Customer Reviews

Tarnished Gold

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have never read a book and became so invloved. At times I felt like I was Gabrielle. I cant count how many times this book either made me laugh or made me cry. It is filled with so much emotion. Hate, greed, love, happiness, sadness, everything is there. I would recommend this book to any fan of a good book!

As in all VCA books, I love the prequel the most in the series, and this too was exceptional. This was the very first VCA book I read and never had I been so touched. I have never met a character quite like like Gabrielle, so absorbed in nature and so unaffected by material possesions, boys, and other teenager wants. Her mother is one fantastic woman, and her father, well, a well dimensioned snake. All the characters were exceptionally complex, Gladys was one deranged woman, Octavious a confused sinner yet sinned against fool, Pierre an idealistic weakling. The plots were gripping and taught a very important lesson: innocence is precious but never be too trusting and project your own innocence onto others, expecting everyone to be just as good natured as you.

This final book in the wonderful Landry series goes back to before Ruby's time, to Gabriel Landry, her mother. I can't say that this was my favorite book in the series, but then, that's only because each seperate book has, in my mind, molded together to form one story, and I even find it difficult to distinguish them sometimes. Anyway, I just want to say that this series is absolutely addictive, and anyone and everyone can get attached to it in a split second. This is also one of the most well thought out and well writen endings I have ever read (which is not uncommon with V.C. Andrews' books), despite how sad and empty it made me feel afterward. But that's only because I get really involved in my books. Anyway, I reccommend this books to all the V.C. Andrews fans out there, and to anyone else who's looking 4 some inspiration and insight on life. And just by the way, I'm only 14, and I can't even begin to describe how deeply this book has impacted my life. That's how touching and beautiful it is...V.C. Andrews' books will always be a part of my life, and I can only hope they will be a part of yours too.

According to the blurb on the book jacket, this fifth book in the Landry series is actually the prequel, and in fact, I'm reading it at the right time ie. before I read any of the others. This famous series has been made into movies, including "Flowers in the Attic". Gabriel Landry is the daughter of two Cajuns, living in the swamp land of a Louisiana bayou. Her mother Catherine is a "traiteur", a healer and a midwife and is much loved and respected by all. Her father Jack is a whiskey swilling, no-good dead beat who is always looking for an easy way to make money without working for it. Gabriel is completely at home in the swamps with her animals and plants and falls easy prey to a lecherous, wealthy neighbour who rapes her when he finds her alone in the swamp. When she discovers she is pregnant, her father makes a deal with the neighbour's wife to hide Gabriel in her house until the baby is born so that no one will know of Gabriel's disgrace and the neighbours may pass off the baby as their own. After the birth, Gabriel sees her baby son only a few times and from a distance. A year passes and this poor, naive(stupid?) girl once again falls victim to a rich man, but this time, very willingly, and the same process starts again, with Gabriel agreeing to give up her baby to the rich couple, to raise as their own. The baby, Ruby, is apparently the star of M/s Andrews first book, and, although this review reads like a gigantic soapie, I'll now simply HAVE to find this first book, Ruby!

This is the 5th V.C. Andrews series that I've read & I need to start taking my own advice and read the 5th book in the series before I read the others. The 5th book is always the actual beginning of the series & I have no clue why it's like that. You already know everything that happens so I can never make myself finish the last book because there are other books that I'd rather be reading. I'm sure if I had read this book first I would've really enjoyed it but I just see no reason to read a book where you already no everything that happens. Overall though, this is my least favorite V.C. Andrews's series. It was just o.k. for me. Nothing special.

I have read every book by VCA herself and every VCA book that the GW has written. I am also the webmaster of a large VCA site called Midnight Whispers and feel that I am qualified enough to say that this book was the best in the series and one of the best books yet. You can really feel for Gabrielle as she goes through the trials and tribulations that occured in her short life. Her romance with Pierre is just like Romeo and Juliet - sweet and tragic. You can't help but picture the setting of New Orleans during the time of the book and you can almost feel as if you are there. The imagery is wonderful and complex and the book just flows. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Virginia sait toujours trouver les mots pour nous transporter dans ces merveilleuses aventures.J'ai devorer ce livre.Je l'ai lut en 2 jours.Le pere de Gabrielle etait vraiment sans coeur,avavt de mourir Gabrielle aura connut l'amour avec son beau Pierre...

You know right away what happens to Gabriel when you start reading 'Ruby', so reading this book is a bittersweet experience. It was nice to see a time where Jack and Catherine were happy together - at least some of the time. I can't help but wonder what would happen if Gisselle had inherited some kind of gift, since it seems to run in the Grandmere bloodline. Anyhoo, Gabriel comes off as a very likeable character. She's very sweet and loving - maybe a bit too sweet for some - but she was a character I was genuinely fond of so it's hard to take what happens to her at the hands of Octavarius Tate.

I feel that Gladys was a bit overdone with the revelation of what had happened to her as a child, and she knew of Jack's reputation, so she should have made her offer directly to Gabriel, or Catherine should have been the one Gladys went to Still, this is a good book, and a rather bittersweet one. Definitely one of the ghostwriter's better books.

Although this book was written last in the series as a prequel, when I recieved the whole set as a gift, I read this one first. I think by doing so it makes the whole series flow much better than if I had read it last. What an amazing read! One of my favorite books of all time. I've read the entire Landry series 3 times through and this winter I plan to start on my fourth! Truly captivating!

This book Tarnished Golg is a good book. Once you start to read it you don't want to let it go trust me. I've read this book about 5 times and I tell you it is a best seller. Buy this book you'll love it!