My Sweet Audrina [Unknown Binding]

 

 

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I am changing my view of this book. At first I didn't like it but now come to find out the truth behind this novel I enjoyed it 100%. It was sad to see so many people die throughout this novel but in the end Audrina realized that she was needed at this house more than she knew it. I always thought that Vera was Audrina the 1st. Hopefully we'll see more novels like this. The plot kept me in suspense throughtout the whole novel.

I just want to say I was very disappointed with this book of V.C. Andrews that I'm afraid to read any more of her's. I didn't like that fact that Audrina's dad had to compare her to the 1st
Audrina and also put her in a rocking chair to try and be like Audrina the 1st. I'm also upset to see the way Sylvia turned out. So if I were you I'd not even bother reading this one.

This is, without a doubt, the best V.C. Andrews' book. II read a few reviewers had suggested that this book may have been written by the infamous ghost writer (I must admit, I do still read the books written after her death in 1987, but anyone who knows anything about V.C. Andrews knows that A) the books were not ghostwritten until the late 1980s, and B) stylistically, this absolutely must be her book.) I'm appalled that someone would be so irresponsible as to claim that the book was ghostwritten. It's brilliant, and I hardly think the "V.C. Andrews Empire" would take the trouble to write a single book rather than go with their series franchise, which has to be a better money maker. To those of you who haven't read this book yet: go buy it, and don't read ahead! For the rest of you, read ahead.
About the book itself: My Sweet Audrina transcends popular fiction and is in fact a work of art. I first read this book when I was 13, and I'm 27 now, but it hasn't lost any of its appeal. I just read it. I admit, I was floored at 13 when the book's secret was revealed: I have no idea if I would've figured it out now ahead of time, given that I'm older and more sophisticated. However, some things remained the same: the book has the rare talent of making you feel that time is really passing, that you're really living through the years with this bizarre and extraordinary family. And although it is clearly a very unusual family, and although there are dramatic things that occur in it that don't ordinarily happen, it is still a very realistic story in other ways. I loved the other V.C. Andrews' books, but few of them gave me the feeling of providing rare insight into the failings, weaknesses, and quirks of individuals. The characters in this story have a lot of qualities, flaws, and virtues I've seen in others, and they are richly drawn character studies. I think that although some people have called characters such as Vera "a typical V.C. Andrews tramp" those who take the time to notice will see that she isn't typical. We learn quite a bit about why she acts the way she does: and although her behavior is exaggerated for dramatic purposes, anyone who has been rejected by a parent knows the insane behavior that can cause. The advice given by Audrina's Aunt Ellsbeth, and Billie, are perceptive pieces of information about human life, something we don't often see in Andrews' other books. Furthermore, I don't believe Arden is a boring character, nor should we reject him for what he did to Audrina. He felt rejected and cast away by her. Someone else brought up some of the plot lines as unnecessary, E.g. the strangely named Lamar Rensdale, but I think that was a necessary story to move the general plot along. Finally, about the ending, I don't think Andrews' was in any way condoning the smothering and abusive behavior of Damian with that particular ending. Pay close attention to the book, which is so hauntingly beautiful it deserves to be read several times over: Damian is repeatedly condemned for his behavior by all characters in the book and by Audrina herself. I think that, rather, she recognized that she owed it to Arden to work out their marriage, and that she loved Sylvia, whom she couldn't leave behind. As for her father, she was starting to realize that he would never change and to accept that. But the house was rightfully hers, and the point was that she thought she could run away from her past by running from the house, and at the end she realized that she couldn't run from her past. So it was more symbolic of her acceptance of herself and her past, her ability to heal and rise above what had happened to her, than anything we should take as Andrews' condoning "Papa's" selfish, dysfunctional behavior.

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4.0 out of 5 stars The Real Thing
I agree with past reviewers that there is no comparison between the books that Virginia Andrews actually wrote (of which this is one) and the ones written after her death. Read more

Published on Jun 24 2004 by Beth

2.0 out of 5 stars Stupid
I read the reviews on this website thinking this book would live up to all the other series that I've loved since a child. Read more

Published on May 28 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars Good writing, obvious plot
This story was so obvious it was a boring read. V.C. Andrews (if she really wrote this or if it was her 'ghost') wrote this story to stand on it's own. Read more

Published on Jan 13 2004 by Johny Bottom

4.0 out of 5 stars dark and haunting
This book is probably the darkest book of all the VC books, even more so than the Dollanganger series. Read more

Published on Jan 5 2004 by tsaramina

3.0 out of 5 stars Confusing Story
It was a very puzzling story. I have read it twice. Audrina believed she had a namesake named Audrina. But then she remembered the most horrible moment of her life. Read more

Published on May 14 2003 by eliza19922001

5.0 out of 5 stars Im adicted!
This was the 1st vc andrews i read and i was stuck on them ever since A dad who wanted to take away the pain of his favorite duaghter raped young Audrina lost all memmory and... Read more

Published on April 17 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite
This is my favorite V.C. Andrews book. It has everything. Murder, horror, love, hope, incest, jealousy, and mystery. Read more

Published on Oct 27 2002 by Brooke

5.0 out of 5 stars My First V.C Andrews Book
This was my first V.C Andrews book and I fell in love with her writings after I read this book. It was amazing! Read more

Published on Sep 3 2002 by Angela

5.0 out of 5 stars Audrina lives again
This is the only stand alone book written by V.C.Andrews. The rest come in a series. However, I hope that there is never a sequel to this book because it is perfect the way it... Read more

Published on Aug 14 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars The First and Best V.C. Andrews
This was such a beautiful story about seven-year-old Audrina Adare. She believes that her whole purpose in life is to live up to the standards her dead sister (also Audrina) set... Read more

Published on Aug 10 2002 by Electra83

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