Rating: 
Summary: what's the point?
Review: I read this books a long time ago when it first came out, but I wanted to a refresher before I saw the movie so I am reviewing the audiobook edition. The story itself lacks any real focus. The story of a young girl maturing into a woman while going through various fosterhomes. OK, fine, but where's the adventure, plot, point to this? While there were some very very insightful "ramblings" it did leave me at the end wondering, "Ok, now what". I am wondering even how the movie is made since this book is written so much on thoughts alone. Astrid's thoughts, there is not much in the way of interaction with other people. Just an intereaction and a very long so called analysis afterwards. Not sure if I will bother reading another one of her books. Will have to see what the reviews say.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT JOURNEY THAT I HATED TO SEE END!
Review: This was a very good read...I must admit I hated for the book to end! I loved the many interesting characters that you meet along the way. The first 40 pages of the book were a little bit hard to get interested in but then the story opens up and the reader is sucked in! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to walk in the shoes of a girl with a very interesting life!
Rating: 
Summary: jen's review
Review: The Book, White Oleander, by Janet Fitch includes much more detail about the life of teenager, Astrid, than the movie of the same title. A significant, life altering relationship between Astrid and a black prostitute who lives next door to one of Astrid's foster families is left out of the movie version. The friendship that Astrid forms with this woman shapes and defines a philosophy of life that Astrid tries to copy during a very formative stage in her life. With each new family, Astrid sees another side of the human race while she struggles to figure out her own life.When her mother is sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend, Astrid feels very alone and is forced to move from family to family in foster care. Each home she joins has its challenges, but she seems to grow and mature through each experience. She seems able to make mistakes and then learn from them. Fitch writes as if she has lived in numerous foster families. She has a unique insight into how each different foster home that Astrid joins functions and how the relationships between family members and this outsider, Astrid, mold and shape everyone's life. The author is able to accurately describe many different lifestyles, social classes and philosophies found in each foster family. The book is a vivid description of growing up and of finding your true self and what it takes and what you have to go through to get to that point. It is very well written and holds the readers attention through each little mini drama of Astrid's life. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: White Oleander, boring but beautilful
Review: I thought this book was a bit drawn out. Very long, but with a good soul, unfortunaely the book was in my opinion not written very well, too much stuff that didn't really matter and made the book quite boring, i couldn't wait for it to be over.
It was interesting, a very good story, just not well put together, id say just watch the movie, but for those who must know every detail, i guess the book is the way to go, just be careful what you ask for, because when you get halfway into the book you will be asking yourself, when will this thing ever end.
Rating:
Summary: Albeit depressing, a very descriptive read....
Review: The power behind this narritive is amazing, the lyrical poetry magical. It is a story of mothers and daughters, the ambivalent love that waxes and wanes. Fitch is an amazing story teller able to capture ones attention and hold it, from start to 446 page finish.
The tale that spun from Fitches mind, no true story here, starts with a 12 year old Astrid, daughter of Ingrid Magnussen, a merciless poet living a very bohemian life. Astrid's love for her mother is as deep as Ingrids love for her daughter is seemingly flighty. Ingrid has no tolerance of the weak and can not stand to lose. Ingrid becomes undone by an affair she never wished to have to begin with. The consequences Astird pays for. Thus spins the tale of Astirds horrid life with an array of foster mothers/ families for the next 6 years. It is horribly depressing, yet you find yourself hoping Astrid does not succum to the masses and lose herself.
The description here is flabergasting. Long after this novel is through, you will find yourself still hypnotized by the writing alone and the story will remain scortched in your memory.
Rating:
Summary: AM I LIVING IN LALA LAND?!
Review: THE BOOK IS GREAT AND ONE OF ITS KIND...SO WELL WRITTEN. HOWEVER, AM I LIVING IN "LALA" LAND OR IS AMERICAN SOCIETY SO DYSFUNCTIONAL? NOT ONE CHARACTER DOES NOT LIVE A DRAMA. AN EXTREMELY GLOOMY PICTURE OF MEN WHO BY THEIR IRRESPONSIBILITY TURN WOMEN INTO NERVOUS MURDEROUS WRECKS!
