Customer Reviews

Seeds of Yesterday (Dollanger Saga)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

`Seeds of Yesterday' features the return of Cathy and Chris, the greatest lovers in the history of literature. Now middle aged they're having a family reunion. You'd think by now they'd be hiding in a cave in Tibet trying to avoid their family like the plague they are. The signs of doom are obvious.

They are meeting at the now rebuilt haunted mansion Foxworth Hall. (Doom) Their eldest son Jory had a promising career as a dancer but has been rendered a paraplegic. (Doom) Jory's wife Melodie is not supporting him and she's pregnant. (Doom) Their second son Bart has been released from an asylum and now has total control of the family's billions. (Doom) Their promiscuous 16 year old daughter Cindy is bringing home a new boyfriend. (Doom) Joel, presumed dead 60 years ago has reemerged with sinister motives. (Doom) They call him "Uncle Joel" although the Foxworth family tree is so bent I think technically he's more a cousin.

Has fate ever been so tempted? Everything imaginable goes wrong, mostly Bart reverting to his psychotic behavior. Joel also goes on lengthy fire and brimstone sermons about all the incest going on, blah blah blah, we've been listening to this for the last 4 books, get over it. NONE of this is interesting. Essentially these characters have the same argument about how much they hate each other for 380 pages of the 400 page book. This is not an exaggeration but an exact figure.

At one point Cathy comments "This cannot go on any longer." But it does. This one argument just drags on and on. She also states, "Nothing that has happened in our lives has been coincidence." She's right; it's a result of her stupidity. Why is the family putting up with Bart's psychotic violence?

After Cathy and Chris's first adventures in `Flowers in the Attic' and `Pedals On the Wind' anything that could happen afterwards seems passé. A nuclear holocaust? Alien invasion? A comet on a collision course with earth? Cathy and Chris have faired far worse.

Like most fans of VC Andrews' Dollanganger saga I felt an obligation to finish the series, and after all `Seeds of Yesterday' does star two of literature's most interesting characters Cathy and Chris. I want to relieve you of this burden, YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO READ THIS BOOK.

As much as we love Cathy and Chris, we do not need to follow their lives to the last breath. We are only interested in the exciting elements of their life. All that happens in `Seeds of Yesterday' is their deaths. They die, everybody dies of something someday. Fans agree that their story should have concluded with the ending of `Pedals On the Wind'. They lived happily ever after.

I almost didn't buy the book because so many Dollanganger fans seemed to hate it so much, but my need to see the saga to the end won over. I am very glad, because I would have missed out by not reading the book. I was pleasantly surprised by what I think is a very fitting end to the Dollanganger story.

Throughout the story, Bart is very much the evil incarnate that most readers describe him as. I thought that his character would keep growing more and more despicable, and that the story would end with him systematically destroying everyone and becoming Malcolm Foxworth all over again. It didn't happen that way. The death of Chris seemed the perfect vindication for him. He could easily have responded with the ultimate righteous indignation. Instead he felt grief and regret, and it caused him to reexamine everything about himself, and all he had been and done. Despite all the pain and ugliness that had surrounded him for years, he had kept a stranglehold on control. Death was not in his control. He had tried always to hate Chris, but he loved him, and having someone he loved completely and irreversibly gone from his life was the jolt he needed to come to his senses. He finally understood the importance of love, when his love for Chris overpowered everything he thought he believed. He chose to love his family, to believe in a God of love and compassion, and to use his money and power for good.

I did grow weary of the Cindy/Bart antagonism. Cindy was indeed an unlikeable character, but she was an honest character. She was a very accurate portrayal of someone who has been overindulged and overparented by misguided good intentions.

Many readers were unhappy about the deaths of Chris and Cathy. Well, no one lives forever. I think that Chris and Cathy died honorably, him nurturing life, her nurturing love. Cathy finally got what she needed in the end; proof that faith does not always end in tragedy. She never stopped loving Bart, never gave up on him, no matter how much he deserved it most of the time. Had she lost faith and turned her back on him, he would never have become who he became in the end. Chris and Cathy never completely escaped the attic. They remained marked by their past. They made many mistakes throuout their lives, and they were not perfect parents. But they persevered, did the best that they could. They were loving parents, and the children eventually grew into good people. The Foxworth cycle was successfully broken, and I think that that was all that Chris and Cathy truly wanted in life. Sadly, it took Chris dying to make that happen (as tragedy often preceeds triumph) but Cathy (who needed it most of all) lived to see it.

