If There Be Thorns: Andrews’ Second Generation
Written: Jan 01 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast paced, dramatic psychological thriller told by the next generation.
Cons: Bit of a disconnect to the previous books, focus changes.
The Bottom Line: From the physical story of the previous two books, Andrews takes us on a wild psychological journey in the next generation of children.
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| keithpruitt's Full Review: V. C. Andrews - If There Be Thorns |
There can be little doubt that V. C. Andrews’ Dollanganger series, Flowers In The Attic, Petals On The Wind, and this third in the series If There Be Thorns represent three of the most disturbing but brilliantly written books in recent memory. Having devoured these three books in short order, I found the third book taken to another dimension.
Cathy who has been the voice of the first two books introduces the third. Cathy and Christopher (the brother/sister who survived being locked in the attic of the first book and chase after dreams in the second) are now living as husband and wife in California with Cathy’s sons Jory (her son with first husband Julian the dancer) and Bart (her son by her lover- her mother’s husband- Bart Winslow who was killed in the Christmas fire that destroyed Foxworth Hall). They have well maintained their secret from the boys and colleagues. The boys seem to have a healthy relationship despite their range of ages (some five years apart) and are fascinated by the old vacant house next door.
This book varies widely from the other two in many respects. The most important is in how the story is told. The boys, in turn, tell their own story. In this manner we are privy to their actions as well as their thoughts as events unfold. We find they have a very different perspective about each other and events around them. Jory seems the growing teenager interested in dance (who would have thought otherwise given his parents’ ability), girls and showing love and affection to his parents. (He calls Christopher dad even though he knows Julian was his dad.) He is questioning but can’t seem to connect the dots.
Bart, however, is the disturbed brat. He is unable to feel pain because of a physical abnormality leading to several difficulties. Bart’s defiance seems cruel and harsh. He crawls on the ground and is given to great heights of acting. But this younger son is troubled. He is awkward and imbalanced. He seems to have little talent (although his parents have overlooked his wonderful acting potential). Jealousy rules his relationship with his older brother, but they get along OK, until…
Someone mysterious moves in next door. She is an older woman of evident Middle Eastern origin wearing black robes and veiling her face at all times. And she is accompanied to the house by a thin, old man named John Amos who serves as the butler. It is evident to the boys that she is rich. Bart can’t resist. He goes over and introduces himself to the woman who soon tells Bart that she is his grandmother. Bart knew better because his grandmother was locked away in a mental hospital back East. But he plays along because she spoils him terribly.
Cathy isn’t helping the situation, however, as she stubbornly adopts a dying student’s child (Cindy) whom Bart hates. She is now getting all the attention. And this is when Bart starts changing. First his actions are small and cruel. He kills Jory’s pet dog, and a cat, and begins threatening Jory and then Cindy, and then his mom. Chris takes him to see doctors who tell the family that their son has major issues and needs help. Possibly the boy needs to be locked away just like his grandmother.
Behind everyone’s back, John Amos is telling Bart secrets. These are secrets that his family has never shared with him. These are secrets that explain why Bart has begun acting differently.
Will Cathy and Christopher find out about the old lady next door? Is she really Bart’s grandmother (and their mother)? Who is John Amos? Did Corine Foxworth Dollanganger Winslow really set the fire that burned down Foxworth Hall? Will Cathy make a dancing comeback and become famous after all? Will Cindy be safe in the house with a seemingly deranged Bart? Does Jory find out the truth? Oh, these and more questions wait to be answered in this book. But you will have to read it to find out.
This book is ever bit as surprising and suspenseful as the second and first of the series, but in a psychological way. In the first book, the suspense was in the relationship between Cathy and Chris and if their mother would come to her senses before her four children died in that attic. The second held suspense secondarily in the struggle of Chris in dealing with his love for Cathy, but mostly in wondering if Cathy would succeed in getting revenge against Corrine before destroying herself. The third one is totally a psychological study. There is some limited physical suspense. (Could Foxworth Hall be repeated this Christmas?)
But this book is primarily a study in thought manipulation. What will a child do, how will they react, what actions will they take without conscience when they are fed a steady diet of disturbing information? When someone is trying to manipulate their attitudes, affections, and actions how will they respond? The results might shock you.
Thorns is a brilliantly written diary of events as seen through the eyes of the next generation of this saga. We find out in this volume, for example, that the dysfunctional behavior that impacts this family goes back to Malcolm Foxworth’s youth when he would be punished by being sent to the attic. We also find that he had a strong hatred for women, especially pretty women, explaining how he acted with his daughter. The reader will discover much never told before previously in this series. And how do we find out these astounding tidbits? Malcolm Foxworth left a journal. And someone has it!
There are sections of Thorns that will be very disturbing. Details are pretty graphic at times. The relationship of Cathy and Christopher becomes secondary in this third book, primarily because the boys tell the story. Some of the events are very disturbing leaving the reader shaking their heads praying that what seems to be about to happen might not. With a little less than 400 pages, the book is a quick read with fast-paced, pointed action. You won't put this book down! It has a huge connection to the first two books, yet is so dissimilar as to almost stand alone. In fact, it would be interesting for someone to read this book and make the discoveries about the past as the boys learn the past. Hum, interesting thought.
This was the last of the books published before the untimely death of V. C. Andrews. She left, however, a number of manuscripts, and her writing goes on. Expect the last of the Dollanganger series to be reviewed soon.
Recommended:
Yes
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