White Oleander: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: too drawn out
Review: This book was so drawn out that I skipped over the philosophical parts of it. It was a well written story, but I found Finch getting too caught up with the mom,s phycho mind. The main character was good & strong & without her insight the story got boring. Overall, a great read though.

Rating:
Summary: An intriging book that showed many aspects of human kindness
Review: I thought that Janet Fitch is a wonderful author. Her characters were realistic and believable. Astrid's journey from home to home, her opressive mother and her striving art made her into a unique character that will constantly be refered to in critic's reviews in the future. White Oleander is a book to treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Flowery language alone does not make good literature!
Review: I finished this book about a month ago and can remember feelinga little sense of shock once I had finished. Shock because I don'tthink I've ever finished a book before and had very little understanding of what had just happened. Fitch's flowery language is at times overbearing and rather than "liquid poetry" is more like a piece of food that's gone down the wrong way. There are enough things in it to give it a passing grade however, but only just!!!

Rating:
Summary: W.O. is a tragic and beautiful tale of a girls growing up.
Review: Maturing and surviving adolescence is a univeral theme told from a young girls point of view brilliantly and beautifully by Fitch. With poetic language and an abundant visual art references, the author puts the reader vividly into every moment. Contrasting foster mother figures like Claire and Rena convince the reader of Astrid's despair and cynicism as we are led to the climactic and ironic encounter with Astrid' s natural mother, Ingrid.

Rating:
Summary: my best friend is a fosterkid.I understand him better now
Review: It was because of him that I read it. He also had to endure this not-knowing-why-him and the prevailing loneliness. I will never forget this one. thanks

Rating:
Summary: Buy it. Read it. Be amazed.
Review: I just finished the reading the book. I miss Astrid already. A wonderfull book. I can not imagine anyone not finding this a worthwhile read. One of the best this year.

Rating:
Summary: Kinda disapointed
Review: Oprah raved so much about this book on her show, that I couldn't wait to get it. True it was very poetic and lyrically beautiful, but that was all it was. The story itself was nothing new, and that was disapointing.

Rating:
Summary: when I encounter someone in foster care, I think of Astrid
Review: This book was not only enjoyable to read because of the unique way Janet Fitch has of describing people, places and things in nature. It gave me a new understanding of what it must be like to be a child of any age in foster care. Shortly after I finished the book a young man doing yardwork in our neighborhood offered to do some yardwork for me as well. As we talked I learned that he was in foster care and was doing odd jobs to earn money. I hired him immediately. I couldn't do much for him, but I could do that.

Rating:
Summary: haunting story of a girl's survival despite lack of support
Review: Although the first few pages annoyed me, I'm glad I kept reading. The author is brilliant in her descriptions of those things that we sense yet don't always admit to, including who to trust and who not to. She brings home the impact that a variety of people can have on one's life, negative and positive. The author's description of the various characters really brings them to life, polyester and all. Life isn't always fair and Astrid has learned this better than anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Fresh subject
Review: My heart throbbed as I read of Astrid's burdened life on her journey through the foster care system. Janet Fitch graphically portrays the life of many a motherless child in her characterization of Astrid. The tale is gripping and believable but did not prove as overwhelmingly fascinating to me as my last read, "Whose Death in the Tunnel?" by Aaron McCallum Becker.