Rating: 
Summary: Rewarding inspite of the melodramatic metaphors
Review: I had to talk myself into keeping with this story after my initial opinion that Ms. Fitch uses metaphors the way other people use punctuation. Initially her characters seem too unreal, two dimensional...but I kept with it. It was an entertaining if not disturbing journey, yet somehow I couldn't buy the whole Berlin Art Scene that she was trying to sell us at the end (a bit on the Danielle Steel I'm-making-it-up side.) Strangely enough, it was still an enjoyable journey.
Rating: 
Summary: Moving...heartbreaking...somewhat empowering.
Review: This story drained me...as a reader I wanted to rewrite the "Claire" situation...This book made me sad with the reality that ANYONE can become a parent...you certainly don't have to be selfless or caring. Yet the strongest soul in this book somehow survives, scarred and all.
Rating: 
Summary: Wordy and overly dramatic
Review: As a first novel, I applaud the writer. I found it difficult to understand the character's choice at the end, it seemed obscure and self-hating. Janet Fitch's descriptions are over labored, don't flow from the heart, most of her descriptions seem to be heady...I don't think the writer was involved with her main character, Astrid. Good descriptions of Los Angeles...metaphors were overused and narrative did not get to the point...
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, hypnotizing, could not put it down
Review: Janet Fitch's phenomenal mastery of poetry is transfused into Ingrid's thoughts as well, in the form of her letters and her poems. The characters come to life in a dazzling variety of colors, and yet are so real and believable. The author writes in such a way that one not only understands what the characters are feeling, but feels for them, generating a strong empathy. Highly acclaimed. The best I've read in weeks.
Rating:
Summary: A 'Prince of Tides' for the 90's ...
Review: If you haven't read the book, don't continue with the next paragraph - I admit that I discuss things that are better left till after the last page has been turned .....Did anyone else at Amazon make the connection between Ingrid and Hannibal Lector? I couldn't help but think as I read this amazing novel that the two must be brother and sister. As Hannibal whispers to Miggs through the bars, convincing him to swallow his own tongue and suffocate, so Ingrid has a similar fate in store for poor Claire. But in more than this isolated incident, I found their voices to have a similar cadence - sinister, calculating, sharper than a honed knife. I was not aware of this voice in the first third of the novel, being the trusting and somewhat naïve person that I am when it comes to the true intentions of others. I was actually shocked to discover the real nature of Ingrid as the novel progressed, and found myself almost physically pulling away from her when she came too close to the lens of the camera (our astounding heroine, Astrid). To follow the family-tree analogy, I couldn't help but think that Ingrid must be the sister of Lila Wingo from 'The Prince of Tides'. Hannibal, Ingrid and Lila - what a truly wicked and cruel family. And as Astrid snuggles up with Peter in the final reel, acknowledging to herself that she will "always know what time it is in Los Angeles" I flashed on Tom Wingo driving across the bridge leading towards home, knowing that he would forever be wondering, at that same time every day, what Susan was doing at that very moment as he chanted, "Lowenstein, Lowenstein."
Rating:
Summary: Typical Oprah Blabber
Review: This story drones on just as many of Oprah's others. Typical dysfunctional people trapped in their dysfunctional lives. How depressing. I debated whether to fnish this story, and had a hard time getting myself motivated enough to pick it up to complete. I am definitely not a prude, but found the explicit sex nauseating, shocking and unnecessary to get the story across. I read probably a book a week and count numerous other reads that were better written.
Rating:
Summary: Writing that made me gasp with delight.
Review: As a life-long poet and writer struggling with my first novel, I was so impressed by the writing in this book. Granted, I could have hoped for it to be less depressing...it was a constant piling-on of sad-luck experiences. But yet, the poetry of her writing lifted me above the sadness, and I felt compelled read on for the pure pleasure of experiencing it. I was overcome by emotion as I finished the book...not so much by the sadness of its story, but by my own envy of her writing. I look forward to future books from Ms. Fitch.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book and addicting too.
Review: I think this is a good book and takes an inside look into the the foster care system. Astrid is used sexually, made to do everything for some of her abusive foster parents. She is starved and suffers just about everything there is to suffer in the foster care system. What I find fault with is that I think the book holds a political correctness to it. Astrid talks about the racism and racist attitudes about her foster mother. When you are in that kind of situation you could probably care less. So that section felt kind of out of place. Overall it was a pretty good read.
Rating:
Summary: It started out good...
Review: It started out cool and calm, like still water, but after Ingrid was put in jail, the book went downhill. Some parts of it were so slow and unmoving i wanted to stop. It disgusted me. But the book was like a drug, i wanted to go back and finish the rest of it. See what would happened to Astrid. And figure out what she wanted from life. The way the author strung the words together was elaborate. Otherwise i probably wouldn't have finished it.
Rating:
Summary: A stunning debut novel
Review: In WHITE OLEANDER, Janet Fitch has crafted a beautifully written, unforgettable novel about the search for self and love, and the painfully poisonous relationship between a mother and daughter. If you are looking for something substantial to read, please put this book at the head of your list.
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