If There Be Thorns (Dollanganger, #3) in V.C. Andrews

Jan 01, 2015 Janet rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Despite this being a fictitious story and I acknowledge that, I feel a connection with Chris and Cathy, in particular Cathy as I had an emotionally absent mother who thought that buying things made up for this deficiency. I understand that Chris and Cathy's extreme childhood life experiences have deeply affected them and explains why they behave as they do. No one could possibly relate to what they went through but each other.

I loved Jory's character and was happy that he did not turn against hi Despite this being a fictitious story and I acknowledge that, I feel a connection with Chris and Cathy, in particular Cathy as I had an emotionally absent mother who thought that buying things made up for this deficiency. I understand that Chris and Cathy's extreme childhood life experiences have deeply affected them and explains why they behave as they do. No one could possibly relate to what they went through but each other.

I loved Jory's character and was happy that he did not turn against his mother when he discovered the truth about Chris and Cathy's relationship. I feel that. Cathy was a caring mother and was affectionate to all her children.

When it comes to Bart I couldn't relate to him at all. This child did not appreciate the care and love given to him by Chris, Cathy and even Corrine. He was most ungrateful and spoke to the people that loved him most with contempt. Admittedly he had too much freedom (but why no allow your child some freedom when you live on property and you live in isolation from dangers such as traffic and predators) and this led to him escaping to his neighbour's regularly where he met Joel. Joel's influence on such an impressionable child, that had low self worth could be described as nothing but toxic. Joel filled Bart's head with nonsense which was based on his own bitter life experiences with women. Joel also forced Bart to study his great grandfather's journal that was also filled with negative life experiences with women, beginning with his mother. So sad that the past is continuing to impact on a new generation!

I loved Cindy and her relationship with Cathy. I feel that Cathy needed Cindy in her life to fill a void created by Carrie. The truth though is Cathy should not have adopted Cindy.She should have devoted the time she spent with Cindy on Bart. Bart was jealous of the attention that Cathy gave Cindy and this jealousy affected him terribly.

I was actually saddened by Corrine's death at the end of the book. She had truly repented and understood the damage she had done to her children by her selfish decisions made in the past.

I read this book as I feel a connection with Chris and Cathy and was curious to see how their lives have developed as they grow old together. I will now read the next book in the sequel. ...more

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Jan 24, 2015 Leigh rated it really liked it

Shelves: pandemic-reads, 2022, family-saga, mini-series-trilogies, audio, 2019, fictional-saga, old-favourites, 2015

One thing I have noticed in re reading this series is that with each book there are certain scenes and moments that I remember and anticipate reading again, from the grandmother's list of rules, to the tar in the hair, to the arrival of Alicia in the prequel, and of course Cathy's return to the attic in Petals on the Wind. With this book I nothing stood out. I had no real memories of ever reading, though I know that I did. The only thing I remembered was that it was told by Cathy's two sons. As One thing I have noticed in re reading this series is that with each book there are certain scenes and moments that I remember and anticipate reading again, from the grandmother's list of rules, to the tar in the hair, to the arrival of Alicia in the prequel, and of course Cathy's return to the attic in Petals on the Wind. With this book I nothing stood out. I had no real memories of ever reading, though I know that I did. The only thing I remembered was that it was told by Cathy's two sons. As I began to read, I realized that I had probably repressed most of the story as this is probably the darkest and most disturbing out of a series of very dark disturbing books. My first thoughts were that it was nice to get away from Cathy's voice for a while. To see her and Chris through the eyes of others was interesting. Chris still appeared the optimist he always was and Cathy still the drama queen. Jory is quite mature, though a bit slow to pick up on things as he never quite figures out his parent`s secret until the end of the book, though he has flash backs throughout the story. Bart is another story. Very much Cathy`s child, a wild imagination, dramatic, a character you both despise but also feel sorry for and want to love and take care of. It`s hard to tell when reading Bart`s narrative what is true and what is just part of his wild imagination. Bart is the child who feels unloved and strange because he is different than his older brother. When a mysterious old lady moves in next door, he soon finds someone who he feels loves him more than anyone else. But while the old woman next door adores and spoils him, she has a butler (possibly her husband) who takes it upon himself to manipulate Bart and turn him into a true monster. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed and there are shocking acts of cruelty to both animals and young children. As I mentioned this is the most disturbing at least for me in this series. It was a quickly paced book though and easier to follow because of the shorter timeline, a few months verses several years. There as also a complex character in Bart, who one moment you were hoping would be locked away for the rest of his life and in the next hoping someone would just give the boy a hug. I`m just glad I have only one more book to get through before this series is over. Reading about this family makes me very grateful I have the family that I do. ...more

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