providing me with the ARC of
Beneath the Attic
. Who does not enjoy being notified from Goodreads that you are one of the winners of a book getaway? Who does not look forward to the mail carrier actually delivering the long awaited prize? Upon its arrival, you hunt for the perfect bookmark and time to read your newest possession. All the while hoping the book will exceed your expectations. As you can see from the stars, the latest edition to the V.C. Andrews’ canon leaves a lot to be desired.
Maybe I have outgrown the need to have women being “saved” by men who are not interested in their overall growth and success. Again, we have a young heroine, Corrine Dixon, who is unknowingly pimped out by her dad because she thought herself more worldly than she was. And, before you accuse me of blaming the victim, I blame an environment that did not fully prepare her for world that existed outside her glass house.
The writer tapped to fill Andrews’ shoes stuck to the same ‘ole tropes that first won the original V.C. Andrews her following. However, that same author should have done more to really delve into the characters and history of the Foxworth clan. It was as if the author forget that there are numerous books that have woven the tapestry of Garland Neal Foxworth and the family’s estate of horrors.
I will forever be a fan of V.C. Andrews, but this book is FAR from one of my favorites. DISAPPOINTING is the first word that came to mind as I read this book. Read at your own risk.
Maybe I have outgrown the need to have women being “saved” by men who are not interested in their overall growth and success. Again, we have a young heroine, Corrine Dixon, who is unknowingly pimped out by her dad because she thought herself more worldly than she was. And, before you accuse me of blaming the victim, I blame an environment that did not fully prepare her for world that existed outside her glass house.
Lies between people who love each other are like cancer.
...darkness has a way of undressing you. It lifts off false faces. Only your voice reveals what’s truly in your heart.
The writer tapped to fill Andrews’ shoes stuck to the same ‘ole tropes that first won the original V.C. Andrews her following. However, that same author should have done more to really delve into the characters and history of the Foxworth clan. It was as if the author forget that there are numerous books that have woven the tapestry of Garland Neal Foxworth and the family’s estate of horrors.
I will forever be a fan of V.C. Andrews, but this book is FAR from one of my favorites. DISAPPOINTING is the first word that came to mind as I read this book. Read at your own risk.
May 16, 2019
Fans of V. C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic will grab this one in the hopes of understanding why Corinne did the things she did, but most will stop reading before they get any answers. The quality of the writing is poor and only seeks to titillate readers with Corinne’s sexual experimentation and isn’t even very successful at that. Although in all honesty, I didn’t read much. I am glad that I received an ARC from NetGalley and didn’t waste any money buying this.
July 16, 2019
Beneath the Attic by V.C.Andrews
Ok, I read my first V.C.Andrews when I was a young impressionable girl and I have read if not devoured all of her books over the decades since I read Flowers in The Attic so I pretty much know and love all her books! It is obvious that this was written by a ghost writer as V.C. Andrews passed many years ago, that being said I was still so excited to read this prequel to Flowers in the Attic that I read this in 2 days and I am definitely interested and waiting for the follow-up to this one. I am happy to have finally starting to learn what made Corrine they way she became in the later books and what drove her there. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my opinion!
Ok, I read my first V.C.Andrews when I was a young impressionable girl and I have read if not devoured all of her books over the decades since I read Flowers in The Attic so I pretty much know and love all her books! It is obvious that this was written by a ghost writer as V.C. Andrews passed many years ago, that being said I was still so excited to read this prequel to Flowers in the Attic that I read this in 2 days and I am definitely interested and waiting for the follow-up to this one. I am happy to have finally starting to learn what made Corrine they way she became in the later books and what drove her there. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC book and give my opinion!
October 8, 2024
Pre-review: I was probably asking for punishment by borrowing this book...
My Review:
Again I am asking for punishment by picking up a fake V C. Andrews’ book.
Supposedly this is a prequel to Flowers in the Attic, which tells the great grandmother, Corrine Dixon, story. The 16 years old Corrine is a beautiful girl and she knows it, she sets her heart on the handsome Garland Foxworth, and things do not go well from here.
Well, it could have been an interesting gothic romance story IF ONLY it were written by the real V C. Andrews herself. That's all I can say and I skipped through most of the book because life is too short and I am disappointed that the ghost writer seems wanting to write a sequel for this book! Damn! Talking about dragging things on and beating a dead horse!
The heroine Corrine is not quite a sympathetic character and she seems to be rather spoiled by her father, but I still don't think she deserves what is likely coming her way.
My Review:
Again I am asking for punishment by picking up a fake V C. Andrews’ book.
Supposedly this is a prequel to Flowers in the Attic, which tells the great grandmother, Corrine Dixon, story. The 16 years old Corrine is a beautiful girl and she knows it, she sets her heart on the handsome Garland Foxworth, and things do not go well from here.
Well, it could have been an interesting gothic romance story IF ONLY it were written by the real V C. Andrews herself. That's all I can say and I skipped through most of the book because life is too short and I am disappointed that the ghost writer seems wanting to write a sequel for this book! Damn! Talking about dragging things on and beating a dead horse!
