If There Be Thorns (Dollanganger Series) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

V. C. Andrews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1983 | Series: Dollanganger Series

From the author of Flowers in the Attic comes Book Three of the internationally bestselling Dollanganger family saga. The family was now living as far as possible from the haunting scenes of their past, and, in the sunshine and joy of their new life, with the children and their shared love, they tried to forget the anguish of their loveless inheritance. But the hidden secrets of the past rose up to trouble them. Their parents' dark heritage began to haunt them once more. The rage and hatred they felt returned to torment and twist the new generation. Only if they could forgive their mother and forgo their final revenge could they at last find the peace they so desperately sought.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Beautifully written, macabre and thoroughly nasty!it is evocative of the nasty fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and The Babes in the Wood, with a bit of Victorian Gothic thrown in. ! What does shine through is her ability to see the world through a child's eyes' Daily Express 'Makes horror irresistible' Glasgow Sunday Mail 'A gruesome saga!the storyline is compelling, many millions have no wish to put this down' Ms London 'There is strength in her books -- the bizarre plots matched with the pathos of the entrapped' The Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Virginia Andrews lived in Norfolk, Virginia, studied art and worked as a fashion illustrator, commercial artist and portrait painter. Flowers in the Attic, based on a true story, was her first novel. It became an immediate bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic when it was first published in 1979. Virginia Andrews died in 1986, leaving a considerable amount of unpublished work. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 484 pages
• Publisher: G K Hall & Co (March 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816134294
• ISBN-13: 978-0816134298
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,354,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

One of the most popular authors of all time, V.C. Andrews has been a bestselling phenomenon since the publication of her spellbinding classic Flowers in the Attic. That blockbuster novel began her renowned Dollanganger family saga, which includes Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. Since then, readers have been captivated by more than fifty novels in V.C. Andrews' bestselling series. The thrilling new series featuring the March family continues with Scattered Leaves, forthcoming from Pocket Books. V.C. Andrews' novels have sold more than one hundred million copies and have been translated into sixteen foreign languages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best in the series, June 27, 2004

By 

Robin M Goffinet (Richmond, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If There Be Thorns (Dollanger Saga) (Mass Market Paperback)

This sequal is a little different from the rest as it is told from the perspective of Cathy's kids Bart and Jory.

Bart is a troubled little boy who seems to get his jollies from torture and disrespect. Jory is the complete opposite. When the mysterious "Woman in Black" moves in next door, things get really interesting. Bart discovers that the man that has been his father all thru his childhood is not really his father, but his uncle and his mother's incestial relationship with him.

The woman next door turns out to be someone you NEVER in a million years expected her to be and the ending displays an almost supernatural sort of love. Read it! You won't be sorry!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Further Adventures of Cathy and Chris, April 29, 2006

By 

C. Chow (Leesburg VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If There Be Thorns (Dollanger Saga) (Mass Market Paperback)

The greatest lovers in the history of literature are back. When we last left Cathy and Chris they were living happily ever after in their dream house in rural California with their two sons Jory 14, and Bart 10. They also have a new adopted infant daughter Cindy. Their cover story is that Chris was the much younger brother of Cathy's late husband Dr. Paul, hence their last name is Sheffield.

But since this is VC Andrews there are troubles in paradise. Bart is a sadistic psycho who hates everyone and tortures animals. His behavior can only be attributed to mental illness since Cathy and Chris have provided a ridiculously sweet childhood for him. To make things worse, the surviving Foxworths, John and Corrine are back and the Sheffields' new next door neighbors. They entice Bart and Jory over to their house with gifts all the time corrupting them with Cathy and Chris's dark past and with tales of how noble the late Malcolm was for punishing "devil's issue" whom commit incest.

When Bart begins attacking his parents calling them "Devil's issue," they realize it's time to pay their new neighbors a visit.

The flaws: The key problem with `ITBT' is that it pales in comparison to the other Dollanganger books. While those books brought us to tears that just wouldn't stop and caused me to miss weeks of sleep, (literally) `ITBT' comes off more like a made for TV sequel with a thin plot existing only as an excuse to bring back the greatest lovers in the history of literature Cathy and Chris who fans can't get enough of. If Cathy and Chris went to an insurance seminar it would still be interesting.

The other major flaw is the villain Bart. He is a poor villain throughout the Dollanganger saga because while his actions are evil and cruel we still feel sorry for a boy who is clearly insane from birth. Also the fact that Cathy and Chris don't see him as the villain. Instead of fighting him or getting him serious help, they simply comfort him saying they love him and to please behave better. If our heroes aren't scared of him how can we be?

It is this lack of action by Cathy and Chris which impedes the drama. We can't pity them if they don't even try to help themselves. They should be getting Bart to an asylum and going postal on the Foxworths. Instead after John kidnaps Cathy, Chris simply goes next door and asks John if he's seen her. John lies and Chris simply goes home.

The shift in narration is uncalled for. For some reason Cathy is on hiatus and Jory and Bart narrate. This comes across poorly because it's hard to believe that a ten year old as insane as Bart would be able to narrate this well. It is my understanding that VC Andrews only wrote one other book narrated by a man. `ITBT' is good evidence of why.

Despite its flaws there are many good attributes to `ITBT' I feel other fans are being TOO critical. They may have been expecting a masterpiece like `FITA' or `POTW'. I went in with low expectations. Better to just think of this book as a lesser adventure for our heroes.

The main reason why I'd recommend `ITBT' is that it is one of the few books the real VC Andrews actually wrote. Her writing style is amazing. She can make paint drying seem interesting.

There is also plenty of action. Sure less happens here than in the other epic Dollanganger books but there are plenty of good confrontation scenes. For example, Madame Marisha confronting Cathy on her incestuous marriage and Cathy valiantly defending herself. Or Cathy confronting Corrine and instinctively beating her up. This is what we've wanted to do the whole series. Heroes do not even have to think what to do, if they encounter evil they attack it.

The third is that it features Cathy and Chris the characters we can't get enough of. Every aspect of their lives interests us. They've been through so much we are fascinated by their every move. Every time they so much as kiss in `ITBT' it warms our hearts that yes at last they are together. As long as their together, all the problems in the world are meaningless.

This is what `ITBT' relies so much on. Emotional flash backs to their traumatic childhoods knowing full well it will bring us to tears. While this can only be taken so far it is still very effective. For example as they sleep in bed together Cathy stirs awake, Chris comforts her, "It's OK the grandmother can't hurt us anymore." Reminding us that they are still haunted by their past and only Chris can understand and only he can protect her. Scenes like this brought me to tears to see how happy they were at last. It felt rewarding and relaxing to finally have these two together proving love can conquer all.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Creepy tale tries to recapture spell of 'Flowers'., October 10, 2001

By 

Chadwick H. Saxelid "Bookworm" (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: If There Be Thorns (Dollanger Saga) (Mass Market Paperback)

After the disappointing Petals on the Wind I wondered just what story was left to tell about Cathy and Chris and their troubled family. Not much it seems.

This tale revolves around Cathy writing the book that would become 'Flowers in the Attic' while an elderly lady and her sour and sinister butler try to connect with her children, Bart and Jory. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out just who the old lady is.

The two children (one well adjusted, the other suffering mentally) take turns telling the bitter tale. While that makes for an uneven narrative it does get the novel closer to the gothic tone of the fractured fairy tale mixed with taboo shattering family secrets in Flowers than the meandering, heavy on the soap suds Petals did. Close but no cigar.