White Oleander: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, its had its moments
Review: I admit i enjoyed this book a little more than i had origianlly thought i would when i read it surprising, how much I became a part of Astrids world. A good read.

Rating:
Summary: good not great ----over rated an understatement----
Review: i quickly developed a love/hate connection with the characters. half way through i found myself asking aloud, " is anything good going to happen to this child?" I thought the ending was, rather weak and things resolved themselves to simply for such complex issues that were introduced through out. you will enjoy it. hopefully. do not exspect too much, i did.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all time favorites! Poetry and Art combined.
Review: One of the very best books I've read in a very long time. It sings with pain,love and sorrow! A great read!

Rating:
Summary: A stunning first novel
Review: Janet Fitch's first novel often took my breath away. Some sentences begged to be reread and I had to stop and just shake my head at their beauty. I don't remember ever reading a novel about a foster child. The work reminded me of Wally Lamb's SHE'S COME UNDONE, in that you really root for Astrid, like you do for Lamb's Dolores - hoping she will someday find inner peace. WHITE OLEANDER is not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: "It's a Hard Knock Life" for this California Girl
Review: Lyrically written experiences of a 12 year-old girl who moves into the California foster-care system after her mother is jailed for murder. The eccentric poetess-mother has raised a precocious daughter who moves through six different foster-homes before reaching eighteen. A young girl's need for roots and family stability is painfully experienced during the foster-home Oddesy.

Rating:
Summary: Haunting and gripping tale of adolescent poetic injustice..
Review: Fitch's book was a mesmerizing tale of angst, poetry and the age-old battle between mothers and daughters. I was literally unable to put this novel down. One of the best reads of the year!

Rating:
Summary: what a lush book!!!
Review: I picked this book up the day before Oprah selected it-and she made a wonderful choice. Astrid will go down in the Teenager Hall of Fame along with Salinger's Holden and Anne Lamott's Rosie Ferguson. The descriptions are so lush and lovely I felt I was in LA with Astrid. Run, don't walk and get this book!!

Rating:
Summary: So depressing - nothing to enjoy - not for me!
Review: Because this was Oprah's overwhelming recommendation, I thought it would be great. Iwaited and waited as I read the book, for onedecent thing to happen to the "star" of the story. It was just too much sadness and couldsee no reason for the story at all.

Rating:
Summary: Very disturbing material.
Review: I bought this book after Oprah raved about it on her show and when I got to page 68 I decided to return the book. The contents I found to be disturbing, and depressing and haunting. Not an enjoyable book at all. There is enough sadness and trouble in the world now without reading about another hardship. Wouldn't recommend this for those who are emotional or very sensitive.

Rating:
Summary: It is one touching story , and I really loved it.
Review: I believe that book is better than any book I have ever readen. As a 12 yr old I kind of relate to some of the things she goes thru and that was somthing really new, a Adult fiction story ( I like grown-up books ) with a girl just my age.