Rating: 
Summary: Poetry in Motion
Review: "White Oleander" is like poetry.
Lyrical-fluid-colorful-vivid-
Like a river flowing in the beginning...then buiding up speed, sometimes gushing...sometimes catching itself unexpectedly on rocks, boulders, holding onto huge chunks of grunge.It is a story of a mother; if you want to call her that. A mother gone bad, or maybe she was born bad. Either way, she doesn't live up to her responsibilities and obligations to her daughter. This is what mother's do.
Don't they? Not Ingird. She is selfish, condesending, brutal, a manipulator, a man-eater, and a woman without conscious.
She is beautiful. Too beautiful. Enough to make her believe she is above the rest of us. A poet. A user of the human race. Even a user of her own flesh and blood. This is the story of Ingrid and Astrid. Mother and daughter. Master and slave. Devil and angel. "We would not sleep on hot dry nights, my mother and I. I woke up at midnight to find her bed empty. I climbed to the roof and easily spotted her blond hair like a white flame." -White Oleander- Astrid is in awe of her beautiful, poet mother. But she finds out she is not the woman she thought she was. She finds out that she can not depend on anybody but herself.
Nobody. When her mother ends up in jail...Astrid begins her journey of foster homes. Not the sort of homes you'd expect. These foster homes should be shut down, closed, condemned.
And the (so called adults) should be burned at the stake. Janet Finch is a poet. White Oleander is 390 pages of pure descriptive, gorgeous, stinging, unimaginable circumstances. You must go with her, stay with her, and understand that these people are living in your city, neighborhoods, across your alley, maybe even in your house. Does Ingrid redeem herself? Does Astrid find somebody to love? Or who loves her... Read the book and find out.
Absorb the words. Let them sink into your pores. Even the chaos is a gift to the ears.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!!!!!!!!
Review: I throughly enjoyed this novel, it broke my heart when I had to put it down. Any woman should be able to relate to the incidents that went on in this book. This book is filled with drama. From murder to sex and every other thing that is so present in our society. This book opened my eyes and Im sure it will for others. Please Buy!!!! One Love
Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: The story begins with a mother,Ingrid Magnussen,teaching her daughter,Astrid,not to tolerate weakness of any kind in people. Ingrid kills her boyfriend who hurt Ingrid badly.As a result,Ingrid goes to prison for the crime. Astrid is left to move from one foster home to another. Each move is a different world to which she must adjust. I loved the book and highly recommend to to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: This is an incredibly moving and affecting book. I didn't want the story to end. The richness of the language in the beginning of the book is very powerful and drew me right into Astrid's world. The end of the book doesn't have that same potency...probably due to the absence of one very important character...but nonetheless I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Comming Of Age Novel
Review: Any woman can in some way identify with this book. It brings up issues that all of us have dealt with and others that all women have nightmares about. It sends you on an emotional ride with it's honesty about life, relationships, and the challenges of being a woman. I could not put it down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional rollercoaster
Review: (White Oldeander, Janet Fitch). This story was a real heart-breaker and page-turner for me. I couldn't put this book down. I was on the edge of my seat, never knowing what Astrid Magnussen's mother would do next. Would she share with her daughter the bitter parts of life, love and relationships, or would she throw her daughter occasional scraps of love and tenderness. Sometimes I thought her mom was okay, and so did Astrid. She loved her mom and she hated her. But in the end, Astrid learns what her mother is all about. She found strength and wisdom and good from all the situations she experienced. She is a survivor!
Rating:
Summary: Emotional rollercoaster
Review: This story was a real heart-breaker and page-turner for me. I couldn't put this book down. I was on the edge of my seat, never knowing what Astrid Magnussen's mother would do next. Would she show her daughter the bitter parts of life, love and relationships, or would she throw her daughter occasional scraps of love and tenderness. Sometimes I thought her mom was okay, and so did Astrid. She loved her mom and she hated her. But in the end, Astrid learns what her mother is all about. She found strength and wisdom and good from all the foster home situations she experienced. She is a survivor!
Rating:
Summary: Greatest Book I Ever Read
Review: I was so amazed at the power this book had over me. From moment one, I was swept up with this book. I had to read it over and over, just to totally grasp the whole situation (you may be smarter but I just wanted to make sure). I would recommend this book to anyone who feels that life has handed them lemons. . . .this book makes you realize that you have it good.
Rating: 
Summary: Trite and predictable
Review: This book was a huge disappointment. I was told by everyone that this book was not to be missed...I wish I would have missed it. It was trite, shallow, and predictable. The author used too many adjectives and cliches rather than actual dialogue or meaningful thoughts. I found the ending to be a little too tidy. If you enjoy books in this vein, read "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb instead.
Rating:
Summary: Got Me
Review: I am really not much of a reader, never have been. I am easily distracted and often times I find myself reading the same page many times before I actually understand it. This book however, completely captured my attention. I was able to read through with great ease and loved every minute. Fitch's writing style is unique and quite vivid. The characters truly came alive as I was transported into their world. I recommend this book for everyone, including those who do not consider themselves "readers".
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