In her lyrical, almost ethereal writing style, with healthy doses of poetic lisence and fantasy, V.C. Andrews created a very unique, well-developed saga at the heart of which is the very essence of humanism. Each character was faced with challenges, and many of them failed cataclysmically. But the best of the human spirit did prevail in the end. Bravo!

The bad news is, "Seeds of Yesterday", the fourth and final installment of the Dollanganger series, can't hold a candle to "Petals on the Wind", the one book in the series that showcased V. C. Andrews' storytelling ability to its best advantage. The good news is, "Seeds" still outshines its predecessors, "Flowers", and "Thorns", which were respectively, a slow-moving exercise in inertia, and a rehash of the same.

Granted, the plot of "Seeds" verges on downright silly: Momma has left her immense wealth to her favorite grandson, Bart, who plans to restore Foxworth Hall in all its glory--and horror (ooh!). Although Cathy and Chris (who still stubbornly refuse to stop "living in sin" and thereby replaying that dreary old storyline) are reluctant to revisit their haunted past, they do so, for Bart's sake. Big mistake--the minute they set foot at Foxworth Hall, all kinds of disasters befall them--the reappearance of a seemingly benign yet sinister "long-lost uncle", a tragic accident, betrayal, and DANGER! Yet, for all of its hokey pretensions, "Seeds" has two factors in its favor: 1) Cathy once again emerges as a strong character, instead of the clueless ditz she was in "Thorns". 2) Bart is a fascinating study of a man who is still seeking his identity after his tortured past. In some ways, he is still the lonely, vulnerable 10-year-old from "Thorns", starved for love and the lion's share of attention. He is also the most fun character, since he is allowed to lash out at his family for their various transgressions, which is his way of turning his own self-hatred inside out.

There are still moments in the book when it would have made more sense to have V. C. Andrews tell the story in the ominscient third-person, because it would have added more detail, and developed Bart further as a character. Instead, because she has again chosen to have Cathy narrate the story, Cathy is more or less forced to eavesdrop to figure out what dastardly deeds are going on behind her back (Mata Hari had nothing on this woman). The other drawbacks are that once again, Chris is ridiculously benevolent, patient and optimistic, and does not find anything furtive about the mysterious uncle (after all of these years, does he STILL not have a clue?). Cindy, the adoptee, is the standard V. C. Andrews "Street Tart" character, albeit a less obvious one, since she looks "blonde and angelic". In any case, she's a mere repeat of Yolanda in "Petals", Vera in "My Sweet Audrina", and Fanny in the "Casteel" series. Jory is essentially the same character as Chris (I defy anyone to read the dialogue given to both characters and differentiate between the two). As Jory's "perpetually in denial" wife, Melodie had potential as a character, but V. C. Andrews doesn't utilize it; all we see is Cathy's point of view. How much more interesting it would have been to pursue Bart, Melodie and even Cindy on their own; instead, Cathy eavesdrops, as mentioned before, or Cindy relates the story, much in the same style as Chris in "Flowers". Overall, I would give this book lower marks than "Petals" for its villains (even at their worst, Bart and Joel can't hold a candle to Momma and THE GRANDPARENTS at their best). However, the plot moves along, largely thanks to Bart, and does not feel like a chore to slog through, as did "Flowers" and "Thorns".

