17 January 2015

Seeds of Yesterday (Dollanganger, Book 4)

V.C. Andrews

Synopsis from Goodreads: The final, haunting novel in the extraordinary story that has enthralled millions!

The horror began with
Flowers in the Attic, the terrifying tale of four innocent children locked away from the world by a cruel mother.

The shocking fury continued with
Petals on the Wind and If There Be Thorns. Now V.C. Andrews has created the last dark chapter in the strange, chilling tale of passion and peril that has captivated millions of readers around the world.

Cathy and Chris, entwined with the evil that haunts their children, living with the fearful spectre of Foxworth Hall, are awaiting the final, shuddering climax... prisoners of a past they cannot escape.

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, published by Pocket Books, 1984.

How acquired: Through BookCrossing.

First line: And so it came to pass the summer when I was fifty-two and Chris was fifty-four that our mother's promise of riches, made long ago when I was twelve and Chris was fourteen, was at last realized.

My thoughts: And so it came to pass, the winter when I was mesmerized by the two previous books in this series, the back cover copy's promise of a last dark chapter in a strange, chilling tale of passion and peril was delivered, but it was neither strange or chilling, being instead a bad convoluted mess.

Bart has reached the age of twenty-five and gotten his inheritance from his grandmother, or rather part of it, because unbeknownst to him her will only gave him a paltry five hundred thousand dollars annually, with the bulk left in trust under Chris' guidance until Bart turns thirty-five. So now the family, joined by Uncle Joel who had been presumed long dead, have all moved to Foxworth Hall, where Bart reigns as master of hearth and home, letting Joel influence him with talk of God and sinners, constantly berating Cathy for her incestuous relationship with with her brother that ruined his childhood, doing his best to ignore Chris, lusting after his brother's wife, possibly causing Jory's career ending injury, and tormenting Cindy so she keeps flying away in a huff.

And none of the other characters are any better. Except Jory, who maintains dignity and grace throughout. Chris is away working much of the time and oblivious to what's going on around him. Cindy is a spoiled selfish wanton brat who desperately needs a good spanking. Melodie is a weak spineless wet noodle. And Cathy – god, Cathy has turned into a self-righteous wimp, judging everyone around her then leaping to their defense, sneaking around spying on others, cowing down constantly trying to appease Bart and make him happy when she should've just given up on this son and gone to Hawaii with Chris.

It didn't take long for me to know how the book would end. Not the Epilogue, but the last chapter. It was truly the only way this book could possibly end.

And...don't scroll down if you don't want to see a small spoiler...
































I totally could not buy Bart's sudden redemption. At all. 

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