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Title: White Oleander : A Novel by Janet Fitch ISBN: 0-316-28495-5 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (862 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Simply a perfect novel
Comment: This was perhaps one of the best novels I have ever read. Janet Fitch is a supremely talented story teller and writer. (it's rare to find both, I think). Frankly, I just read through some of the terrible and so-so reader reviews at this web page and I am shocked. This book was tremendous. Janet Fitch's writing is exquisite, without being too precious. Astrid's voice comes through crystal clear. Although she is looking back on her recent history as she tells her story, we watch her grow and change and understand her mother, what she is and what she wants her to be. Unlike a lot of recent Oprah picks, this book has unity and cohesiveness. Things happen for a reason, not just because Janet Fitch just felt like mentioning them. This is a compelling read, with very believable characters. Astrid lives through some very difficult times and yet still manages to eke out something positive from her life. I would recommend this book to anyone and encourage all to ignore the negative reviews at this web page.
Rating: 5
Summary: Great book - can't wait for the movie, too!
Comment: I saw the movie trailer for "White Oleander" before "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" movie (also a great book!). When the trailer mentioned the movie was based on the book, I couldn't wait to read it! I'm so glad I read it because it always makes seeing movies more rewarding. I really enjoyed the book and it was fun to picture the characters as the actors that will play them (i.e. Michelle Pfeiffer as Ingrid, Renée Zellweger as Claire, Robin Wright Penn as Starr). I really cared about Astrid and I could not wait to read what had happened to her next! I completely devoured this book, reading it every spare moment I had. I had no idea that just about anyone could be a foster parent. It's shocking and disturbing that so many horrible people are foster parents and abuse children this way. I cringed when I read about the sexual exploits because it's obvious that sex between an adult and a child is horribly wrong. Still, the situations Astrid found herself in are probably incredibly accurate to many foster kids' lives. It is apparent that Janet Fitch did an extensive amount of research. She's a very poetic writer and I enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I can't wait to see how it translates on to the big screen!
Rating: 5
Summary: White Oleander reviewed by Niki CRAWFORD
Comment: The novel White Oleander is like a more extended version of story that can be found in a Chicken Soup novel full of stories that warm the soul. The author, Jane Fitch, does a wonderful job making the novel touching to the soul. Her themes mainly revolve around the search for one's self and the relationship between mother and daughter.
The main character in the novel is Astrid, who is very young and grows up having to overcome difficult times. Astrid loved her mother and admired her, but all that changed when her mother let a man break her heart. Ingrid, Astrid's mother, eventually killed her boyfriend. She was sentenced to prison for life, leaving Astrid to grow up in a series of homes. The relationship between Astrid and her mother changes many times through out the novel. Astrid only wants to know that her mom loves her. Astrid also wants to have the satisfaction of her mother admitting that she was wrong to commit murder and leave her daughter alone. Through out the novel Astrid and her mother send each other letters which only contain their arguments to each other. Jane Fitch created a mother daughter relationship that certainly left you wondering if they would ever come to good terms with one another.
In the novel Astrid goes to a variety of different homes. Every home she experiences is different and she learns a lesson from each one. With each home, Astrid takes on the characteristics of different people. Her first placement home was with a woman named Starr who exposed Astrid to religion, which led Astrid to try and be religious, which her mother didn't approve of. Astrid seems to get herself into trouble though, which forces her to be moved to another home. Next she is thrown into a home where she meets a prostitute and then decides to try it out and see what it's like. Eventually, Astrid is moved to another home where she is forced to dig out of a trash can in order to keep herself fed. Astrid eventually gets herself moved into a nice foster family. Her new foster mother Claire shows love towards Astrid, which makes Astrid's mother jealous. At this home, Astrid does well in school and wears some of the top clothing brands, but the good times couldn't go on forever. Astrid is convinced that her mother manipulated Claire in some way, which led to Claire commit suicide. Astrid is eventually almost 18 and is sick of being moved around so much. She lets a careless women take her in. Here, Astrid turns into a gothic teen and gets involved with illegal drugs. Through out the story you question whether or not Astrid will ever find out who she is and what kind of person she wants to be.
Janet Fitch writes very well written similes and metaphors through out the book. Many poems are used also. It all adds to the emotional effect that the book has on you. Reading about someone's quest to fine them selves and the struggles between a mother and daughter is really touching and Janet Fitch does an excellent job with bringing out all the emotions.
This is defiantly a book I would read twice. The novel really puts you through one person's experience and it's very interesting and exciting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good novel about a search for one's self and struggles between mothers and daughters.
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Title: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb ISBN: 0671021001 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: 01 June, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen ISBN: 0440226104 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 02 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb ISBN: 0060987561 Publisher: Regan Books Pub. Date: 06 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title:White Oleander (Widescreen) ASIN: B000087F7E Publisher: Warner Home Video Pub. Date: 02 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $17.98 |
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Title: While I Was Gone by Sue Miller, Sue Miller ISBN: 0345443284 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 12 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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