This novel is truly one of the best ever written, it has the same quiet eeriness that the others possessed, the same deep heartwrenching character development, and the same beautiful prose. this novel dares to take the feelings and emotions of characters already filled with dark memories of suffering and betrayel and put them to the ultimate test. this time they are the elders, they are the ones with the control, and they have to save their family from a curse which has plagued their family for years.

this novel demonstrates how innocence can be retained through so much suffering, how love conquers all and how in the end the calamities of life make you strong enough to bare the damnation of the future.

this novel was the ultimate conclusion to an amazing series and when it was over i cried, i cried for cathy, chris, the twins, and for the little dresden dolls locked away. cathy`s letter was so heartfelt and perfect for an ending, and it does seem so fitting that she should end up where it all began. the way she put flowers on the walls, is so melancholy, so perfect, and the ending may be sad, but it couldn`t be better, and atleast the dollanganger saga is over and ``i`m up now where the purple grass grows!``

This book takes us all the way to the very, very end of the Foxworth saga-Chris and Cathy's deaths! Was that really necessary? Did Chris have to die the way Chris Sr. did? Did Jory have to sire Carrie 2 and Cory 2? It just got a little silly. I didn't understand why Andrews' had included some of the plot lines, for instance, old Uncle Joel coughing up that tired psycho-religious condemnation of incest and children of sin stuff. It felt recycled, like they had to have the Grandmother come back in some form and torture any future generations of beautiful blond twins for no apparent reason.

Also, Bart. What was the deal with him? Of all of Andrews' villains I actually find him the least sympathetic. While the Grandmother, (Flowers in the Attic) was love-starved and neglected, Vera (My Sweet Audrina) made to feel unwanted from birth, Fanny (Heaven) poor and often starving, etc., etc., Bart is rich, handsome, loved and spoiled. What is his problem anyway? His nastiness toward Chris, Cathy, Cindy, and Jory are really obscene. Ok, I admit I wouldn't like it if I found out my "stepdad" was my uncle, but they were such loving parents to Bart and he showed precious little gratitude for that, or sympathy for the extraordinary circumstances that led to their incestrous relationship.

I also wasn't sure why we were supposed to care about Cindy. Not that I had anything against Cindy, but I wasn't given a reason to care about her. Plus, Bart's obsession with her sexuality was extremely, extremely creepy, even for Andrews.

However, if you loved Flowers in the Attic and can't get enough of the original characters from that first book-and God knows anyone who picks up this book fits that description-you'll enjoy it anyway. I did.

The Foxworths circle of life is now completed, with a new mansion and a new monster at the helm. Bart, for all the therapy given him following Thorns is now the master of a duplicate Foxworth Hall, while his "parents", adoptive sister and brother's family have become permanent houseguests.

Unfortunately, what we're stuck with is a lot of recycling. The long lost Uncle Joel appears to be a less manaical version of John Amos from thorns, Cindy shows all the promiscuity of her adoptive mother without the revenge angle, and Bart is just a hypocritical jerk who expects everyone to tow his line, even though he does not practice what he preaches. Even the main plot of Flowers is echoed here: Cathy and Chris are stuck in the mansion with nowhere to go because of various circumstances.

There is even a new set of twins Cathy mistakes for her dead siblings, and Chris meets the same fate as his father. The finale of the book, particularly Bart's sudden transformation, is unbelievable and trite. I realize many of Andrews's fans hail these books as an enduring love story between Cathy and Chris, but I find the whole notion disturbing. Had the two kept their relationship as brother and sister (which is how it should have been) I might have been more sympathetic. But their "marriage" disturbed me greatly.

It is still hard for me to concieve the idea of Chris and Cathy gone forever, though it's been a whole year since I've finished the book. Cathy was my absolute favorite character, except for in "Thorns" (because she's such a bimbo in that one!). It's hard to think that all that they endured as children was for nothing. Even though they died at different places, it was still at Foxworth Hall, like Cory in "Flowers". Even though I don't like any of the ghost writer's stories (except for the Cutler series), I would like it if the person would attempt to continue the trilogy. I mean, what happened to Bart, Jory, Melodie, the twins, Tony, etc, after Cathy died? Did Bart leave Foxworth Hall? Did the twins grow up happily? What was Jory's and Tony's new baby like? Was it a boy or a girl? So many questions, so little of answers.

I am truly filled with sadness, like a family relative died recently that I had known all my life. My favorite book was "Flowers" and the whole series besides "My Sweet Audrina", another true V.C. Andrews classic (the only Casteel book I really liked was Heaven, but I only liked the beginning but as things continued it got old).

Any ways, I hope that a new Dollanganger book will come out, this one with the answers that I sought and some people may be looking for too. So, it is with tears that I say good-bye to the Dollangangers now, and thank fully I still have the first three books that I can read and attempt to forget the fourth one, for now.

