Great American Read List discussion

The winner for our next book series is Dollanganger by V.C. Andrews.
Flowers in the Attic is the first book in the series.



To all who voted—thank you!
To everyone—I hope you'll participate and read this selection for our book club.
For those who do—share your thoughts as you read, please!

Spoilers are allowed; add a considerate warning if your comment includes any so members have the option to skip.

Feel free to begin reading it early, if you'd like, and start the discussion at your leisure.
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NOTES: This is the publication order, which is how our group reads will be organized:
#1— Flowers in the Attic
#2—Petals on the Wind
#3—If There be Thorns
#4—Seeds of Yesterday
#5—Garden of Shadows

For those of you who'd prefer to read in chronological order:
Garden of Shadows (prequel)
Flowers in the Attic
Petals on the Wind
If There be Thorns
Seeds of Yesterday

I will add discussion topics for the other four books in the series tomorrow.

Some information on this novel and author:
● Cleo Virginia Andrews, pen names— V.C. Andrews and Virginia C. Andrews, was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
● She died December 19, 1986 in Virginia Beach, Virginia at 63 years old.
● Flowers in the Attic was first published in 1979.
● The official V.C. Andrews website alleges that a relative claimed that this list book is loosely based on a true story. "University of Virginia hospital for treatment ... she developed a crush on her young doctor. He and his siblings had been locked away in the attic for over six years to preserve the family wealth."
● genres: family saga and gothic horror
● It was adapted into movies in 1987 and 2014.
● GoodReads rating: 3.80—62% rated it 4 or 5 stars
● ranked #85 on PBS's list
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I read this novel when I was a youngster, either in middle or high school. It was wildly popular at the time and highly controversial. I can't remember what I thought about it aside from it being shocking (those who've read it know why). I did not read the rest of the series. I wonder what I'll think rereading Flowers in the Attic as an adult many years later.

Alright- I am about to start this book today. The only thing I know about it is that while I was doing my blog write up about all 100 of the Great American Read books this one was the one that the old lady at the book store that I frequent was SHOCKED to see on the list. I had never heard of this series so I am coming in pretty fresh. Let's see how it goes!

Didn't get very far in my first hour of what I thought would be some peaceful reading- a lot of interruptions- but it is starting off well enough and simple enough and a little mysterious.

I am reading a physical copy of the book and am pretty engaged in the story already especially since the one thing I know about this book is that it has some shocking stuff in it so I am very curious to find out what it is!

So far (view spoiler)[ I have read the mysterious Prologue in which the story teller compares herself to flowers in an attic and Charles Dickens. I am only 18 pages in and have been introduced to the Dollanganger family right after finding out that the dad has died in a car accident. The person telling the story is Cathy the middle child who is twelve years old. She has an older brother named Christopher (age 14) and twin brother and sister, Cory and Carrie age 4. Curiouser and curiouser! (hide spoiler)]

Finished Good-bye, Daddy 9% in:
(view spoiler)[This story is told from Cathy's perspective in what I believe is called passive voice. Where I am in the story she is 12 years old. She is grieving the sudden death of her father and now finds she must also leave her home and many of her belongings. Her mother describes her as more "aggressive" and more "determined" when she is comparing her to herself. The mother, Corrine, has also just dropped a bombshell on Cathy and her siblings- they have a different last name from what the have always known. Corrine has decided they will all go live with her parents because she can not support the family without a job. She doesn't have the skills for one. Corrine seems really sneaky and hiding something from the way the author is writing "clues" and I am eager to find out what it is. I am going to guess incest but as of right now I do not know for sure. (hide spoiler)]

Finished The Road to Riches 13% in:
(view spoiler)[ This could be a page turner for sure if I weren't being interrupted (I thought for sure I would have some peace today but it is not looking like it). I am so curious about this strange family, this huge house, the mean old grandmother and grandfather, and why Corrine is the way she is. I feel very sorry for the children and if I know my storytelling and the fact that this is gothic we are only just beginning. The house almost sounds like a character the way Cathy describes it- remind me of Hill House and Monster House. (hide spoiler)]

Finished The Grandmother's House 16% in:
(view spoiler)[ This grandmother is nuts! So this section is all the rules the grandmother has for the kids who are only allowed to stay in one room and the attic. Rule number 10 doesn't sound awkward at all (insert sarcasm) "you will not handle or play with the private parts of your body or look at them in the mirror or think about them (etc..)" The grandmother reminds me of the mom from Stephen King's Carrie. I am getting more and more of an incest vibe as we go along. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not reading this book, but I've been scanning through Larissa's updates here, and enjoying them. (I'm not bothering to avoid spoilers, since I'm not likely to actually read the book any time soon.) Anyway, so far, I think I was right in avoiding this one, since this kind of thing isn't really my cup of tea.

Hi, as of today 3/12/19, Amazon has the complete series on sale, it seems to be a reasonable price if anyone needs all of the books. Update: The books arrived and the publisher combined 4 separate books into 2. Rather inconvenient.

I think this book was on the list because many people read it in middle/high school and remembered it as a book that held their attention and they couldn't put it down. That said, it is a bit racy and sensational in its content. In the later books, there's a lot of sex and intrigue. Fun, but not the most literary.

V.C. Andrews has a way of writing descriptions in this book that take you right to that place and time. You can see the attic, the library, the dark halls in the old house. Even though the descriptions were well written they did seem to drag on a bit. (view spoiler)[The older brother was so full of optimism that he refused to see the truth but gradually the writer destroys his innocence and he has to learn the true character of his mother and the lies she tells all her children. (hide spoiler)] While this book was easy to read I found it extremely depressing, sad and a little unsettling. Maybe that's the sign of a good writer. I wouldn't consider it a classic or recommend it for young readers, but otherwise it's okay.

I am reading a physical copy of the book and am pretty engaged in the story already especially since the one thing I know about this book is that it has some shocking stuff in it so I am very curious to find out what it is!

Pitterbrayn wrote: "I am reading a physical copy of the book and am pretty engaged in the story already especially since the one thing I know about this book is that it has some shocking stuff in it so I am very curio..."

I hope you're enjoying this story, it does take some crazy twists and turns.