The heroine Corrine is not quite a sympathetic character and she seems to be rather spoiled by her father, but I still don't think she deserves what is likely coming her way.
June 15, 2019
It's been thirty-two years since I first 'met' the Foxworth family. For me, the most mysterious member of the family was the first Corrine (whose namesake did terrible things for the sake of the family fortune). Very little was said about her, and what information readers do have came from a character whose knowledge may not be wholly accurate. This novel presented an opportunity to (finally) know who she was, and I was unable to resist it. Despite being disappointed by a previous title, I was cautiously optimistic about this novel.
I was excited to read about the enigmatic Corrine and young Garland. My need to know more demanded it, and for that reason I'm glad to have read this book. Unfortunately, Beneath the Attic is plagued with problems that left me feeling frustrated.
The blurb states that Corrine and Garland get married, but the book ends before the marriage takes place. It's an understatement to say I was perplexed that they were still in preparation mode for the wedding when the book ended. No indication is given that this is the first in a series of books, so it felt like the book ended abruptly. I'm sure the final version of the book will inform readers that it's part of a series, but it should have been made clear to early reviewers, as well.
This most maddening, shove-you-right-out-of-the-story problem came when Corrine thinks to herself that she is just as spoiled as Scarlett O'Hara. Gone with the Wind was published in 1936—but this book is set in 1890! If I had been reading a physical book, I would have thrown it across the room. I had to stop reading, and spent the next ten minutes ranting about stupid it was, and seriously considered DNF'ing the book right then and there. How is it possible to make such a ridiculous error?! Google it, for goodness' sake!
Another issue I had is that this doesn't always read like a book set in the late nineteenth century. If you removed all mention of carriages and clothing, it would easily seem to be set in a more modern era. Characters don't address one another or use etiquette consistent with the time period, which is glaringly obvious to anyone who reads historical fiction regularly.
When reading a book that tells the backstory of a maligned character such as Corrine, they are usually portrayed in a favorable light. The youthful version of them is drastically different from the person they became, and the reader can find themselves feeling unexpected sympathy for the character in question. (The young Olivia Foxworth in Garden of Shadows is an excellent example of this.) Corrine, however, is arrogant, spoiled, and selfish—unlikable from the start. It falls in line with how Malcolm (her son) will eventually describe her, and it was not at all what I expected or hoped.
Garland was an imitation of Malcolm, minus the religious fanaticism. Characters in these books are always shown to go through dramatic change, but Garland's character felt completely wrong. He was a nice person in Shadows, but in this book he was a complete jerk. For both main characters to be this unlikable seems a poor choice., and I'm hoping one of them will be redeemed at some point in the series.
Final Thoughts
Despite serious issues I had with certain aspects of the story, I still want to know what happens next. I'd like to see better historical research done (no more references nearly 50 years too early!), with characters behaving in historically-consistent ways regarding their speech, manners, and behaviors.
I've decided to give this book a two star rating, though I was tempted to drop it down to one star due to historical inaccuracies. Being curious about what happens next convinced me to bump it up to two stars.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Gallery Books via Netgalley.
I was excited to read about the enigmatic Corrine and young Garland. My need to know more demanded it, and for that reason I'm glad to have read this book. Unfortunately, Beneath the Attic is plagued with problems that left me feeling frustrated.
The blurb states that Corrine and Garland get married, but the book ends before the marriage takes place. It's an understatement to say I was perplexed that they were still in preparation mode for the wedding when the book ended. No indication is given that this is the first in a series of books, so it felt like the book ended abruptly. I'm sure the final version of the book will inform readers that it's part of a series, but it should have been made clear to early reviewers, as well.
This most maddening, shove-you-right-out-of-the-story problem came when Corrine thinks to herself that she is just as spoiled as Scarlett O'Hara. Gone with the Wind was published in 1936—but this book is set in 1890! If I had been reading a physical book, I would have thrown it across the room. I had to stop reading, and spent the next ten minutes ranting about stupid it was, and seriously considered DNF'ing the book right then and there. How is it possible to make such a ridiculous error?! Google it, for goodness' sake!
Another issue I had is that this doesn't always read like a book set in the late nineteenth century. If you removed all mention of carriages and clothing, it would easily seem to be set in a more modern era. Characters don't address one another or use etiquette consistent with the time period, which is glaringly obvious to anyone who reads historical fiction regularly.
When reading a book that tells the backstory of a maligned character such as Corrine, they are usually portrayed in a favorable light. The youthful version of them is drastically different from the person they became, and the reader can find themselves feeling unexpected sympathy for the character in question. (The young Olivia Foxworth in Garden of Shadows is an excellent example of this.) Corrine, however, is arrogant, spoiled, and selfish—unlikable from the start. It falls in line with how Malcolm (her son) will eventually describe her, and it was not at all what I expected or hoped.