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR OUR YOUNG GIRLS UNLESS YOU WANT TO TURN THEM INTO LESBIANS!....I AM SURPRISED THAN DESPITE ALL HER EXPERIENCES ASTRID CAN STILL FALL IN LOVE!
Rating:
Summary: Realistic with good ending
Review: I was preparing myself for another sappy tale of woe, and was pleasently surprised by this book. It keep me reading with interest all the way through. It is a quick read, but it leaves you thinking about it between chapters. After working with foster children I can tell you that this book is realistic, and if anything, a little on the nice side. There was very little sexual abuse, which made it easier for me to read, although that is one unrealistic part. I did try to imagine that maybe as an older, more mature foster child, Astrid was able to avoid the sexual abuse that is common place among foster children.
I was waiting patiently for the ending and I can say that it does not let you down. I was happy to see that the book had a real message and did not have a simple happy-ever-after ending. It really makes the book worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite & Immaculate
Review: I am neither a woman nor an Oprah watcher, and I have not seen the movie version of White Oleander. With all of that being said, I believe that this novel will go down as one of the 10 best I have ever read, regardless of how many tomes I may still have ahead of me. Astrid Magnussen's journey from her not-very-loving mother's care into one nightmarish foster situation after another is an amazing and brutal coming-of-age tale. It depicts the strength and weakness of one frail girl's soul as she desparately reaches for any remaining strand of reality on which to grasp. The reader is horrified by the events that occur to and around her, while at the same time are left to marvel at her adaptability and determination. And, as the story unfolds, we realize that it is not the people who she sees daily that most shape and haunt Astrid; it is her cold and distant mother who is locked safely behind bars. Or is she? This is a truly great read that moves with the speed of a surging river and the intensity of an MRI. It is time well spent, and reassurance that our lives, no matter how bad, could be much, much worse.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful read
Review: I loved White Oleander. Unlike many beautifully written novels, it doesn't try to cover up the severity and ugliness of real life, but gives good argument that beauty can coexist with the harshness of the world we live in. I like its honesty and accurate picture of life for adolescents.
I think one of the best aspects of Fitch's writing are her characters. Each are so well developed that the reader feels that they not only know them but can picture them perfectly. I loved getting to know each of them, even if they weren't too appealing. Ingrid's character, in particular, is marvelous. She is the ultimate villain. The reader is drawn to her and keeps hoping that she will give in to her human emotions and come down from her pedastle of contempt. At the end, the reader is finally satisfied. Astrid draws readers attention in a different way. She is uncommonly bright for a teengager, thus enabeling the reader to have insight into the tumultouous world of adolescence. At each of her new homes, we hope that she will find happiness and stability, but we also can't wait to see what new situation she will have to deal with.
White Oleander is a very moving novel. I don't think anyone could not become emotionally envolved with Astrid's struggle. I recommend this book highly.
Rating:
Summary: Lost me at the end
Review: This book was recommended to me by a good friend of mine. And, I pushed it to the front of my "to read" list based on her recommendation. And, I have to admit, while I loved the first 3/4 of the book, the story lost me at the end.
(Don't read on if you didn't read the book yet... I'm going to give some of it away in this review!)
I felt to sorry for Astrid throughout the book, and I loved the way that Janet Fitch portrayed such a diverse group of characters - she made each one unique and interesting! However, once Clair died, the book lost its spark! First of all, I was hoping for a happy ending (sappy, I know!) but mostly, I was enjoying watching Astrid grow as a person. And, it pained me to read about her life after she had those few years of growth and love. Realistic as it probably was, I was disappointed.
I skimmed the last 50 or so pages, just to see Astrid's reaction when her mom got out of jail, and even that was slightly disappointing.
It's not a bad read at all, but the end (in my opinion) left something to be desired!
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