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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
White Oleander is heart-breaking, and I identified with Astrid so much. She was such a brilliant character, as was her mother, Ingrid. The nature of their relationship was even more complex.
Janet Fitch’s writing is so poetic, which is appropriate considering Ingrid is a renowned poet. Every foster home Astrid went to was a universe all in its own, with unique characters and norms. Of them all, Claire and her husband broke my heart the most. Astrid stayed over 2 years with them and genuinely loved Claire, only for Claire to commit suicide after years of thinking her husband would leave her. As I was reading, my eyes teared up and I was genuinely so sad for Astrid.
The brief relationships Astrid had with adult men was upsetting in its own way, not just because she was underage and it’s illegal, but because she just wanted a father figure. Ingrid kept her away from having a father, and when Ingrid went to prison, Astrid lost her mother as well.
Through all the tragedy, Astrid grew into an independent and strong woman. However, the ending implies that after years of trying to escape the hold her mother kept on her, that bond is still there. On the very last page, Astrid finally realized “[her] blood whispered [Ingrid’s] name”, and that “no matter where [she] went, [her] compass pointed West”. This novel was poignant and gut wrenching and most of all, accurate. Life happens. People kills and people die; things don’t always go to plan. This was Astrid’s reality for all of her life.
Janet Fitch’s writing is so poetic, which is appropriate considering Ingrid is a renowned poet. Every foster home Astrid went to was a universe all in its own, with unique characters and norms. Of them all, Claire and her husband broke my heart the most. Astrid stayed over 2 years with them and genuinely loved Claire, only for Claire to commit suicide after years of thinking her husband would leave her. As I was reading, my eyes teared up and I was genuinely so sad for Astrid.
The brief relationships Astrid had with adult men was upsetting in its own way, not just because she was underage and it’s illegal, but because she just wanted a father figure. Ingrid kept her away from having a father, and when Ingrid went to prison, Astrid lost her mother as well.
Through all the tragedy, Astrid grew into an independent and strong woman. However, the ending implies that after years of trying to escape the hold her mother kept on her, that bond is still there. On the very last page, Astrid finally realized “[her] blood whispered [Ingrid’s] name”, and that “no matter where [she] went, [her] compass pointed West”. This novel was poignant and gut wrenching and most of all, accurate. Life happens. People kills and people die; things don’t always go to plan. This was Astrid’s reality for all of her life.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A compelling, dark, sometimes heart-warming read about Astrid's difficult childhood. It starts with her life with her eccentric, but clearly mentally ill, mother in LA.
“Always learn poems by heart,” she said. “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.”
The relationship between Ingrid and Astrid is both endearing and disturbing. Even at a young age, Astrid seemed older than her years.
"I tried not to make it worse by asking for things, pulling her down with my thoughts. I had seen girls clamor for new clothes and complain about what their mothers made for dinner. I was always mortified. Didn’t they know they were tying their mothers to the ground?"
Ingrid is a brilliant poet but ends up murdering her ex-boyfriend and goes to prison. This begins Astrid's story of being bounced around foster homes. Each place she goes she learns something different about herself, survival, life, family and love.
“Honey, this is what happens when you fall in love. You’re looking at a natural disaster.” I vowed I would never fall in love."
It's not your typical book. The book is written beautifully, painting pictures for the reader that will not be forgotten.
Wherever Astrid goes, she finds solace in someone. In the first house, a trailer-trash type place, she befriends one of the young boys there. In the next place she befriends one of the neighbors who teaches her a lot about life and love.
“Isn’t it funny. I’m enjoying my hatred so much more than I ever enjoyed love. Love is temperamental. Tiring. It makes demands. Love uses you. Changes its mind.”
"When you started thinking it was easy, you were forgetting what it cost."
There was one foster home where this wealthy interior designer had a beautiful home and had several foster kids, teenage girls. It seemed like it was a wonderful home. But looks were deceiving. As soon as the social worker left, Astrid found out the foster mom was basically starving all the teenagers. The kitchen was locked and they were allowed to eat dinner and that was it. Astrid began stealing food at school from the garbage because she was literally starving to death.
There were so many horrible things in the book, but it's balanced by some glimpses of beauty and humanity. I loved this book!
“Always learn poems by heart,” she said. “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.”
The relationship between Ingrid and Astrid is both endearing and disturbing. Even at a young age, Astrid seemed older than her years.
"I tried not to make it worse by asking for things, pulling her down with my thoughts. I had seen girls clamor for new clothes and complain about what their mothers made for dinner. I was always mortified. Didn’t they know they were tying their mothers to the ground?"
Ingrid is a brilliant poet but ends up murdering her ex-boyfriend and goes to prison. This begins Astrid's story of being bounced around foster homes. Each place she goes she learns something different about herself, survival, life, family and love.
“Honey, this is what happens when you fall in love. You’re looking at a natural disaster.” I vowed I would never fall in love."
It's not your typical book. The book is written beautifully, painting pictures for the reader that will not be forgotten.
Wherever Astrid goes, she finds solace in someone. In the first house, a trailer-trash type place, she befriends one of the young boys there. In the next place she befriends one of the neighbors who teaches her a lot about life and love.
“Isn’t it funny. I’m enjoying my hatred so much more than I ever enjoyed love. Love is temperamental. Tiring. It makes demands. Love uses you. Changes its mind.”
"When you started thinking it was easy, you were forgetting what it cost."
There was one foster home where this wealthy interior designer had a beautiful home and had several foster kids, teenage girls. It seemed like it was a wonderful home. But looks were deceiving. As soon as the social worker left, Astrid found out the foster mom was basically starving all the teenagers. The kitchen was locked and they were allowed to eat dinner and that was it. Astrid began stealing food at school from the garbage because she was literally starving to death.
There were so many horrible things in the book, but it's balanced by some glimpses of beauty and humanity. I loved this book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a great read! What else can I say? I was amazed by its poetic narration and the journey of a young girl, Astrid.
Very magnificent writing. 4.5!
Very magnificent writing. 4.5!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment