Flowers in the Attic

[Anonymous]

Probably in the minority who didn't discover the books til college then totally devoured them. Thanks to this thread I DVRd it last night and am itching to get the kids down for naps so I can watch .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Never read the boom but just read the plot summary on Wikipedia. WTF? Why would anyone read or watch such garbage?

I had the exact same reaction after reading the wiki description. I recall my friends reading the books when I was in high school, but I was too busy with my Jane Austen obsession.

Well, aren't you superior, what with your more refined taste!

It isn't one or the other. I read literary classics and things like Flowers in the Attic when I was young. Everyone has guilty pleasures. I'm sure even you do, or you wouldn't be posting on a thread about Flowers in the Attic on an internet forum.

You missed the point. I was joking about my Jane Austen obsession. I realize that was pretentious teenaged girl stuff. But I stand by my assertion that the Flowers in the Attic storyline is shocking, ridiculous and gross. I truly cannot see the appeal either to teens or grown women.

That's why pre-teens like it.

And honestly, look at all of the trashy romance novels that are popular with adult women. Or soap operas. Or reality tv.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- thought it was terrible, in a good way. Ellen Burstyn was great! I couldn't tell if Heather Graham was acting poorly on purpose to amp up the camp factor or if she was just a terrible actress. The wig on Cathy still makes me laugh!

I agree that if you didn't read the books in middle school the movie wouldn't have been such a fun experience.

[Anonymous]

Those who read them as Tweens or teens, did you think they were romantic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who read them as Tweens or teens, did you think they were romantic?

Romantic, no. Scandalous, yes. I read all four numerous times.

The only part I thought was even slightly romantic was when Cathy gets together with the other ballerina (but if I recall correctly, he turned out to be a bit of a jerk. Not sure - its been about 25 years since meddle school when I read them). When she went after her mother's husband there was a lot of steamy sex. I thought it was a little weird b/c it was her stepfather and he was older, but I also thought they were a good match - both a bit devious and scheming. All the incest stuff with Chris was just gross. I think it was the fourth book when they got together "for good" and I only read that one twice. It was just disturbing. The other three I prob read ten or fifteen times each. I was really into all the revenge/betrayal stuff with the mom and grandmother, and the idea of the kids making it in the world on their own.

It has been at least 25 years since I even thought about those books. I DVRd the movie last night and Can't wait to watch! Hoping it's as campy as I remember!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who read them as Tweens or teens, did you think they were romantic?

No. And I have an older brother. I kind of thought the mother and father were romantic together in their love for each other and was heartbroken when the dad died.
I think you may be underestimating how much of a huge imagination and how creative young girls are. It's okay for thoughts to be completely wild. Wild and crazy thoughts do not automatically translate into wild and crazy actions.

[Anonymous]

Finally watched it!
Cathy's wigs...wow. They couldn't splurge a little more on that? I haven't read the book...but now I think I might.

[Anonymous]

Petals on the Wind is next!

http://www.thewrap.com/lifetime-flowers-in-the-attic-sequel-petals-on-the-wind

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the powdered sugar.

Come for the insc*st; stay for the arsenic poisoning! Nope, Nope, Nope

[Anonymous]

Why did they choose such homely actors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I loved all of them, although it was kind of ridiculous when the books kept coming out long after VCA died.

But they kept finding them in the "vault!" And oddly, they all had to do with beautiful siblings who had a forbidden love for each other.

Actually, After VCA's death, her family hired a ghost writer, Andrew Neiderman, to write under her name. It was to pay taxes or something

[Anonymous]

Finally watched two years later! Loved it in a gross, trashy, can't stop watching way.

I've got Audrina queued up for tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

I am a little older than some of you as I read Flowers in the Attic in '79 when it came out. I was in either 9th or 10th grade depending on what time of year it was published. I devoured the book, but then never read any others. I just read the wiki for My Sweet Audrina (due to references in this thread) and WOW that book sounds depressing and creepy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the powdered sugar.

Come for the insc*st; stay for the arsenic poisoning! Nope, Nope, Nope

Nope is right. Loved these books as a pre-teen for all the reasons in the thread. But now, as a mom, it's just disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finally watched two years later! Loved it in a gross, trashy, can't stop watching way.

I've got Audrina queued up for tomorrow.

I missed Flowers in the Attic, but have My Sweet Audrina set up on the DVR. This series along with the Clan of the Cave Bear series (I remember going through the books in a library with friends and flipping through for the sex scenes)... talk about scandalous pleasure.