Flowers in the Attic
Overview: Locked in the cares of their grandmother’s vast house, four innocent children are hidden away. Each time the key turns in the attic door, they draw back in suspense; will they get food, books, or some darker, painful gift? As month by endless month goes by, the children must rely on each other in the struggle against a growing certainty that freedom may never be theirs. But destiny and long-kept secrets are moving them all towards a shocking release.
Pages: 400 Pages
Writer: V.C. Andrews
Recommendations: Carrie By Stephen King
Let me kick things off by saying that this book, along with anything else V.C. Andrews penned, was never intended for my demographic – mainly, it wasn’t aimed at middle-aged males like myself. However, I decided to give it a go after stumbling upon a list of books you simply must read before kicking the bucket.
The tale revolves around a seemingly perfect family – a loving husband and wife, and children who appear flawless. But when tragedy strikes, their world is turned upside down, leaving them with limited options and even less cash. What follows are events that no one would wish upon their worst enemy. The children find themselves facing coldness where there was once warmth, lies replacing truth, and fear overshadowing trust. They are forced to rely on themselves for everything. The story is a rollercoaster of heartbreak, inspiration, and moments where you just want to jump into the pages and set things straight.
Despite not being the target audience, this book managed to hold my interest for the most part. There were a couple of chapters towards the end that felt more like filler than substance, dragging on unnecessarily. However, the ending tied things up nicely, with some predictable moments and a few surprises thrown in for good measure.
In the end, I’m grateful for being nudged by that must-read list and don’t regret giving this book a shot. While there were moments where I wanted to throw in the towel due to the dragging pace, the conclusion brought it all back and left me curious about diving into the next installment.