Seeds of Yesterday (Dollanganger, #4) in V.C. Andrews

Jun 18, 2009 Lori rated it really liked it

"Seeds of Yesterday" is the final saga of Cathy and Chris from the "Flowers in the Attic" series and the characters have come full circle in this novel.
It is now many years after the end of "If There Be Thorns". Cathy is fifty-two and Chris is fifty-four. Jory has grown up to marry his childhood sweetheart, Melodie, and both have become successful dancers. Bart has just graduated from Harvard Law School and although, as Cathy points out, his psychiatrists have declared him "cured", it quickly b "Seeds of Yesterday" is the final saga of Cathy and Chris from the "Flowers in the Attic" series and the characters have come full circle in this novel.
It is now many years after the end of "If There Be Thorns". Cathy is fifty-two and Chris is fifty-four. Jory has grown up to marry his childhood sweetheart, Melodie, and both have become successful dancers. Bart has just graduated from Harvard Law School and although, as Cathy points out, his psychiatrists have declared him "cured", it quickly becomes evident that Bart is still suffering from some pretty serious issues. Corinne, Cathy and Chris' mother, has left Bart the rebuilt Foxworth Hall, which Bart plans to reopen and make the grandest home in Virginia.
Cathy and Chris have arrived, to live once again, forty years later, in Foxworth Hall. You would think they would immediately realize that this may not be the best idea, if for no other reason that their mental health, but no, they come for a fairly long visit.
Jory and Melodie come for a visit, along with Cindy (Chris and Cathy's adopted daughter from "Thorns") and their long presumed dead Uncle Joel Foxworth shows up - - much as John Amos Jackson did in "Thorns". Joel's only purpose seems to be to spout off Malcolm-like pseudo-religious vitrol - - why no one tells him to pack his bags and get the hell out is beyond me.
Although this story is told again from the perspective of Cathy, and feels much more comfortable than the narrative of "Thorns", Bart again seems depraved and warped. It's hard to have sympathy for a character that seems so unredeemable.
Chris and Cathy's love story continues and is as bittersweet and tender as ever. Their love seems genuine and real.
As does Jory's love for Melodie. His eventual anguish over being paralyzed, losing his career and eventually his wife are the only parts of this story (other than Chris and Cathy) that ring true.
The rest of the story feels forced and the characters very one dimensional. Can Bart be any more like Malcolm? Can Joel be any more like the Grandmother? Can Cindy be any more like a young Corinne or Cathy? Even Jory and Melodie have blond twins, a boy and a girl - - giving us visions of Cory and Carrie.
Reading the story you wonder how much grief and anguish one family can take. And why everyone seems to be stepping around Bart and making excuses for him. You get to the point where you wish Chris or Cathy would just knock his lights out.
This book is worthy to read as a conclusion to the Dollanganger saga - - although the ending is a bit rushed and Chris and Cathy's demises are tragically sad.
Definitely does not compare to "Flowers" or "Petals" but as good as, if not slightly better than, "Thorns". ...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Stephanie rated it really liked it

So much happens in this conclusion to the Flowers in the Attic. I was sad to see it end, but there is one more book left, Garden of Shadows, which is a prequel to FIA. Cathy and Chris Dollanger will always hold a place in my heart!

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