It starts with a bible quote, as many things do. Is this a good sign? Is this a bad sign? I do not know.
But the color yellow is associated with hope in the prologue! I'm always fond of color symbolism, and I don't know if it's intentional, but this particular one seems to pay homage to Van Gogh, who is my favorite.
There's already a bunch of foreboding foreshadowing. This book wants you to know, it's going to be very sad and despairing. It wants you to know that.
Chapter 1--Good-bye Daddy
It's called "Good-bye Daddy", which makes me uncomfortable, partly due to the weird hyphen in "good-bye" but mostly due to the word "daddy" being completely ruined for me by current internet culture. The father, who is the BEST apparently (brings presents, loves his children, is 6 foot 2) is referred to as daddy throughout the chapter.
The mother is mostly remarked on as being Beautiful, and the daughter, our narrator, Cathy, wants to be like her. Also there is the older brother, Chris. Everyone's names start with C. It's truly something.
Twins are had, and they are also named C-names. Carrie and Cory which are also THE SAME NAME WITH THE VOWELS CHANGED C'MON.
Anyway they are a happy family of dopplegangers (i've seen both Dollanger and Dresden Dolls referenced in music? are musicians more likely to like these books? these questions need answering) and sound exactly like the blond-haired blue-eyed super white kids that scare the shit out of me. You know the ones. The ones where you can see murder in their pale blue eyes. (this fear might be a Jew Thing)
It's all gravy, with over-described clothes, until the dad dies in a car accident. Very sad, but also he had a lizard-skin wallet, so I feel that perhaps he deserved it. We also find out the family never had pets. What the fuck kind of family is this? CHILDREN NEED PETS, YOU GUYS.
Everything is absolutely terrible after their dad dies, and their mom is terrible about managing money, so they go to live with their Super "sinfully" Rich Grandparents, who hate the mother for something she did. This will end very well, definitely.
The main character is also TWELVE YEARS OLD AND ALMOST A WOMAN which I feel like, calling a twelve year old almost a woman is a bit fucked up? That's still a child, basically. She is very sad to leave her room behind, but her mom tells her to get over it, and the chapter ends.
Chapter 2--Road to Riches
Okay, I don't like these chapter titles so far? They are both weird and bland. Just Lizard Opinions™
We are on a DARK TRAIN and the conductor is calling the mother by the WRONG NAME and they have to WALK IN THE DARK and no one is EXPLAINING ANYTHING. The twins are crying and the sky is too pretty for Cathy, they are out in the country, nothing good ever happens in the country, they have to sneak into the house; this will all end very well, I am sure.
When they do meet the grandmother, she is described as Severe in every way, including
Y'know, book, this isn't really something I wanted to know.
...even her bosom looked like twin hills of concrete.
The grandmother outlines the terms of their stay, and also implies the mother had a thing with her "half-uncle". I DIDN'T EXPECT THE INCEST TO BE STARTING SO EARLY, BUT OKAY THAT'S FINE OKAY.
All the kids are going to be in that room, always, until their grandfather dies. They have to make sure no one knows about them. This is going to end so well. The titular attic is also mentioned! Thats a good sign!
Real talk though, the book does a good job of conveying the fear of being in a dark room and not being able to do anything about it. I remember when I was scared of the dark, and it was just, a palpable fear. This book is doing a good job conveying fear and unease in general, really. It hits me right in the visceral fears.
Chapter 3--The Grandmother's House
Cathy keeps using "golly-lolly!" as an exclamation. YOU ARE RUINING THE MOOD, STOP IT.
There are hell-paintings in the room, and Chris is revealed to be a good artist, earning my eternal resentment. (no one is allowed to be better at art than me, okay.) Also, the twins personalities are revealed; Cory is calm and Carrie is OPINIONATED, but they still are of one mind, like bees or something.
Concrete Grandma brings them food to last the whole day, and also talks about how much she hates dirty children. This is how we know she is A Bad. She also leaves a list of rules.
They have breakfast, and Carrie doesn't want the bacon? What kind of child is this. Also Chris and Carrie have a very UMMMM conversation in which she names him the "father" and he's like "well I'm the king and ur my inferior wife u must serve me" and its all quite UMMMMMMMMM
also someone pisses in a vase.
The rules end up being all about BIBLE STUDY and PREVENTING INCEST. The grandma is so sure that incest is going to happen. You are going to end up planting the idea in these children's heads, Concrete Grandma.
(this is so not relevant to the current situation but she talks about keeping the boys and the girls separated, and i just, love it when that is done to keep sexual activity from happening just like AH YES MAKE THINGS EASY FOR US GAYS)
The attic is mentioned (they are allowed to play in it, but also must hide in it making no noise on the last friday of every month), and the last rule is basically just DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME YOU IMPURE LESSER BEINGS.
The grandfather's eye probably being gray are mentioned. "Flint, hard, steel-gray eyes", which is giving me 50 Shades of Grey flashbacks.
Despite all circumstances, Cathy is super hopeful her mother will be able to win her grandfather over, and they will not have to stay in this room long. THE VAST AMOUNT OF INCEST FORESHADOWING SAYS OTHERWISE, CATHY.
In conclusion, this was enjoyable and I am very excited for things to get Worse.
