Flowers in the Attic

[scarlet]

Jan 17, 2014 15:43:09 GMT -4 chonies said:

I was under the impression it actually was a miscarriage, and it was a conjoined fetus or something. Or was that another scene?

My recollection (which is shaky, for sure) is that the sister told Cathy that the doctor had the malformed fetus in his office in a jar and Cathy believed that, but when she talked to the doctor (whose name I am blanking on. See: shaky recollection) he told her he'd had that since medical school.

[chonies]

Jan 17, 2014 15:47:18 GMT -4 scarlet said:

Jan 17, 2014 15:43:09 GMT -4 chonies said:

I was under the impression it actually was a miscarriage, and it was a conjoined fetus or something. Or was that another scene?

My recollection (which is shaky, for sure) is that the sister told Cathy that the doctor had the malformed fetus in his office in a jar and Cathy believed that, but when she talked to the doctor (whose name I am blanking on. See: shaky recollection) he told her he'd had that since medical school.

I will go with your theory. I don't even remember this part of the story, probably for the better.

[Deleted]

Is this supposed to be serious literature or is it supposed to be ridiculous? Such as, was the author trying to be outrageous and write the literary equivalent of a daytime soap, or was this legitimate drama?

[chonies]

I would say soap, without a doubt. I don't think Andrews was trying to write ridiculousness ("hrrm, how can I ratchet up the drama even more?"), but instead write a psychological gothic horror sort of deal. To my knowledge, and I might be wrong, it was originally released in mass market paperback with a fancy cover, which is a big clue about the publisher's intentions. There's nothing literary about it, other than several coincidences with Greek mythology.

[Sunnyhorse]

Kind of like the one Borokat is sporting now.

[chonies]

Borokat's avatar is so perfect: the TMI thread, this thread, anything about Twilight...

[scarlet]

Jan 17, 2014 16:26:40 GMT -4 chonies said:

I would say soap, without a doubt. I don't think Andrews was trying to write ridiculousness ("hrrm, how can I ratchet up the drama even more?"), but instead write a psychological gothic horror sort of deal. To my knowledge, and I might be wrong, it was originally released in mass market paperback with a fancy cover, which is a big clue about the publisher's intentions. There's nothing literary about it, other than several coincidences with Greek mythology.

Yes! The cover is what drew me in: the little keyhole of Cathy's face looking out the attic window and then you flipped it open and there was a photo of all the kids and then the grandmother (I think) lurking menacingly over them. My 12-year-old self went "Kids! Held hostage by evil parents! In an attic! Must read must read must read!"

That was the point of no return. I believe the three sequels (not counting the fifth book, which was a prequel) were released over the next three years so I think the quick succession really helped them keep their popularity.

[Ginger]

Jan 17, 2014 16:19:10 GMT -4 @borokat said:

Is this supposed to be serious literature or is it supposed to be ridiculous? Such as, was the author trying to be outrageous and write the literary equivalent of a daytime soap, or was this legitimate drama?

I'd say daytime soap, but daytime soap from 25 years ago when the soaps were sincere, not intentionally campy. It was well written in the sense that you really cared about the characters, and even though the plots sound over the top, it all made sense in the context of that fictional universe.

[prisma]

I'm not sure what it says about me that none of this subject matter horrified the 12-year-old me. I LOVED these books.

More memories flooding back: at what point was it that adult Cathy found her grandmother--who'd had a stroke and was paralyzed--unguarded and whipped her? IIRC, her grandmother ended up peeing on herself and Cathy felt bad and cleaned her up and saw the look up contempt from her grandmother's eyes for breaking down and being weak.

GOOD LORD. I didn't realize how much of this stuff was still lodged in my mind.

[tabby]

More memories flooding back: at what point was it that adult Cathy found her grandmother--who'd had a stroke and was paralyzed--unguarded and whipped her?

That was in POTW, I believe. And Cathy was wearing pointe shoes and (maybe) a tutu.