White Oleander: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: thoroughly entertaining
Review: I haven't read a book so fast for such a long time. I just couldn't put it down. I found the descriptive text so beautiful I just lost myself in it. Even though it's quite a sad story it is beautiful. What an experience.

Rating:
Summary: Great Writing....Terribly Depressing!
Review: If you are looking for excellent writing, you found the right book....BUT, if you are looking for an uplifting novel do not purchase White Oleander. I found myself in a slump for two weeks while reading this book!

Rating:
Summary: Tragically realistic, heartbreaking
Review: I was anxious to read this book, only knowing it had to do witha girl in a foster care setting. I am a current foster parent. Thisstory is tragically realistic and incredibly sad. I feel the sexual misconduct of Astrid was dwelled upon far to much. That is my only complaint. I was intrigued enough to keep reading, although it was not a fast read with its "wordyness". I have written down many quotes I did like from the book and my vocabulary has never been increased by one book as much as "White Oleander." Is is sad that our society is not aware of the torment that foster children go though. We need caring "watchdogs" to oversee that these horrible things do not continue to happen to our children. I have not reccomended this book to others, I am not sure that my peers could handle the harsh truth that this book brings out.

Rating:
Summary: A true look at the life of a troubled teenaged girl.
Review: This book is interesting, not only the plot but the characters and the way it is written. Myself being a teenager I can somtimes relate to some of the problems Astrid has. But some of her problems are too extreme for me to imagine myself being in. I really injoyed this book.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was totally disappointed in this book. I had heard it was "great" and Oprah gave it high reviews. I found it too wordy, and it dragged on. I couldn't wait until I was done with it. The story itself was OK but the writer took the fun out of reading this book. I would not recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Poetic and gutsy.
Review: What a pleasure to read a writer who not only can paint vivid character portraits with words, but extract emotions from the bottom of your soul.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful prose.
Review: From a writer's perspective, I found the wealth of lyrical prose and amazing passages humbling.

Rating:
Summary: heartwarming
Review: I felt that White Oleanders was a very well written book about the dsyfunctional life of Astrid. When purchased I did not know what to expect, but I found myself unable to put the book down. At points through out the book I found my self feeling anger and at other times feeling joy for Astrids courage. I look forward to any future writings by the Author Janet Fitch.

Rating:
Summary: Lyrical, Beautiful Prose, Enlightening Book
Review: I loved this book! I've read many Oprah books, but this was my favorite. The story takes place in a young woman's life during the time she is most malleable and shows how the environment can define a person. The back drop of different areas in the Los Angeles area was very interesting. I was sad when the book ended and look forward to more of this wonderful author's works.

Rating:
Summary: Great book that is very much discredited.
Review: I liked this book very much, and it makes me sad to have people put this book down because "it is too wordy." Great book are often wordy, titles such as Catcher in the Rye, and Watership Down. Pages are filled with words describing a patch of grass. Descriptive writing is what makes literature worth reading, it gives you the full picture or idea of what the writer is trying to show you. To the person who said janet Fitch has the talent of a freshman in high school, you are so very wrong. Freshman in todays high school rarely have the intelligence to write a children's book as simple as See Spot Run. Being a high school student right now, I believe I am not being too harsh when I say that.