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Title: Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews ISBN: 0-671-72942-X Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 15 November, 1990 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.35 (65 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Where the Flowers Began
Comment: This story is told from Olivia's point of view. It pretty much explains her deep hatred of the children. I often wondered why she hated the children. I found out why in this book. Her hatred is not excusable in the least but it is logical. Olivia had a terrible life and you have to wonder if she would have been the same hateful person she became if it hadn't been for the bad decision she made in marrying Malcom Foxwarth. I'm not sure if Andrews wanted us to believe that her treatment of the children was natural and that anyone in her shoes would do the same. Not everyone who is a victim becomes a victimizer. In fact, most don't. I did not identify or root for Olivia but I did enjoy her story. This story spans over about 20 years. It answers questions I had that I couldn't find reasons for in the other books. It is not as compelling as the stories told from Cathy's point of view, but it is definitley worthwhile. I would read a thousand of these books if they were all in the same saga. I have never reread a book but I am seriously considering reading 1-5 all over again. I enjoyed them immensely!
Rating: 5
Summary: Now I Finally Understand!
Comment: I had seen the movie version of "Flowers in the Attic" many times on TV and I wondered why in the world Olivia Foxworth was such an evil, hateful woman. I also wondered how Corrine Foxworth (Dollanganger) could leave her children and be so selfish. Well, all of those questions are answered in the book "Garden of Shadows", the prequel to "Flowers in the Attic".
Even though this book was written last, I chose to read it first because it gives so much background and explanations for the things that occured in "Flowers in the Attic". The book centers around Olivia Winfield Foxworth, a plain-jane who dreams of being whisked away by her knight in shining armor. One day the dashing and handsome Malcolm Foxworth steps into her life. She is immediately smitten with him and he seems to feel the same towards her. They get married rather quickly and Olivia cannot wait to begin her wonderful new life on the arm of her handsome husband. What Olivia dreamed of and what she received were two very different things. Olivia soon learns that her marriage is one of convenience and not love, no matter how much she prayed and wished for it. Malcolm mainly wanted Olivia because he thought she would be a good breeder. Malcolm is a very stern and scary man who could intimidate people with one look.
Soon Olivia adapts to her life and we begin to see the transformation from the carefree, whimsical girl she used to be into the cold, hardened woman that we all know from "Flowers in the Attic". Although Olivia is a woman you love to hate, you understand why she became what she became due to loss, pain, hate, and an immense longing for love from her husband.
I would highly recommend this book to people who are fans of "Flowers in the Attic", and I would suggest reading this book before reading the rest of the series. I know you will love this book! It truly is incredible!
Rating: 4
Summary: Garden of Shadows
Comment: Review of Garden of Shadows
Reviewer: Shannon Carey from WVHS Spokane, WA
The Answers to All the Dollanganger Secrets!!! April 12, 2004
Garden of Shadows is a thrilling novel written cleverly by V.C. Andrews.
When I first started this book I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Garden of Shadows was the last book of the Dollanger series although it was the pre-quell to the series. The book was twisted and unraveled a lot of secrets that were kept from the previous books. The other four books of this series were written from her granddaughter's point of view but in this story the grandmother portrayed her part of the story. It gave more of an understanding of why she seemed so evil.
Olivia Foxworth is plain, masculine woman who grows up without a mother, learning nothing of how to flirt or how to be attractive to men. To say the least she had absolutely no social skills so her father tried numerous times to hook her up with young suitors that he knew, but none were drawn to her gawky, tall, anti-socialism, until Malcolm Foxworth. Malcolm shows interest in her during their first encounter and returns for a second, even a third date. After a short week or two of courting he asks her to marry him. Olivia fantasizes of a romantic honeymoon and life thereafter but little does she know of the lonesome future of death, betrayal and scandal that she has coming her way.
From day one Olivia began to notice peculiar things about the handsome Malcolm. When Olivia started to see Malcolm on dates she anticipated a kiss and thought it weird when she never got one. That was the first warning sign she saw of how the relationship was going although she was in denial about it and made up excuses for his "shyness." The next sign she noticed was when she spied on Malcolm (followed by many occasions of her spying on people) asking her father for her hand in marriage when he never once mentioned his love for her. Not until the night of her wedding reception did she take the rose-colored glasses off and realize that Malcolm had not married her for love but for the facts that she would be faithful, she would be getting her father's inheritance and she was to be able to provide him with healthy children. This started Olivia onto her path of bitterness that would increase with every tragedy and scandal, thus turning her into the stern, hateful grandmother that she became in the rest of the series.
Garden of Shadows dished out the secrets of the mean grandmother of the Dollanger's giving a better, but unjust, reasoning to why she had been the way she had. Seeing how Olivia once dreamed of a perfect life with happiness and love is hard to believe from reading the previous books, but bitterness and hatred in her heart is almost understandable considering how Malcolm had crushed all hope of her ever being loved by a man. If Olivia had had a mother things may not of turned out the way they did. To me, it is hard to understand why she never considered getting a divorce. How could she bear to stand the heartbreak and loneliness? Although we did gain an understanding and history of Olivia, what had happened to Malcolm? How had he become so bitter and cold? I would also of liked to see more of the children's point of view through out the story. Overall, I really did enjoy this intriguing novel and hope to read more from V.C. Andrews!
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Title: Flowers In The Attic by V.C. Andrews ISBN: 0671729411 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Heaven by V.C. Andrews ISBN: 0671729446 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Web of Dreams by V.C. Andrews ISBN: 0671729497 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews ISBN: 0671729462 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 15 September, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Fallen Hearts by V.C. Andrews, Linda Marrow ISBN: 0671729403 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1990 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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