Reading Log #5. 'Flowers In The Attic'

One of the internationals bestsellers novels, Flowers In The Attic written by Virginia Andrews, is a compelling story of a family's betrayal and heartbreak, love and revenge. The story grips onto the reader's attention, wanting to continue to read the family's story of betrayal.

In the text a very important section is when the children get given rules allocated by their grandmother. In this moment they are given 22 rules to obey as they live in the attic, rules including they are not to leave a sign of living in the room and to live as if they are not here, to not live as ghosts. This scene gave the readers a view that the grandmother does not think of them as her own grandchildren nor humans at all, quoting ‘So you see, children, … We will dole out food, drink, and shelter, but never kindness, sympathy or love. It’s impossible to feel anything but revulsion for what is not wholesome’. I relate to the text as my school teachers have many allocated rules, giving us limits on how we learn and behave, which leads us students to think they only care about our education not us as students. This is also linked to the film “Precious” when the abusive mother, verbally abuses her child, explaining to her she is nothing right after Precious fights back. Quoting “...I knew it when the doctor put you in my goddamn hand you wasn't a goddamn thing! You wear that smirk on your face, b***h? Get outta...!”. This shows that the mother never thought of her as a daughter, never cared for her, and never appreciated her as a human. Only letting her live for her father's abuse.

Another important section in the text is in Chapter 6: Momma’s Story. In the section the mother explains her backstory of the reason why her parents mistreat her. Explaining to her four children that their father is her own half-uncle. Chris being the supportive son he is comforts his dear mother as Cathy feels surprised and lied to, by her own mother. The mother feeling guilty as she just poured out a whole new story of their parents ‘sinful’ past, she quotes ‘Love doesn't always come when you want it to. Sometimes it just happens, despite your will’, trying to earn sympathy and the understanding of her children. Realising her actions were wrong, but trying to correct it after her husband is gone and the need for money to provide for her children. This section got me interested as it shows not everything you see or hear may be true. Behind everyone's smile has a story or a past, that everyone must understand and respect as it is their own perspective. Everyone has their own reasons, but people can look over them so easily. This also links to the television series “13 Reasons Why” as the male character, Clay quotes ‘..Everyone is just so nice until they drive you to kill yourself..’ when he refers to every student is school that they are doing nothing by putting up posters about ‘suicide’ after it just happened. Meaning everyone only opened their eyes after it happen, only making changes after Hannah died.

A very gripping and intense section was the chapter ‘Colour All Days Blue, But Save One For Black’, as the family slowly fell apart. As Cory slowly grew sicker and sicker, the siblings begged their mother to take him to the hospital or a doctor at least. However the mother was weighing the risks of Cory being discovered as her own son and risk losing the inheritance. Not thinking about her own son, only herself and money. Cathy being frustrated and furious confronted her mother, quoting ‘What's the matter with you, Momma? Are you just going to stand there and think about yourself, and that money while your youngest son lies there and dies? You have to help him! Don't you care what happens to him? Have you forgotten you are his mother? If you haven't, then, damn it, act like his mother! Stop hesitating! He needs attention now, not tomorrow!’. This moment not only shows the children, but also reader that the mother has forgotten about her own children whom once she loved more than anything, but has threw them away into hiding for money and the sympathy of others. This also links to the film “Slumdog Millionaire” when Salim betrays his brother for a job that offers him money and a gun. Salim kicking out his own brother, Jamal, to become a hitman for a lot of cash. Quoting “Shut up! The man with the Colt 45 says shut up!”, even willing to kill his own brother just for the job. This shows us that money is not only a problem but an obsession as people are willing to do anything for it, even killing someone or abandoning someone to die on their own.

Flowers In The Attic is one book of a series collection. I recommend this book as it is very gripping and connects with the world in many ways linking to madness.