This Virginia ain't no Woolf (Flowers in the Attic - Virginia Andrews)

Member Name: Dollanganger

Product:	Flowers in the Attic - Virginia Andrews
Date:	09/06/05 (4679 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic characterisation, Unusual, tragic plot, Very thought provoking...and a true slice of escapism

Disadvantages: If you're looking for a deeply intellectual study of life, you perhaps won't find it here

Virginia Andrews, Queen of all things melodramatic and secretive, was sadly never the kind of author to gain much in terms of accolades. The intellectual snobbery so often present in literary circles has meant that her work has been deemed too trashy to merit any real praise. To that, I say ‘bollocks!’…‘scuse my French.

‘Flowers in the Attic’, as the first novel in the five part Dollanganger series, begins the journey of Christopher, Cathy, Cory and Carrie; the four ill-fated Dollanganger children. Based loosely, and I stress loosely, upon a true story, this novel tells the tragic tale of children sacrificed by their mother in the name of greed. In short, 'Flowers in the Attic' portrays the sad story of the Dollanganger children, who lose their father and then suffer the even greater tragedy of being isolated from the world by their own mother, as she attempts to woo her cruel father into re-instating her into his will.

Not one for overwritten sentences or pretentiousness, Miss Andrews presents her story in a compelling and relatively unchallenging narrative. The plight of the central characters can thus be conveyed with heart and loving that might have been lost had Andrews worried herself about providing the critic fodder that seems to be so desired by novelists. Andrews’ clear love for the characters she has created is reflected by her attention to detail, and each character is developed well and on a good time scale. The affection you feel for the characters, borne most likely from Andrews’ own affection on clear display, makes reading this novel an easy task, as the pages just seem to turn and turn undeterred. Despite the fact that the majority of the events take place in only two rooms and with limited characters, I was never bored by the prose. The true heart of the story, which is tragic and compelling enough in itself, combined with the engaging narrative of Andrews makes this a truly gripping read.

The plot itself, though based upon true events, is a rather dramatic one. You could be forgiven for questioning why four mature and intelligent children would allow themselves to be manipulated for so long, though Andrews’ clever characterisation and realisation that children may misguidedly show unconditional maternal love makes the events all the more credible. The hope that Cathy and Chris will somehow escape their sad circumstances compels you towards the climactic end of the novel, and it’s a satisfying one at that.

As the first in a series of books, ‘Flowers in the Attic’ provides a close portrait of the characters who will continue into the following novels, and with it an affection that will undoubtedly lead you to purchase the sequels. The story, by the end of this novel, is far from over, though it is also perfectly acceptable to stop reading here, as the main issues of this section are relatively solved. The one issue with the plot that may cause concern for some readers is the controversial relationship between Cathy and Chris. The brother-sister bond most certainly goes further than it ever should, though Andrews presentation of its development and causes is done with sensitivity and by the end of the novel you feel only sympathy for the characters rather than disgust. If you can foresee yourself having major problems, then I’d advise you not to bother, if you’re more open minded, though, this storyline shouldn’t bother you at all.

‘Flowers in the Attic’, although not anything on a par with Woolf, Joyce, Hogg etc, is an extremely compelling novel with all the factors one would look for in an enjoyable read. The characters are well crafted and lovingly developed, the narrative is very compelling and the plot is an interesting and quite unique one. Andrews clearly had a talent for melodrama, though she does it with a greater touch of subtlety than many authors, which makes for a great read. This story, with it’s controversial elements and wonderful personas will stay with you for a long time. When I read this as a young teenager I found my first love in the character of Chris, which just goes to exemplify Andrews’ talent for characterisation. An emotional rollercoaster ride, ‘Flowers in the Attic’ will see you laugh, cry and want to rip the pages out in frustration. Surely I’ve convinced you enough?

You can purchase this novel for around £5.99 on Amazon. And while you’re there you’ll probably want to buy the rest of the series!

P.S. My name is not a reference to this novel!

Summary: