For Carrie, Chris and Cathy the attic was a dark horror that would not leave their minds.Of course mother had to pretend they didn’t exist and grandmother was convinced they had the devil in them.But that wasn’t their fault. Was it?Cathy knew what to do. She knew it was time to show her mother and grandmother that the pain and terror of the attic could not be forgotten…Show them. Show them — … — once and for all.
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4 of 5 stars to Petals on the Wind, the 2nd novel in the “Dollanganger” series written in 1980 by V.C. Andrews. It all started with the attic in the first book, but it set a series of event that would have disastrous impacts for years to come. When you finished the first book, you thought there couldn’t be anything more shocking in this family than two cousins falling in love and having children. You also thought there couldn’t be a meaner mother or grandmother. But then… book two takes it all that much further. Now, two of the children, brother and sister, fall in love and have an intimate relationship. But it doesn’t stop there… this family is full of insanity. There are so many crazy story lines between each of these people, you never quite know where it will go. VC Andrews excels at creating family drama. And I fell for it. Though Flowers in the Attic, the first in the series, is first in my heart… this was a fairly close second and follow-up book in the series. You’ll still be hooked… and wonder how the kids will get revenge. Keep with the series at this point. It’s definitely worth seeing the impact they attic had on the Dollanganger kids.
This second book in the series picks up with Chris and Cathy (who have finally escaped the attic) seeking medical help for their younger sister, Carrie, who has suffered physically from her years locked in the attic and emotionally from losing her twin brother, Cory. They wind up being taken in by Dr. Paul. Although Chris is still devoted to his sister, Cathy is determined to be a good girl and refuses to give in to her brother’s affections. Chris follows his dream of becoming a doctor while Cathy studies to be a ballerina. And then the drama shit-show begins. Carrie decides she can’t deal with her stunted growth and commits suicide. After several abusive relationships (one that ruins her dancing career) Cathy is left bitter and becomes obsessed with punishing her mother and grandmother who she holds responsible for ruining her life and her siblings deaths. The “Oh my Gods!” never stop in this gothic horror. Somehow, in the end, Cathy and Chris, who are brother and sister, decide to stay together – damn the consequences. I’m sure there will be some in the next book.
Okay but…Not as good as “Flowers in the Attic”. After the ending I’m not quite sure how there could be more to be told, but I suppose that is precisely what VC Andrews had in mind. Was pretty awesome that the Grandmother got what she deserved in the end. The Mother too for that matter.
I really hated this book. I finished it because I enjoyed the first book, Flowers in the Attic, alot but this one was so dull it was such a slog to get through. It was also very disgusting how the main character has men fallen for her everywhere she goes considering these men are between 16 and fifty something, and she herself is only about 14 or 15… She also falls in love with all these men….
The ending is good and pretty much the whole reason for the book.
I love all books by the late great v.c Andrews
Good book