Garland was an imitation of Malcolm, minus the religious fanaticism. Characters in these books are always shown to go through dramatic change, but Garland's character felt completely wrong. He was a nice person in Shadows, but in this book he was a complete jerk. For both main characters to be this unlikable seems a poor choice., and I'm hoping one of them will be redeemed at some point in the series.
Final Thoughts
Despite serious issues I had with certain aspects of the story, I still want to know what happens next. I'd like to see better historical research done (no more references nearly 50 years too early!), with characters behaving in historically-consistent ways regarding their speech, manners, and behaviors.
I've decided to give this book a two star rating, though I was tempted to drop it down to one star due to historical inaccuracies. Being curious about what happens next convinced me to bump it up to two stars.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Gallery Books via Netgalley.
August 30, 2019
The new ghostwritten prequel of the Dollanganger saga focuses on the mother of Malcolm Foxworth and the tragic backstory of the first Corrine.
However this book was missing something - the language and dialogue broke the consistency of 18th century Virginia and this stood out as I read further into this novel. Corrine was a character that was supposed to be written out of place and time, but her obnoxious, overtly sexual and naive persona made her difficult to sympathise or like. There were also slight inconsistencies from the original series. The relationship with Corrine and Garland previously written as a loving and compassionate relationship, now is a creepy and inappropriate relationship. Their relationship goes into abusive and non consensual territory, making their relationship much more problematic and yet, it didn’t delve into the psychological and emotional consequences of said abuse throughout most of the plot.
Towards the end, this book seemed to find a narrative flow. The seeds of the conflict started to be planted, but everything before that just felt like filler - even plot points that would’ve caused real conflicts weren’t delved into. Corrine and Garland’s relationship could’ve been interesting if it wasn’t portrayed as romantic through the protagonist’s perspective throughout most of the novel - if Corrine saw it for what it was, the complexity of this flawed engagement would be interesting. Only when Corrine was in Foxworth Hall did the story actually give the storyline that dark edge, but it was nearly the end when that finally happened.
As I listened to the audiobook, Dara Rosenberg gave a strong dramatic reading and really gave the story emotion and character.
However this book was missing something - the language and dialogue broke the consistency of 18th century Virginia and this stood out as I read further into this novel. Corrine was a character that was supposed to be written out of place and time, but her obnoxious, overtly sexual and naive persona made her difficult to sympathise or like. There were also slight inconsistencies from the original series. The relationship with Corrine and Garland previously written as a loving and compassionate relationship, now is a creepy and inappropriate relationship. Their relationship goes into abusive and non consensual territory, making their relationship much more problematic and yet, it didn’t delve into the psychological and emotional consequences of said abuse throughout most of the plot.
Towards the end, this book seemed to find a narrative flow. The seeds of the conflict started to be planted, but everything before that just felt like filler - even plot points that would’ve caused real conflicts weren’t delved into. Corrine and Garland’s relationship could’ve been interesting if it wasn’t portrayed as romantic through the protagonist’s perspective throughout most of the novel - if Corrine saw it for what it was, the complexity of this flawed engagement would be interesting. Only when Corrine was in Foxworth Hall did the story actually give the storyline that dark edge, but it was nearly the end when that finally happened.
As I listened to the audiobook, Dara Rosenberg gave a strong dramatic reading and really gave the story emotion and character.
August 30, 2019
I devoured the gothic fiction of VC Andrews as a young teen, and I am not ashamed to admit I have revisited several of her books as an adult. Younger me loved the settings and dreadful villains Andrews created, and the crazy sagas of her poor protagonists and their offspring were everything I loved to page-turn my way through at the age of 13.
I understand that when Andrews passed away, a ghostwriter worked with her editor and publishing company to continue the stories she left unfinished. I found several of these to still be enjoyable. That being said...
This installation in the Dollanganger series is PURE RUBBISH. The writing is perverse and unsettling, the protagonist is someone I cannot at all root for because she is such a self-centered and terrible person, and the author clearly made ZERO ATTEMPTS at staying true to the time period of this story (pre-1900 and yet the main character references Scarlett O'Hara, for one). People do not act as they would have acted in 1890, women would not have behaved as some of these characters behave, and overall, it is just AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. The writing is sooooo bad. This book is lazy, the author is lazy, and an author so many women my age remember from youth should not be disserviced by such a money grab.
VC Andrews is probably turning in her grave, and I am so sorry that her legacy is tainted by someone writing such garbage under her name.
I understand that when Andrews passed away, a ghostwriter worked with her editor and publishing company to continue the stories she left unfinished. I found several of these to still be enjoyable. That being said...
This installation in the Dollanganger series is PURE RUBBISH. The writing is perverse and unsettling, the protagonist is someone I cannot at all root for because she is such a self-centered and terrible person, and the author clearly made ZERO ATTEMPTS at staying true to the time period of this story (pre-1900 and yet the main character references Scarlett O'Hara, for one). People do not act as they would have acted in 1890, women would not have behaved as some of these characters behave, and overall, it is just AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. The writing is sooooo bad. This book is lazy, the author is lazy, and an author so many women my age remember from youth should not be disserviced by such a money grab.
