Janet Fitch

Oprah's Book Club: White Oleander (Paperback)

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(4.15) 4.15 stars out of 13 reviews 13 reviews
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Oprah's Book Club: White Oleander (Paperback)

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4.15 out of 5stars
(13 reviews)
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Most helpful positive review

5.00 out of 5 stars review
Verified Purchaser
05/16/2021
Flew through this. I finally got a…
Flew through this. I finally got a chance to read this novel (it was in my library since 1999!!!!) & It was perfect.
ShannonRose4

Most helpful negative review

2.00 out of 5 stars review
Verified Purchaser
03/16/2011
In poetry:Austere and t...
In poetry: Austere and tragic? No; nor shocking nor well, good Merely obnoxious. In prose: White Oleander reads as a melodramatic persecution fantasy plotted out by contrivance and penned by an id-suppressed teenager.
kaionvin
  • 4.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    05/21/2021
    Astrid Magnussen is the daughter of…
    Astrid Magnussen is the daughter of Ingrid Magnussen, a poet of some talent and great beauty. But from the beginning of the novel, you are left to wonder whether Ingrid is merely a bit quirky and flighty or there are deeper underlying issues. Ingrid is a free spirit, and she seems to love Astrid. We see their relationship in both the present as well as Astrid recalling places they have traveled and lived, largely in relation to Ingrid's relationship with the men in her life. The Astrid that we, as readers, meet at the beginning of the novel is a young pre-teen who absolutely adores her mother, and sees little wrong with her mother's behavior. Yet there is an underlying tension to the relationship, a relationship that we will come to see as both toxic and tragic as the book progresses. Ingrid is rather free with the men in her life, largely using them for the pleasures they can bring her. She initially parades a series of younger, nubile, and beautiful men through her life; men who compliment the great beauty she is portrayed as. But, Ingrid Magnussen is really cold, aloof, and possessive; she falls for a man that she initially claims she would never be with; he is dull and not beautiful. And then when he rejects here, she falls apart over, and Astrid, who watches her mother spiral downward with her obsession over the rejection, is caught up in her mother's behavior as her mother slides over the edge and poisons her lover with oleander. White Oleander follows Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes, some of which represent the worst things we often hear about the foster system. As a character, Astrid begins as a pale shadow of her mother, which is reflected in their similar features--white blonde hair, nordic jaw and noses. As she moves through a series of foster homes, she is scarred both emotionally/mentally and physically, yet she grows stronger in character through each tragedy. In addition to the tragedies in each foster home, the poisonous words of her mother weave through her life in letters that her other sends from prison. The letters reflect the manic swings of her mother's personality and her behavior toward not only Astrid but anyone that she does not approve of Astrid associating with. Eventually, however, as Astrid grows stronger, we see her step out of her mother's shadow. White Oleander is a complex coming of age story that looks at some of the darkest corners of the foster care system; it's also an interesting character study of a teenage girl trying to come to terms with the tragic figure of her mother and her relationship with her mother all while trying to determine who she, herself, really is. Fitch's writing is beautiful in many places throughout the novel; her rendering of Ingrid's letters to Astrid show's an interesting and complex mastery of voice as she moves from narrating from Astrid's point of view to writing as Ingrid, a woman who is possessive, obsessed, and manic. Fitch's writing will make you uncomfortable through her development of Astrid's relationship with her foster parents', particularly the abusive and inappropriate relationships in a couple of the foster homes; however, this discomfort is central to the story. In the end, White Oleander seems to leave the reader disquieted because it's a haunting coming of age story that stays with you.
    slpwhitehead
  • 5.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    05/16/2021
    Flew through this. I finally got a…
    Flew through this. I finally got a chance to read this novel (it was in my library since 1999!!!!) & It was perfect.
    ShannonRose4
  • 5.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    09/14/2020
    Flew through this. I finally got a chance to read this novel (it was in my library since 1999!!!!) & It was perfect.
    ShannonRose4
  • 4.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    09/13/2016
    A beautifully written ...
    A beautifully written emotional bat. This book is savage in the ups and downs of story about a girl left alone after her mother is convicted of a crime. A wonderful read, but strange in that some days I could only read 3-4 pgs and other days 50-60pgs. Well worth the effort and emotion this book is sure to inspire.
    Bricker
  • 4.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    01/21/2016
    Astrid narrates this t...
    Astrid narrates this tale of her journey through a series of foster homes in the six years following her mother's imprisonment for murdering an ex-lover. Ingrid Magnussen is the quintessential free spirit. Pale, with vivid blue eyes, and nearly white blond hair, she is wraithlike and beautiful; a single mother who is devoted to her only child, Astrid. Ingrid frequently spouts her philosophy that women should be strong and that they do not need the love of a man to flourish. Then Barry Kolker enters their lives, and Ingrid falls hard. When Barry stops calling, Ingrid cannot let go. Eventually her obsession with revenge leads her to concoct a poison of oleander blossoms, and Astrid is left to the foster care system when Ingrid is sent to prison. Astrid's experiences are at times horrific, but there are moments of warmth as well. She finds the strength to survive and even flourish for a while. The result is a young woman who is still far from the promise of her talent and intellect, but able finally to confront her mother. It's a powerful story, and well-written. The ending feels a little forced, however, wrapping up a bit too quickly.
    BookConcierge
  • 4.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    01/15/2016
    Astrid Magnussen is th...
