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Summary: Real Life is More Frightening Than Fiction
Review: "White Oleander" is the first book I have read that gives an accurate portrayal of a teenager thrust into foster care. As I read this book, it was as if my own story was being told. I entered foster care at 15 and within two years was processed through ten homes. This book can appear over-exaggerated and unbelievable, but it is absolutely REAL! As I read this book, it was as if the author had herself gone through foster care experiences, or did an incredible job researching. The thoughts of Astrid were my thoughts. The constant need for transformation with each foster situation is a stark and lasting reality for foster children. Her struggle to break free of the haunting images and voice of her mother (mothers) is portrayed in a painfully realistic manner. I applaude Fitch's efforts to bring this part of reality to the public attention, and the movie industry for seeing that it is a worthy project.
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Summary: Thoughts and actions
Review: At first, as I did, you might wonder if people really can think and act the way Astrid and Ingrid do in "White Oleander". Weird does not even begin to describe the opening chapters. But in the last several, if you haven't already, you will realize that these are real people, as ordinary or as odd as you or I, and that their story (while remarkable) is just as compelling as one of our lives.Astrid jumps around foster homes, some good, but most bad, while her mother, a poet, rots in jail for murder. Ingrid, the mother, wants her daughter to be an ice queen essentially, to distance herself in feeling from anyone (something we can call Havisham syndrome, I suppose). And the real tension becomes the uncertainty of whether or not she will succeed her mother as the unfeeling monster that she is, or if she will break the mold. All the while dealing with sex and drugs and awful surroundings. This novel is really wonderful, there are tons of great lines and passages - a real trove of quotes. If you're looking for it you might notice the important distinction between what the characters think to themselves and how they actually articulate or act in the outside world. Astrid is the real example of this. No one can even begin to fathom what is churning around in her head - not her mother, foster parents/siblings, case worker - no one. Save us, that is.
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Summary: Great book - can't wait for the movie, too!
Review: 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!
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Summary: HEARTFELT, HEARTBREAKING AND BRILLANT
Review: THE REALITY OF WHITE OLEANDER WAS STAGGERING. IT WAS SO REAL THAT I BELIEVE THESE THINGS PROBABLY HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE FOSTER HOMES....I WAS SO MOVED BY THIS BOOK, I FELT THAT I WANTED TO GO OUT AND FOSTER A CHILD TO SHOW THEM THAT LIFE IN FOSTER CARE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AS HURTFUL.....THIS BOOK WAS GREAT, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN....BASED ON THIS BOOK I WOULD READ ANYTHING BY FITCH..........
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Summary: Spellbinding-One of the Best Books I have Ever Read
Review: I can't say enough about this book. I was right in there with Astrid, the main character and the narrator of White Oleander. I went into each and every foster home holding her hand through all her experiences. I laughed, I cried and I went on one heck of a rollercoaster ride. Janet Fitch is a master storyteller.
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Summary: Grips the reader and holds them tight!
Review: A beautiful and well-crafted first novel, White Oleander tells the story of a teenage girl's trip though foster homes after her sociopath poet mother is convicted of murder. In each home, the young Astrid must adjust to new rules and constraints, all the while being stalked by her seductive and totally amoral mother. The language is rich and evocative, layered with imagery and emotion that keeps the reader wanting more. Fitch succeeds where a lesser writer would surely fail, not shying away from Astrid's grief, nor softening her mother's evil. Though I thought the author went a bit overboard with the similes, some of the images were so powerful as to emotionally knock me on my behind. Particularly haunting was the metaphor of Astrid as a survivalist. Over all, a worthwhile piece of work from an author who promises to offer many great future works.
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Summary: One of the Best
Review: I have really enjoyed this book. In the time that I was not reading this book I found myself thinking of her. Astrid's charactor was painted in fine detail. The words were beautifully written. It was slow at first like some books are. However, it took a flying leap after the fist 10 pages.
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Summary: White Oleander
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. If not for the superb writing style of the author I might have found the content depressing. The main character is so hauntingly charasmatic I almost wish there were a sequel to this profound and compelling story. Thank you Janet Fitch for writing something worth reading!!!
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Summary: Excellent book
Review: Kept me thoroughly entertained for the entire book. Here you will find a bit of everyone's past, with the many "mothers" portrayed. One of them is probably like yours.
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Summary: Not a book for the shallow mind
Review: They say a good book will keep you entertained, but a great book changes you. That is the case with White Oleander by Janet Fitch. Much like some people you will encounter in life, some characters drift in, draw you close to them, and drift out. Yet, while they are there, they will challenge your perceptions and leave their mark on you. If you are not willing to view life from a different angle, and if you are not capable of seeing beauty, even when it's not pretty, then you will not enjoy this book. However, if you are not a person to turn bitter in the face of life's disappointments, and are not afraid to take a close look at your own life, then I can promise you a fascinating, uplifting, intellectual read. With poetic lines, humor, moments of pure joy and heart wrenching sorrow, Janet Fitch has her finger firmly placed on the pulse of humanity.
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