VC Andrews is probably turning in her grave, and I am so sorry that her legacy is tainted by someone writing such garbage under her name.
August 7, 2019
This was supposed to be a companion novel to the Flowers in the Attic series and I like many others grew up reading that series. It was the first "adult" books I had read. This was the story of Corrine Dixon, the Great Grandmother in the Dollanganger saga. Honestly, it didn't have any connection for me. It seemed to just be a random story about a random, spoiled teenager. It didn't offer any insight or backstory for me at all. The house was mentioned, the swan bed was mentioned but that was about it. The story didn't really wrap up either, it just ended. That makes me think this is just beginning of a new series. I am giving it 3 stars though, because it was a fast read and I was interested in the story. I don't think I would recommend it though unless you have an emotional attachment to the series and don't mind reading something that has nothing to do with that!
September 18, 2019
Very disappointed thought we would get a better insight into her character all that comes across is that she is a vain and promiscuous
September 4, 2019
The story takes place in the 1800's which the author does not have the grasp of how to portray.
The book seemed liked modern times with a few mentions of the year 1890 sprinkled in.
I have been reading V.C. Andrews book since I was 12 years old and yes I really do wish it was the original author still writing them.
They all revolve around teenage girls, rich guys they are overwhelmed with and fall madly in love with and the guy is always older than them.
Opulent mansions hold dark secrets in shadowy corners and footsteps of the unknown echo from the dimly lit corridors. Gothic and mysterious!
The book did end rather abruptly so I would be led to believe this is the start of a new series.
Published August 27th 2019 by Gallery Books.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The book seemed liked modern times with a few mentions of the year 1890 sprinkled in.
I have been reading V.C. Andrews book since I was 12 years old and yes I really do wish it was the original author still writing them.
They all revolve around teenage girls, rich guys they are overwhelmed with and fall madly in love with and the guy is always older than them.
Opulent mansions hold dark secrets in shadowy corners and footsteps of the unknown echo from the dimly lit corridors. Gothic and mysterious!
The book did end rather abruptly so I would be led to believe this is the start of a new series.
Published August 27th 2019 by Gallery Books.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
April 15, 2020
***Spoilers included***
I already knew Andrew Neiderman was an atrocious writer from reading the Mirror Sisters series that I forced myself to complete due to the dark comedy that is a creepy man continuously writing from the perspective of teenage girls that he clearly never understood, but I had yet to experience his butchering of Andrews’s legacy until I tried this one. Keep in mind, I only tried it because it was in the new releases from the library. Paying money for it would be a crime.
Reading this book is like deciding to eat at Hardee’s. You know it’s pretty low tier on the fast food chain, but you have coupons, so you go, only to get even worse than what you expected: sub-par food that is also cold, limp, and served in the atmosphere of sketchy old men (Neiderman).
Plot: This is supposed to be about Garland and Corrine, the parents of Malcom and grandparents of the noteworthy Corrine who locks her children up, and how they got together. I read other reviews saying that Neiderman has forgone referencing Andrews’s notes at all, like how Garland and this Corrine were supposed to be happy until she ran away, giving Malcom mother issues, but I don’t follow these authors that closely and it’s been a while since I’ve read the markedly more enjoyable actual series written by the real author. Corrine is Neiderman’s view of a feminist because she’s interested in sex and masturbates. At sixteen, she fancies herself a woman of the world until Garland seduces her, gets her drunk, and rapes her multiple times. He quits talking to her until he finds out she’s pregnant, then they have a shotgun wedding staged as if he’s too overcome with love to wait, and he begins ordering Corrine to wear his mother’s things…including her nightgowns. At the end, Corrine finds out that Garland has been making the maid wear his mother’s nightgown and lay in a bed at night while he cries and apologizes to her.
One of the least offensive issues with this book is how droll the plot is. For someone who is supposed to be so spunky and opinionated, Corrine wilts after a few chapters and never blooms again. By bloom, I mean at least had some semblance of an opinion on things. None of the Neiderman characters I’ve seen experience emotions or cognitive development. They’re more suited for sitcoms with their simplistic dialogue and inability to express anything, yet they’re tragically forced into a series Neiderman is in over his head to deliver. Additionally, since so little happens in this book, I horrifically discovered early on that it was to be part of another Neiderman trilogy. Help us all.
I shudder reading Neiderman write from teenage girls’ perspectives. He tries to have these sexually liberated characters, but then just has them randomly moan a lot when all they’re doing is imagining something. But if he’d written from Garland’s perspective, he would have actually had to explain things for the reader, like Garland’s obsession with his own mom, why he never talked to Corrine after raping her, etc.
The style vs. the time period were also off. Corrine was a feminist, as was the nurse, which was highly unlikely then, and all of the characters spoke in modern sentence structure and phrasing. I get being lazy, but don’t write a period piece then.