    Astrid Magnussen is the daughter of Ingrid Magnussen, a poet of some talent and great beauty. But from the beginning of the novel, you are left to wonder whether Ingrid is merely a bit quirky and flighty or there are deeper underlying issues. Ingrid is a free spirit, and she seems to love Astrid. We see their relationship in both the present as well as Astrid recalling places they have traveled and lived, largely in relation to Ingrid's relationship with the men in her life. The Astrid that we, as readers, meet at the beginning of the novel is a young pre-teen who absolutely adores her mother, and sees little wrong with her mother's behavior. Yet there is an underlying tension to the relationship, a relationship that we will come to see as both toxic and tragic as the book progresses. Ingrid is rather free with the men in her life, largely using them for the pleasures they can bring her. She initially parades a series of younger, nubile, and beautiful men through her life; men who compliment the great beauty she is portrayed as. But, Ingrid Magnussen is really cold, aloof, and possessive; she falls for a man that she initially claims she would never be with; he is dull and not beautiful. And then when he rejects here, she falls apart over, and Astrid, who watches her mother spiral downward with her obsession over the rejection, is caught up in her mother's behavior as her mother slides over the edge and poisons her lover with oleander. White Oleander follows Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes, some of which represent the worst things we often hear about the foster system. As a character, Astrid begins as a pale shadow of her mother, which is reflected in their similar features--white blonde hair, nordic jaw and noses. As she moves through a series of foster homes, she is scarred both emotionally/mentally and physically, yet she grows stronger in character through each tragedy. In addition to the tragedies in each foster home, the poisonous words of her mother weave through her life in letters that her other sends from prison. The letters reflect the manic swings of her mother's personality and her behavior toward not only Astrid but anyone that she does not approve of Astrid associating with. Eventually, however, as Astrid grows stronger, we see her step out of her mother's shadow.White Oleander is a complex coming of age story that looks at some of the darkest corners of the foster care system; it's also an interesting character study of a teenage girl trying to come to terms with the tragic figure of her mother and her relationship with her mother all while trying to determine who she, herself, really is. Fitch's writing is beautiful in many places throughout the novel; her rendering of Ingrid's letters to Astrid show's an interesting and complex mastery of voice as she moves from narrating from Astrid's point of view to writing as Ingrid, a woman who is possessive, obsessed, and manic. Fitch's writing will make you uncomfortable through her development of Astrid's relationship with her foster parents', particularly the abusive and inappropriate relationships in a couple of the foster homes; however, this discomfort is central to the story. In the end, White Oleander seems to leave the reader disquieted because it's a haunting coming of age story that stays with you.
    slpwhitehead
  • 5.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    11/02/2013
    This book was probably...
    This book was probably the most touching i have ever read. The reader can feel the pain written into each page, the severe hardships of a young girl. This book is somewhat a coming of age story, but in the darkest sense. It was very relatable, in that I understood the sense of hopelessness, and giving up. It showed that every time one overcomes one hardship, the next is around the corner. It makes the reader feel better. It puts all problems into perspective, because it shows that what you are going through is not as bad as it could be. It was depressing, but so well written that i felt as if i was right there next to Astrid, feeling her pain, going to each new home by her side. This is one of my all time favorite books. It gives all aspects of life and many varied characters, and shows the tragedy in life and the silver linings. It is the ultimate "loss of innocence" story, far more effective than the classics, such as To Kill a Mockingbird or Catcher in the Rye. It is modern and realistic. It has left me with an unshakable feeling, one that i cannot identify, but is always there. Reading this at a young age, during a personal crisis, aided me in maturing faster. It displayed the horrors the world can hold. If Astrid could get through it, so could I.
    nikirubin
  • 2.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    03/16/2011
    In poetry:Austere and t...
    In poetry: Austere and tragic? No; nor shocking nor well, good Merely obnoxious. In prose: White Oleander reads as a melodramatic persecution fantasy plotted out by contrivance and penned by an id-suppressed teenager.
    kaionvin
  • 5.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    10/11/2010
    Okay so this one was a...
    Okay so this one was a tough read not because the book is not good but because it was crafted so like a poem, and man almost everybody knows I'm not into poems but still I've read the book and it was soo good! For one I can relate to Astrid's pain from jumping to one foster home to another. Growing up without a mom to guide her through the way. And to be taken advantage even as a child. Some people who have read this may not get the book as a whole but when you really put your attention into it, you can related to it every step of the way. I myself don't know what it feels like to grow up in different homes, to be with different people, to watch out for yourself at a young age but I feel her pain of being independent. I commend Astrid for being the brave soul in spite everything she went through. I had mixed emotions with this book, you can love them or hate every person, you'll learn to praise them or condemn them. Either way, it's a beautifully crafted book, designed to captivate your heart and touch your soul. "Always learn poems by heart. They have to become the marrow in your bones. Like fluoride in the water, they'll make your soul impervious to the world's soft decay."
    TheSolitaryBookworm
  • 4.00 out of 5 stars review
    Verified Purchaser
    07/07/2010
    I would love to be abl...
    I would love to be able to say that I found Ingrid an unbelievable character. Unfortunately, I know someone just like her. Someone so self involved that she would destroy her own child without a thought and has. This novel is thought provoking and heart breaking. The whole book I just kept hoping that Astrid would stand up to her mother, and when she does, I don't think that she goes far enough... Overall a good read, but for some it might strike too close to home.
    bookwormteri
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