Cathy is narrating in this book now, this time in her 50's. After the tragic ending of part 3, "If There Be Thorns," Cathy and Chris now find themselves back again at Foxworth Hall Mansion, which Bart has inherited from his grandmother and plans having remodeled. All of the childern are now grown up in this book, and their personalities begin to develop a lot more. First, we have Cathy's eldest son Jory, who is engaged to be married with his wife Melanie, who have both become quite sucessful in the ballet world. Her second son Bart, who holds a cold shoulder for Chris, still angry and traumatized, is yet very lost and confused in finding out his idenity. Cathy's adopted daugther Cindy, also turns out to be a bigger character in this story. She is much like Catherine's younger self in the book "Petals In The Wind". We are now even introducted to a new character, Joel, who is Cathy's long lost uncle, pressumed to be dead, but back from the grave and very much alive. So, all living at foxworth hall: Joel, Chris, Cathy, Jory, Melanie, Bart, and Cindy. Personalites all clashing together, this story seems to revolve around everyones lives. With everything that has happened to them, there is yet another interesting, but emotional twist towards the end of the book. You will be sad to see this great series end.

I think thýs book is too tragic when I was reading the end of the book ý couldn't stop my tears.At last Bart understands that Chris is the one who loves him too much as his child but I think he was too late because Chris was death when he understands that.After Chris's death Cathy do away with lefting to his childrens a letter.It worths to read.

The years passed. Jory and Bart, Cathy's sons, are now in their mid to late twenties. Cindy, Cathy and Chris's adopted daughter, is a rebellious teenager. Bart will "come to his own" when he turns twenty-five, making him the sole heir of the Foxworth fortune. Cathy, Chris, Jory and his wife Melodie visit the newly constructed Foxworth Hall to celebrate Bart's twenty-fifth birthday. Bart has received psychological treatment over the years and now, a law school grad, is mature enough to have a mind of his own. The original Foxworth Hall is no more after the fire several years ago, and this new one doesn't hold the sinister past and secrets from those terrible years Cathy and Chris spent in the attic. Olivia and Corrine Foxworth have been long dead. There are no ghosts of attic's past lurking in the shadows of this new house. Nothing could go wrong this time, right? As expected, a series of disasters set in. Jory's thriving dancing career is jeopardized, his marriage is also in peril, an uncle of Cathy's and Chris's, once presumed dead, reappears, and Cathy and Chris find themselves prisoners in Foxworth Hall once again. Tragedy and pain are rampant in the house, and one cannot help but wonder if Bart is behind all of the horrible new occurrences. Will the ghosts in the attic ever leave Cathy in peace?

This has got to be the worst book in the entire series -- nothing to do with Flowers in the Attic. As some reviewers have already said, the characters are nothing but cheap replicas of previous characters. Cindy is a seductress and a man-magnet, kind of like Cathy when she was young (is this supposed to be ironic, since Cindy is not Cathy's biological daughter?), Bart is a player like his namesake of a late father, Chris is like Chris, Sr. in more ways than one, Jory experiences the same kind of decisions his late father Julian faced, and there are twins that are just like Carrie and Cory. Realism is thrown out the window and I couldn't believe the disaster this book turns out to be. I would have killed Bart and his constant nobody-loves-me whining had I been Cathy. Cathy has never been a likable heroine, but she is downright insufferable here. I'm tired of her constantly defending her incestuous relationship with Chris. Yes, she and Chris were forced to be together in the attic during the most crucial moment of their lives, but they're adults now and they should know better. No matter the circumstances that drove them to be together, what they're doing is wrong, period. I do not blame Bart in this part. The ending is awful -- rushed, abrupt and inconsistent. Loose ends are never tied up. Who was responsible for Jory's accident? What about the other stuff that occurs? Did Andrews write this book, or had the ghostwriter already taken over her work? If so, then her family should have hired a better ghostwriter to wrap up the series. I don't know if I should read Garden of Shadows (the ghostwritten prequel) now. Something tells me that I will hate it. I think I'll just pretend this is the very last book in the series. As Cathy says in the book, the Dollanganger saga has reached the end. It definitely has for me.