I did like the quote “[L]uck [. . .] id only valuable if you have the means to exploit it,” but that’s it (67). It was interesting thinking about the house as a real influencing presence, but that was just alluded to. Predictably, Neiderman will make the house corrupt everyone.
Will I read the others? If I’m bored and the library has them for free!
I already knew Andrew Neiderman was an atrocious writer from reading the Mirror Sisters series that I forced myself to complete due to the dark comedy that is a creepy man continuously writing from the perspective of teenage girls that he clearly never understood, but I had yet to experience his butchering of Andrews’s legacy until I tried this one. Keep in mind, I only tried it because it was in the new releases from the library. Paying money for it would be a crime.
Reading this book is like deciding to eat at Hardee’s. You know it’s pretty low tier on the fast food chain, but you have coupons, so you go, only to get even worse than what you expected: sub-par food that is also cold, limp, and served in the atmosphere of sketchy old men (Neiderman).
Plot: This is supposed to be about Garland and Corrine, the parents of Malcom and grandparents of the noteworthy Corrine who locks her children up, and how they got together. I read other reviews saying that Neiderman has forgone referencing Andrews’s notes at all, like how Garland and this Corrine were supposed to be happy until she ran away, giving Malcom mother issues, but I don’t follow these authors that closely and it’s been a while since I’ve read the markedly more enjoyable actual series written by the real author. Corrine is Neiderman’s view of a feminist because she’s interested in sex and masturbates. At sixteen, she fancies herself a woman of the world until Garland seduces her, gets her drunk, and rapes her multiple times. He quits talking to her until he finds out she’s pregnant, then they have a shotgun wedding staged as if he’s too overcome with love to wait, and he begins ordering Corrine to wear his mother’s things…including her nightgowns. At the end, Corrine finds out that Garland has been making the maid wear his mother’s nightgown and lay in a bed at night while he cries and apologizes to her.
One of the least offensive issues with this book is how droll the plot is. For someone who is supposed to be so spunky and opinionated, Corrine wilts after a few chapters and never blooms again. By bloom, I mean at least had some semblance of an opinion on things. None of the Neiderman characters I’ve seen experience emotions or cognitive development. They’re more suited for sitcoms with their simplistic dialogue and inability to express anything, yet they’re tragically forced into a series Neiderman is in over his head to deliver. Additionally, since so little happens in this book, I horrifically discovered early on that it was to be part of another Neiderman trilogy. Help us all.
I shudder reading Neiderman write from teenage girls’ perspectives. He tries to have these sexually liberated characters, but then just has them randomly moan a lot when all they’re doing is imagining something. But if he’d written from Garland’s perspective, he would have actually had to explain things for the reader, like Garland’s obsession with his own mom, why he never talked to Corrine after raping her, etc.
The style vs. the time period were also off. Corrine was a feminist, as was the nurse, which was highly unlikely then, and all of the characters spoke in modern sentence structure and phrasing. I get being lazy, but don’t write a period piece then.
I did like the quote “[L]uck [. . .] id only valuable if you have the means to exploit it,” but that’s it (67). It was interesting thinking about the house as a real influencing presence, but that was just alluded to. Predictably, Neiderman will make the house corrupt everyone.
Will I read the others? If I’m bored and the library has them for free!
September 22, 2019
I know VC Andrews wouldn’t write anything like this but I admit I will read anything having to do with flowers in the attic no matter how bad it is. I do like Corrine: she is selfish and spoiled and vain and OWNS it! I look forward to the next book.
September 6, 2019
I should have known I wasn't going to like this. I saw from the reviews, and most of the people on my fan pages on facebook disliked it as well. However, I've always believed in giving books (or anything really)a chance even if most people dislike it. There are times when I am a minority when it comes to certain things. There are TV shows I love, and people think I'm weird for liking them. I also like some of the Ghost Written books from VCA that others don't. For example, while I don't love the Gemini Series from VCA's Ghost Writer, I don't hate them either and I will re-read them at times. Though I pretend the last book has nothing to do with the series. So I figured perhaps I would be different and I would like the Ghost Writer's interpretation on the first Corrine.
I was very wrong. I originally found the audiobook on Scribd to listen to, but unfortunately, the first chapter felt like I was listening to a sex-ed video about a girl getting her first period. It was really hard to listen to, and I thought maybe it was because it can be hard for me to get into audiobooks. So I gave in and bought the book for my kindle. It turns out, it wasn't the audiobook, and it was just the fact that the first chapter was awful and the rest weren't any better.
I feel like he just wrote this book really fast to get it out for the 40th anniversary. This didn't even feel like a book set in the 1890's. I love history, especially the Victorian Era (and yes, Neiderman, Corrine is from the Victorian Era though you don't seem to realize that) and he got so much of it wrong. I felt like this should have been written in around the early-mid 1900's maybe. If it weren't for the carriages, it might as well have been set later.
