Rating: 
Summary: Highly relevant and spooky in accuracy
Review: This was an EXCELLENT book that at times gave me the creeps (I guess we all have some major ghosts lurking in that closet over there). This book is about Astrid who's mother murders a man, and thus ensues many years of foster homes that Astrid must navigate and survive - survival being the main topic of this (and every Oprah) book.I went through multiple foster homes as a senior in high school, as a result of something stupid my own parents did, so this book was creepily realistic. Fitch definitely did her research before she wrote this book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The Portrait of a Life
Review: I must say that I was absolutely stunned by the volume of intricately strung words and breathtaking prose within this novel. I had heard of its beauty before, yet I found the novel to be mesmerizing, a book I truly did not put down until the end. Janet Fitch has captured the trials and tribulations of a young woman so succinctly, so majestically that it was as though a dream. White Oleander is not particularly pleasant, but the world is cruel and Fitch makes up for it with poetic and artistic words like none I've seen before. White Oleander talks of forbidden relationships, lust, life, love and changes. Truly inspirational. If you want to open yourself to new worlds of pain and poetry, beauty and harsh reality, this is the book you need. This will capture your heart and soul, and it will enrapture you. My only complaint in this novel, was perhaps the ending; it lacked something essential, and I found it weaker than the rest of the novel. In the end, though, White Oleander is truly one of the most truthful and beautiful novels of our time.
Rating:
Summary: A Poetic Masterpiece
Review: The raw brilliance of this novel is overpowering. From behind the rough exterior of the story's plot comes a true "coming of age" tale, told with the most beautiful and articulate language of words. I never believed that a book could truly take hold of your emotions and exhilerate your senses, but this story drew me into the folds of surprise, heartbreak, and amazing prose. The story is told from Astrid Magnussen's point of view. She is a young girl (story goes from age 12-18), who lives with her mother, Ingrid, who is a smooth, freeminded poet. They live in an apartment in Hollywood, California. They go to museums, read books by Dmitry and Dostoyevsky, and do poetry readings. Ingrid uses her charm to lure in men and have carefree relationships, but she gets too serious in one of these relationships. After the man breaks it off with Ingrid, she kills him. She is then put into prison and sentenced for life. So begins Astrid's life of foster care and life altering changes. Throughout the story, Astrid is at 6 different homes, including a children's center. Each home is filled with people and experiences that all take their toll on Astrid and her upbringing. These include: getting involved with a MUCH older man, gun shot wounds, starvation, and a death, to name a few. During her time at these homes, she corresponds with her mother with letters, in which Ingrid is still trying to shape her daughter...even through prison. Astrid soon realizes that her mother wants her to remain unhappy in these homes, so she will still be "needed" by her daughter, and so that she can still influence Astrid into becoming like her. This is a book where you hope and plead for a good ending, but you're never sure if it will happen or not. This books is remarkable. You'll be mesmorized by Astrid Magnussen adventures (or perhaps this is the repeated story of many fostered children throughout the world).
Rating: 
Summary: an 18 year olds point of view
Review: I read White Oleander twice, the first time I did not know what was going on, why certain things were happening, and what have you. The second time I read this novel, everything became clear to me, and after a while I really got into it, unlike the first time....
Rating: 
Summary: Saw it coming from a mile away
Review: The writing about CA is beautiful. BUT...Although I've gotten through a fair amount of this book so far, I've actually started skipping through the chapters to see if what I thought would happen would. Ray, Clair, knew it. Let's see, murder, underage sex, beautiful of course, shootings, mauled by dogs, suicide. What next, kidnapped by terrorists? White slavery?. Pretentious Ingrid to make us take it seriously. Huge plotpoints with minimal impact on the characters, little meaning. Would work better as soap opera or Jackie Collins; there wouldn't be the assumption that this is "literature." You have to wonder about publishing criteria. This story has been told a dozen times lately, Bastard out of Carolina, Liars Club, etc. even The Color Purple 20 years ago (MUCH BETTER)
Rating:
Summary: If you want to fall in love -
Review: 'White Oleander' is the best book I have ever, ever read. I read the book between shifts and classes for two straight days - never sleeping. If you want to fall in love, read 'White Oleander'. Read it twice. Maybe four or five times.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful, if it's a style you like
Review: White Oleander is a wonderful example of a California novel. It is long and sad, but very compelling. There are times when it is hard to put down, but there are some places in the book where it is so tragic that you will not want to pick it up. If you can get past this, and if you ignore some of the grammar, and concentrate on the great description and flowing plot, you'll love this book. It really depends on your taste in books, but I loved it....I can't wait for Fitch's next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Good effort, but not without flaws
Review: I love that Janet Fitch set out to write a novel about women, their complexities, the strength and importance of the mother-daughter bond, and the many forces that mold young women. This book, however, should have ended one or two foster homes before it did--it really got tiring after the third or fourth home. Some things I don't understand: Was Ray supposed to be some kind of Jesus figure? He had it all from the long dark blonde hair, sad eyes, and he was a CARPENTER. Just curious. Also: for all the beautiful imagely and breathtaking descriptions, this book is LOADED with run-on sentences and comma splices. What kind of editor signed off on this mess? My final verdict is this: I love the idea of this book, but it's obviously a first novel. I think Fitch lost control of the flow of the plot, let it get too long-winded and didn't flesh out all of her themes.
Rating:
Summary: There Are No Words-but I'll try...
Review: So they say it's the parent's who know the kids better than they know themselves, eh? Well, not here...This view from a daughter's eyes of an ever encompassing, mysterious, intelligent yet needy mother is the most superbly written prose I have read. Ever. It is compelling not only in it's complexity of the mother and daughter relationship, but the ever present scent of the white oleanders throughout the pages through alliteration and keen observations of life that keep you sniffing for more. They have an overwhelming friendship, kinship...they take care of each other; almost equally...until the murder...until there is no more mother; in every sense of the word... We are left with a daughter...and her quest to be not only a daughter but a woman in her own right. So from the scary foster home where you sense the "Dad" is waiting to pounce, to the carefree romps in the fields of oleanders, there is the uncanny sense that everything will be okay in the end...you just have to keep on your toes as you face the next obstacle in adulthood alongside her...and hope you hold up as well as she does. What a journey!
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites..
Review: This book falls on my top ten (or so) favorite books of all time. Sure, it's a chick book, but it's an Oprah pick, so that goes without saying. Wonderful story, masterfully told - kinda sad, but incredibly readable! I haven't heard a single bad comment about it yet, and it's been out for a little while now. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would...Don't miss this one - it's a real gem. I would pick up another book by this author in a millisecond, no matter what the subject, title or length, she's that talented.
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