PART 2: "Our Mother's Surprise" & END OF BOOK DISCUSSION

[[deleted user]]

Leave your overall thoughts on Flowers in the Attic here! If you watched any of the film adaptations let us know how the book compares!

[Shaun]

Devastating. My first V.C. Andrews book I've ever read, and I knew nothing about it going in. Hadn't even read the back of it. Makes me want to learn more about the author, to find out about someone who could write something so bleak. Wow.

[Nym]

"Wow." Is the only initial response I can think of after finishing this book. I didn't think it would go as far as it did. I felt awful for Cathey (sorry if I'm spelling her name wrong) the whole time, reading it from her point of view. The rape scene was one of the most disturbing I have ever read. And it is even more heartbreaking that Cathey blames herself for it and pretty much every other conflict she has with Chris. I felt awful for her and the twins, especially when one of them passes away. I didn't feel much for Chris throughout the book, and obviously, I liked him less and less as it went on. If he was meant to be a likeable character at any point in the story, I didn't feel it.

One of the discussion questions in the back of the version of the book asks how the reader feels about "Cathey and Chris falling in love and if the reader is happy for them?" My answer: NO!

I've seen the movie adaptation from the 80s (I believe it's the 80s) so I kind of expected a similar ending to that. I thought eventually the kids would get out and their godawful mother would be exposed and humiliated. I was disappointed that didn't happen. Corrine will go down as one of my most hated characters in history, right next to Guy Woodhouse from 'Rosemary's Baby'.

I didn't love the book, but I think it was very effective at keeping the reader drawn in and having to know what comes next.

[[deleted user]]

What a depressing story, I'm with you Shaun, I wanna know what happened to poor VC Andrews to make her write something like this.
Every scene with Cathy and Chris made me want to throw the book in the pond behind my house. I agree with you, Nymheria, that rape scene was awful (the movies obviously never showed that, so I wasn't prepared). But the writing though? Ehh. Chris literally says, OUT LOUD, "I'm sorry I raped you," and then they have a discussion about how Cathy could've stopped him and it's her fault and EW. That's disgusting in and of itself, but also who talks like that?!? I thought the dialogue was weird throughout.
Someone please tell me they get revenge on Corrine in one of the sequels, though!!! How are you gonna make your readers sit through the bleakest story ever and they just decide, well we wanna go to Florida (jokes on them, I live in Florida and it's awful here LOL)! They throw away their only evidence and that's it?!?!?
There's also a bit in the back of the book that says this was a "rite of passage" for teen girls in the 80s and it really resonated with them. Holy crow, what are teen girls supposed to get out of this story?
I guess I'm just struggling to understand the reason this story needed to be told. Maybe I just need to think on it more.
Right now it's a 2/5 for me.

[Jen]

I think V.C. Andrews stands for Very Cringey Andrews! First, I am so glad the rape apology/but not really an apology was brought up in this discussion. Cathy's reaction should be used in The Complete Idiot's Guide of How Not To Respond To Your Rapist... "I could have stopped you if I'd really wanted to...It was my fault, too...I shouldn't have worn skimpy little see-through garments around a brother who had all a man's strong physical needs..." What??!!! What!

I do think the book's general premise of kids locked in an attic is interesting/scary, but the incest situation went too far. I find the 80s movie version enjoyable because it avoids all that and has a really creepy soundtrack. The movie also has some sort of closure at least. I don't want to praise the movie as something epicly amazing, but I think it was more satisfying than the book.
The comment above about Florida...Hilarious! I know that there are three other books after this in the series and a prequel...I kind of want to know what happens next, but I'm afraid of more incest (I did not wake up today thinking I would find myself typing..."I'm afraid of more incest")...

[Nym]

I agree that the 80's movie has more closure and, in my opinion, a better ending. It's not a masterpiece and it does feel rushed, but I prefer it to the ending of the book.

I find myself wanting to know how the whole series of books ends but uninterested in picking up another of V.C. Andrews' books. I'm glad I read it because it was on my TBR for a long time but it's a 2 star for me.

Also lol at "very cringey Andrews" :)

[payton]

This was an insane read. It was so uncomfortable throughout, and it was so dreary, especially after this section. I was really hoping they wouldn't include the rape scene with Chris and Cathy, since I had felt that was going to happen, just by the way he spoke and how he looked at her. That was the most revolting moment in a book full of revolting things. I was hooked on this book though, after I really got into it, and the twist at the end really surprised me. I think it's one that should be read at least once, and is one of only a few books that has affected me like it did. I also think it's a genuinely well-made book that's not for the faint of heart. This was an emotional read for sure, and it's a novel I won't soon forget, for better or for worse. 4/5

[Natali]

Like Shaun, I went in with no knowledge at all, and this book may have emotionally scarred me. The atmosphere throughout was so dark, unsettling and claustophobic.
From the beginning, when the grandmother was giving her rules, it felt like a indication of how the story was going to progress with Cathy and Chris. So whilst their sleeping together was a shock, the way in which it happend was. My intial reaction was to be angry with Chris and annoyed at Cathy for taking the blame. I then reasoned that perhaps it's understandable that she felt that way; as she was a child, had no role model, and the era in which it was set. However, the fact that Chris used the word rape and acknowledge we had raped her felt outside of the era. So I was very conflicted with the whole situation.

As a mum, I have not felt such hate towards a character as I did their mum (except maybe Umbridge from Harry Potter). The death of Cory genuinely broke me and to know who was to blame... I have to read the rest of the series to find out how they get revenge, because they must do right?!!?

Great pick, and something that may not have come across my radar without this book group!

[Krystal]

Even though I rejoined last month, i didn't read that one specifically because I knew that since I just had a baby and am going through a tough time right now that it was not the book for me. But if I had I'm sure I would have been scarred right along with you. I'm about to start the book for next month!!

[[deleted user]]

I don't blame you one bit, Krissy!!! I'm sorry you're going through a tough time! I hope it gets better!

[Christine]

Good lord! I wasn't going to post in this discussion since I finished the book so late but, after I watched Nightmare Maven's YouTube rant (up early for patreon folks *plug plug*) I just wanted to say: dude, ditto! This is vapid trash. This peice is misogynistic and rape apology. That's all I have to say. Maven, you Said the rest!