Then he got the character names wrong. Garland's middle name should be Christopher, not Neal. I also hated that it seems like Neiderman is making it seem as if Garland was obsessed with his mother as well. Malcolm had an unhealthy attachment to his mother because she abandoned him when he was five. That can do a lot to a child, and while I definitely don't excuse his actions, it makes sense. Garland's just seems as if it's there to make a creepy character, and to explain why he treated Corrine the way he did. I know people change a lot from their early 20's but Garland still felt so out of character. If he was that hung up on his mother, it still would have come out at some point in Garden of Shadows.
If Neiderman does have a reason for Garland being that way, it's fine, but it should have been written in the first book. I hate when things are put in for drama but not explained. This book just felt like filler so that he has no choice but to write books. I'm willing to bet the first and second book could be one book. This one was left on a cliff-hanger.
For the record, I have nothing at all against cliff-hangers if they are written properly. Some can be really fun, especially if it has a good fan base, and you can spend the time waiting to discuss theories with fans. This isn't that kind of cliff-hanger. This just feels like it was done so we don't have a choice to buy the next book. I won't be one of them this time though, I'll wait.
I really wish if he felt the need to add onto books, he would start with the Dawn series and beyond. I have a feeling since he's butchered Flowers in the Attic, and My Sweet Audrina that he's going to do the same to the Casteel series.
I absolutely refuse to see this book, Whitefern, the diary series, or anything else he adds onto VCA's works as canon. It was fine when he finished the series for her because he was going by her notes. Now he's just adding his own stuff to the series. It will be interesting to see if he manages to butcher his own series though. I think from now on, I'll trust the reviews for the VCA books. I'll just wait for them to come on Scribd so I'm not wasting my money on them.
If you haven't read this book yet, wait until you can read it for free.
I was very wrong. I originally found the audiobook on Scribd to listen to, but unfortunately, the first chapter felt like I was listening to a sex-ed video about a girl getting her first period. It was really hard to listen to, and I thought maybe it was because it can be hard for me to get into audiobooks. So I gave in and bought the book for my kindle. It turns out, it wasn't the audiobook, and it was just the fact that the first chapter was awful and the rest weren't any better.
I feel like he just wrote this book really fast to get it out for the 40th anniversary. This didn't even feel like a book set in the 1890's. I love history, especially the Victorian Era (and yes, Neiderman, Corrine is from the Victorian Era though you don't seem to realize that) and he got so much of it wrong. I felt like this should have been written in around the early-mid 1900's maybe. If it weren't for the carriages, it might as well have been set later.
Then he got the character names wrong. Garland's middle name should be Christopher, not Neal. I also hated that it seems like Neiderman is making it seem as if Garland was obsessed with his mother as well. Malcolm had an unhealthy attachment to his mother because she abandoned him when he was five. That can do a lot to a child, and while I definitely don't excuse his actions, it makes sense. Garland's just seems as if it's there to make a creepy character, and to explain why he treated Corrine the way he did. I know people change a lot from their early 20's but Garland still felt so out of character. If he was that hung up on his mother, it still would have come out at some point in Garden of Shadows.
If Neiderman does have a reason for Garland being that way, it's fine, but it should have been written in the first book. I hate when things are put in for drama but not explained. This book just felt like filler so that he has no choice but to write books. I'm willing to bet the first and second book could be one book. This one was left on a cliff-hanger.
For the record, I have nothing at all against cliff-hangers if they are written properly. Some can be really fun, especially if it has a good fan base, and you can spend the time waiting to discuss theories with fans. This isn't that kind of cliff-hanger. This just feels like it was done so we don't have a choice to buy the next book. I won't be one of them this time though, I'll wait.
I really wish if he felt the need to add onto books, he would start with the Dawn series and beyond. I have a feeling since he's butchered Flowers in the Attic, and My Sweet Audrina that he's going to do the same to the Casteel series.
I absolutely refuse to see this book, Whitefern, the diary series, or anything else he adds onto VCA's works as canon. It was fine when he finished the series for her because he was going by her notes. Now he's just adding his own stuff to the series. It will be interesting to see if he manages to butcher his own series though. I think from now on, I'll trust the reviews for the VCA books. I'll just wait for them to come on Scribd so I'm not wasting my money on them.
If you haven't read this book yet, wait until you can read it for free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2019
As a fan of the original work of Virginia Andrews, in particular the Dollanganger saga, I was intrigued by this companion book. I have read some of the other ghost written novels, most of which have been ok, but some have been awful.
This wasnt awful, and although the characters aren't likeable, I did find myself intrigued by the character development. Some of the narrative for Corrine didnt feel right in relation to the era it's set, however other aspects of her accurately portray a spoiled immature teen ager (despite her viewing herself as mature). I'm not sure if that was the author's intention, but that was how I experienced the book.
The biggest disappointment however was the ending, which seemed somewhat anti climatic and fizzled out, it seemed unfinished. I do appreciate that this is to set up the next installment, however it did feel like something was missing from the ending.
Overall this book was OK, it seemed to be setting the scene & introducing characters for future installments, but feels a bit insufficient on it's own, however I await the next installment.
