Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

I have heard of this book before, but I didn't really know what it was about, so I was quite surprised.  It's a bit of a horror story.  (It isn't the bloody, gory, super-scary type, though, so don't worry.)

I can't say much about the story without giving things away, so skip this paragraph if you want complete surprise.  This is the story of four siblings.  They are very happy with their family and really look up to their parents.  Then their father dies in a car accident.  Their mother is completely unprepared to take care of them, so she contacts her parents.  She had "a fall from grace" and was disinherited at 18.  Her father doesn't know about her children, so she and her mother shut the children in a bedroom of the mansion that connects to the attic until their mother receives forgiveness.  Spoiler alert!  Three and a half years later, the kids finally get to leave the attic in a fairly dramatic turn of events.

It is an easy book, but due to imprisonment and danger to children, it is probably not good for young readers.  It also has some discussion of puberty and the bodily changes it brings.  There is also mention of sex and a sexual situation, although it isn't graphic.  It certainly isn't an intellectual read, but it's very entertaining, so it is worth the time.

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

This book is very, very long, so it requires a large time commitment.  Be prepared!  It's 1400 pages of rather small print.  I surpassed the library's renewal limit (twice!) and had to check it out again and again.  Luckily, it is also extremely well-written and quite interesting.  And the story really picks up around page 600-something and you may not want to put it down!

This story takes place in India in the early 1950's, an interesting time period politically.  The country is still feeling implications from the division with Pakistan.  The feudal farming system is being ended.  Religious strife is rampant.  It's an exciting setting.

It begins at an arranged wedding, where the mother tells her younger daughter that the next thing they will do is find a suitable boy for her.  The book follows the two families who are connected in the marriage along with all the prospects for Lata's (the main character) groom.  Lata is an enjoyable character and easily likable.  Some of my other favorite characters are the Chatterji family.  They are irreverent and funny, so they're enjoyable to read about.  Kuku, the younger sister, writes many spontaneous rhyming couplets that are rather funny.  The talented shoemaker with his determination and skills is also interesting. 

This book is worth the time, but isn't an easy or quick read and takes a great deal of effort and determination.  It is clean and appropriate for all readers, but I can't imagine most young readers would want to put in the time!