They’re both so terrible, I can’t even…
So why did I go there?
Flowers in the Attic was the book that was passed around secretly between my friends when I was 14 (picking up where Judy Blume’s Forever left off). I’m not sure why the secrecy – from memory, my mum let me read whatever I liked.
Flowers in the Attic was the Twilight of my generation. Everyone read the whole series and the books were discussed at length (note that this is why I read Twilight – I’m always curious to see what captures teens so totally).
I re-read Flowers before watching the film. Both were woeful. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
I actually quite liked flowers in the attic. Not yet read the rest of the series and not sure I will. I have to say even though I read the twilight books in my twenties, i still quite like them. They are my guilty pleasure.
Yes, reading ‘junk food’! I also enjoyed the Twilight series (although thought the movies were even better) – the writing was hardly memorable but hard to resist a really good love triangle.
Such memories… I’ve never watched the film though. I think I’ll leave the book with my 14 year old self, where it belongs!
I think that’s a very wise move.
I did try to read this once. I’d gone away for a summer bumming round Greek Islands and on arriving in I think Spetse, discovered I’d left my books behind! There was only one English Lang book I could find in the hostel – a Flowers. I took it first day to the beach. It was awful. Next day I left Spetse and doubled back on myself just to get my books back!
I loved this series but would agree I’d probably cringe if I read it today so I’ll stick to the fond memories.
I LOVE what you said about Flowers in the Attic being the Twilight of your generation. I don’t know whether we’re the same age, but this is SO true for me! When I was in about 8th or 9th grade (circa 1980), we were all obsessed with it. I loved it. But yes, a truly bad book and an even worse movie.
Just…so bad. Naturally I was riveted.
This book was ok … when I was twelve!
Wait – when I was eleven. I remember reading it (and the others) when I was in for an extended stint in hospital. As for the film – I found it to be über creepy. Nurse Ratchett still scares the bejesus out of me!
You read it when you were eleven?! It must have freaked you out!
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