Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of V.C. Andrews’s Flowers in the Attic
I was wondering how I got my hands on my first V.C. Andrews book, Flowers in The Attic. It was one of those books that was passed around on the playground, passages read out loud in hushed tones, as with Judy Blume’s Forever. The book was so scandalous because it was (spoiler alert, even though you know I’m not giving any spoilers out because if you haven’t read the book, you know you’ve watched the Lifetime movie) about incest. I must have read and reread that book about three or four times and couldn’t get enough about the Dollangangers and their flaxen hair. I can also never look at a powdered doughnut the same way as I did before, but that’s a whole other story…. Then I went on to read the other books in the series, a stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, and some of the Casteel series (which is now also on Lifetime!). Where was my mother when I was reading these?? I was in elementary school! However, now that I think about it, the first time I saw Flowers in The Attic was at my friend’s house, and it was her mother’s copy, and I may have started sneaking reads there. I was only nine years old and more than a little too young to be reading about what was going on in that attic, but I also used to watch Dynasty at around that same age, so I think things were very different in the 80s.
Anyway, the fact that it’s been 40 years since the first V.C. Andrews book was ever written, and that there are more than 80 books now just blows my mind. So, if you’ve never read a V.C. Andrews story and don’t know where to start, I would recommend getting immersed in the Dollangangers family saga because there’s so many opportunities to learn how this twisted clan got that way.
The Dollangangers Primer, A.K.A. Incest Is Best:
The Cathy, Chris, Carrie, and Cory Dollanganger siblings
Flowers in The Attic, Petals on The Wind, If There Be Thorns, and Seeds of Yesterday. Of course, you also have to read the prequel, Garden of Shadows,which tells the mom’s—Corrine’s—side of things.
When You’re Really Obsessed with All Things Dollanganger:
Now that you think you’ve learned all that there is to know about a family that is more than a little wackadoo, you might be thinking there’s got to be an explanation for all of this insanity. As a part of the 40th anniversary celebration, there are two new books releasing in the Dollanganger series! You can go way back with Dollanganger family with stories that explore the poisonous roots that defiled this family tree.
Beneath the Attic This is where we learn about Corrine’s grandma and her husband’s infatuation with (you know what that’s code for!) his dead mother.
Out of the Attic This story will pick up where Beneath the Attic ends. I can’t wait!