V. C. Andrews update.

I'm on page 28 of Flowers in the Attic, and I really, truly might not make it all the way through.  Not to mention reading ten more by the same (sort of) author.

It's quite possibly the Worst Book Ever.

Comments

[Whitney]

Oh, you're only on page 28? THE FUN IS ONLY BEGINNING. Really, you have to keep going because it just keeps getting worse! :)

[Brian F.]

I'd like a little credit for how much I'm refraining here.

[sharon]

haha I couldn't finish it either. If I had to read another page about how wonderful Chris is I was going to scream.

[Steph]

Quit exaggerating Leila - it is not THAT BAD. =)

Steph

[dangermom]

It's probably been 20 years since I read that book, and the sticky descriptions are still hanging out in my brain. Lots of goop about our happiness being like a rainbow in the sky, and stuff, and then the clouds come to rain all over the happiness.

[gailg]

I read this many years ago. I don't remember anything about the writing, just the disturbing relationship that developed between two of the siblings. As it turns out, that must be my personal line in the sand.

Though I do recall wondering why the kids didn't just leave.

I'm always stunned when I read that these books were teen favorites back in the day.

[Leila]

I am NOT exaggerating, Steph!! I think my brain is melting.

[eiela]

I'm hurt. I absolutely Luuuurrrrvvveeeddd those books as a teen. Although they're really syrupy/disturbing/dark.

[Kelly Fineman]

I can name at least half a dozen folks who read that when they were, like, 12 and either still love it or are scarred for life.

[dangermom]

Scarred for life, that was me. My best friend was obsessed and made me read them.

[Louis]

I read that book when I was eleven, possibly as the result of some coercion (I have a strange father) and can't possibly recall why it was pushed out of my mind. All I remember is that it scarred me forever. And I still have a copy of every book in the whole series lying around somewhere. I think I use them as bookends.

[Natalie Hatch]

Oh how I remember being told 'read these books they're great' and embarking on what could possibly have like dangermom scarred me for life. I still remember the horrible feeling of reading the incestuous relationship and feeling like I needed to wash my hands for touching a book like that. And the grandmother, don't get me started.

[Abby]

But MAN how I loved in in 7th grade...!

[Steph]

You muuuuuuuuuuuuust blog about this book once you finish it. (And finish you shall, for if I can do it, you can, too!) If you do, I promise I'll buy you a cookie.

Steph

[Lady in a Smalltown]

Worst book? You haven't read the worst one yet. You just wait. I read 16 in my sappy youth. The Dollganger, Cutler and Casteel series (thank you, GoodReads) and My Sweet Audrina. I may have to go back and read some of those again.

[Leila]

It had better be a really big cookie...

[C Marshall]

Thank you. I remember when these books came out and everyone was reading them. I checked them out and decided they were not for me but I felt like there was something wrong with me because I did not like them. Since reading your posting and the comments I am now feeling much better about my decision.

[Cara]

You really have to read V.C. Andrews books for the first time when you're twelve. Then go back and read them when you're older so you can have that moment of, 'Oh my god, why did I READ this? Why didn't someone stop me? I'm so glad my mother didn't know what this was about because I wouldn't be able to look her in the face' and realize how impressive it is that you didn't turn out to be completely warped, because Jesus.

Though once you've read Flowers in the Attic it'll be a bit easier to get through the books in the other series because they're all pretty much exactly the same story.

[bookharlot]

What is really disturbing to me is that Flowers in the Attic was REQUIRED SUMMER READING for me in 9th grade. Because my teacher wanted us to read a "contemporary" author. Even though she'd been dead for years. *sigh* I was a little scarred, but read them all anyway.

[Melissa]

I'm not feeling so bad that I've never read any V.C. Andrews. Well, that's not true. I think I read a couple pages once in 7th grade. But that's it. (I swear.)

[Melissa]

I'm not feeling so bad about never having read V.C. Andrews. Wait... I did read a few pages once in 7th grade. But that's it. (I swear.)

[Lianne]

I *loved* that book.

When I read it at the age of 13. Now, I shudder at some of the things I read when I was younger (although I was better than my sister).

I went through a couple of years (mostly junior high) where I read all the VC Andrews books that had been published (she was still alive and writing at the time). Then I grew up and escaped that sort of dreck.

We all go through those sorts of phases.

[BookishlyFab]

I read this to see what the fuss was about, and it truly disturbed me. I don't understand people who say they loved it.

[Wendy]

You just have to tell yourself you're reading it for the HUMOR, and then watch, it'll be funnier than Dave Barry.

[Sarah]

Bookharlot-- IT WAS REQUIRED READING?????? When you were FOURTEEN?? A book with [augh don't want to ruin it for Leila but you must know the two words starting with 'I' and 'R' I deleted here] was required reading? This is the first time I've ever thought this, but if I were your mother I would have complained--not tried to get the book banned, but complained loudly.

[bookharlot]

Sarah, my mom did raise holy hell. She requested we read "Jurassic Park" or something by an actual LIVING author and was shot down. She insisted on reading it first "in case I had any questions" (yeah, right, like I was going to talk to my mom about that!). One boy's mom wouldn't allow him to read it. Not like it mattered, we NEVER talked about any of the 5 books we had to read that summer.