This wasnt awful, and although the characters aren't likeable, I did find myself intrigued by the character development. Some of the narrative for Corrine didnt feel right in relation to the era it's set, however other aspects of her accurately portray a spoiled immature teen ager (despite her viewing herself as mature). I'm not sure if that was the author's intention, but that was how I experienced the book.
The biggest disappointment however was the ending, which seemed somewhat anti climatic and fizzled out, it seemed unfinished. I do appreciate that this is to set up the next installment, however it did feel like something was missing from the ending.
Overall this book was OK, it seemed to be setting the scene & introducing characters for future installments, but feels a bit insufficient on it's own, however I await the next installment.
October 9, 2019
Let me start out my final thoughts by stating the Dollanganger series should have ended with Garden of Shadows and there's absolutely no need for new prequels and spinoffs. Nevertheless, here I am reviewing the prequel Beneath the Attic. Despite my dislike for the ghostwriter's recent books, part of me was excited for the newest entry for two reasons: the nifty title and intriguing cover art.
Sadly, the writing for Beneath the Attic is just as bad as the previous V.C. Andrews' titles. While the real V.C. Andrews had a natural talent for writing third-dimensional characters and detailed descriptions, Andrew Neiderman (the ghostwriter) has lost his ability to write a good story. His characters are wooden with little to no emotional depth and the descriptions are bare bones at best. The novel is more or less a generic young adult tale instead of being a Gothic thriller like the original Flowers in the Attic.
The main character, Corrine Dixon, is unlikeable from the very beginning. If I don't like like a character, then I cannot connect with him/her, which is a big problem for me with any read. Garland is the only interesting character in the entire novel, despite the fact he has very little character development.
Plotwise there's not much going on to keep a reader's entertained for 357 pages. The blurb mentions Corrine is the mistress of Foxworth Hall but this isn't true. The ending leads to her marriage to Garland, so the blurb is misleading. It's a CW-like drama that gives no closure by the final page. And there's a good read for the ending as there's going to be two more prequel sequels next year - Out the Attic and Shadows of Foxworth.
Being a V.C. Andrews' fan, I wanted to give this book a better rating but I just can't do it. The book is poorly written. There's some good ideas but they're poorly executed. I know I have said this time and time again but let me state this one last time, "There needs to be a new ghostwriter!" While I have liked some of Andrew Neiderman's past books, he has clearly forgotten how to write a good story. V.C. Andrews' estate and Gallery Books should hire a younger ghostwriter, preferably a woman, who has a natural talent for writing Gothic tales.
Overall, Beneath the Attic is a poor excuse for a Flowers in the Attic prequel. If the characters' names were changed and the book was written under the ghostwriter's real name, then I would've probably liked it a little bit more. Unfortunately, Beneath the Attic is written under V.C. Andrews's name and connects to the Dollanganger Saga, resulting in a messy prequel that adds nothing to the series. Let's cross our fingers and hope the two prequel sequels will be better written!
Sadly, the writing for Beneath the Attic is just as bad as the previous V.C. Andrews' titles. While the real V.C. Andrews had a natural talent for writing third-dimensional characters and detailed descriptions, Andrew Neiderman (the ghostwriter) has lost his ability to write a good story. His characters are wooden with little to no emotional depth and the descriptions are bare bones at best. The novel is more or less a generic young adult tale instead of being a Gothic thriller like the original Flowers in the Attic.
The main character, Corrine Dixon, is unlikeable from the very beginning. If I don't like like a character, then I cannot connect with him/her, which is a big problem for me with any read. Garland is the only interesting character in the entire novel, despite the fact he has very little character development.
Plotwise there's not much going on to keep a reader's entertained for 357 pages. The blurb mentions Corrine is the mistress of Foxworth Hall but this isn't true. The ending leads to her marriage to Garland, so the blurb is misleading. It's a CW-like drama that gives no closure by the final page. And there's a good read for the ending as there's going to be two more prequel sequels next year - Out the Attic and Shadows of Foxworth.
Being a V.C. Andrews' fan, I wanted to give this book a better rating but I just can't do it. The book is poorly written. There's some good ideas but they're poorly executed. I know I have said this time and time again but let me state this one last time, "There needs to be a new ghostwriter!" While I have liked some of Andrew Neiderman's past books, he has clearly forgotten how to write a good story. V.C. Andrews' estate and Gallery Books should hire a younger ghostwriter, preferably a woman, who has a natural talent for writing Gothic tales.
Overall, Beneath the Attic is a poor excuse for a Flowers in the Attic prequel. If the characters' names were changed and the book was written under the ghostwriter's real name, then I would've probably liked it a little bit more. Unfortunately, Beneath the Attic is written under V.C. Andrews's name and connects to the Dollanganger Saga, resulting in a messy prequel that adds nothing to the series. Let's cross our fingers and hope the two prequel sequels will be better written!
September 23, 2019
This book...ugh...this book! Technically it’s 2 1/2 stars but honestly I’m going to show it two. This book starts off with you thinking that it’s going to broach a lot of subject matter that has been touched upon in the earlier series. Instead, you get what others have called (I’m sorry to rip them off but honestly there is no other way of describing it) A basic mean girl. She is legitimately not anything like we would think because she supposed to be so captivating. Instead she comes off as a complete and utter moron. The first Corinne is nothing more than an unlikable, selfish, vain, stuck up, nasty, and basic girl. The writing is such that it almost doesn’t feel like she could live in this Victorian era. Also, we get introduced to Garland Foxworth who is really not that charming or captivating… It’s just Corinne is in such a rush to grow up that she throws herself at this guy at a party and suddenly ends up over-sexualizing herself to him and he takes advantage of her. What happens to her is rape and the fact that she’s confused about it does make sense and honestly she does get a lot more palatable. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that even with all these really creepy signs, she continues to throw herself into this relationship. He is downright creepy and yet she stays with him. It really seems like one of those instances where she is making her bed and going to have to lay in it and if she plays the game right she just might be able to come out on top here. Overall, this book was just boring and it was pointless and it made a lot of errors plot-wise that has already been stationed as canon. I guess I might read the other two but I’m certainly not buying them. Thank God for libraries! Support your local library if you insist on reading this nonsense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2019
Corrine Dixon talks a big game, constantly goes on about how beautiful she is and that she gives "womanly" talks to her fellow teenagers - even though she's barely had any more experience than they have.
She thinks she's powerful, but when push comes to shove Corrine is easily overpowered. Drunk on limoncello, she's date-raped. Instead of hating her attacker, she soon becomes engaged to him after it's revealed Corrine's pregnant with Garland Foxworth's child.
The rest of the novel consists of wedding preparations, and Garland's creepy obsession with his dead mother.
For all the promise of her being a strong, smart, and manipulative heroine, Corrine falls short. It's boring and disappointing, but that's what we've come to expect from VCA these past couple decades.
She thinks she's powerful, but when push comes to shove Corrine is easily overpowered. Drunk on limoncello, she's date-raped. Instead of hating her attacker, she soon becomes engaged to him after it's revealed Corrine's pregnant with Garland Foxworth's child.
The rest of the novel consists of wedding preparations, and Garland's creepy obsession with his dead mother.
For all the promise of her being a strong, smart, and manipulative heroine, Corrine falls short. It's boring and disappointing, but that's what we've come to expect from VCA these past couple decades.
February 8, 2019
I'd like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.I'll admit, as soon as I saw this cover, I squealed with delight. I have been reading these books for over 25 years now so they are ingrained in my memory and sit on my bookshelf, they are a part of my and my nostalgia for my younger self and my love of books. I have read this series many times over so I was definitely curious to see where this story would go especially after the disappointment of the Christopher's diaries. I enjoyed this more than I did those but was disappointed that this was left on a cliff hanger and have to wait until 2020 to find out what happens!
May 21, 2019
This was not good. I have fond memories of the hilarity of Flowers in the Attic, but this book, about the orginial Corinne's grandmother Corinne, just sets up a lot of unresolved mysteries about her weird husband. Corinne is spoiled and hilarious but ultimately this book felt like set up, and it didn't really shed any light on the sequels that're actually interesting.
I read an e-ARC through NetGalley.
I read an e-ARC through NetGalley.
October 1, 2021
notes to remember story:
the short of it
story set in 1890
the origin of the family curse
story follows Corrine Dixon (the great great grandmother of the children in the attic) and Garland Foxworth
Corrine is a beauty & Garland is charming & handsome
.. but really
a self righteous spoiled brat with a manipulative creepy jerk
Corrine finds herself thrown to the wolf unbeknownst to her
by her own kin
Corrine & Garland find themselves w/o chaperones
Garland takes full advantage and things go too far
Corrine ends up pregnant
Garland does the only respectable thing to do
planning a wedding & family ignoring Corrine’s with child
Corrine already feeling like the outsider
the short of it
story set in 1890
the origin of the family curse
story follows Corrine Dixon (the great great grandmother of the children in the attic) and Garland Foxworth
Corrine is a beauty & Garland is charming & handsome
.. but really
a self righteous spoiled brat with a manipulative creepy jerk
Corrine finds herself thrown to the wolf unbeknownst to her
by her own kin
Corrine & Garland find themselves w/o chaperones
Garland takes full advantage and things go too far
Corrine ends up pregnant
Garland does the only respectable thing to do
planning a wedding & family ignoring Corrine’s with child
Corrine already feeling like the outsider
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2019
While it was nowhere as good as the books actually written by V.C. Andrews, I got exactly what I expected when I began reading it. It's a mildly entertaining story giving more background on the infamous Dollanganger family. I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point for those new to V.C. Andrews, but it's worth a read for hardcore fans wanting more from the saga.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
September 17, 2019
I could just feel that its not V.C. Andrews anymore.
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