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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Holy crap. Something terrible happens to the main character like every 40 pages. I had a hard time continuing because I knew things would just go badly again soon haha. Despite that, it was a good read and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to renting the movie to compare soon
The words were beautifully written. Fitch has an uncanny ability to make even the most common events sound beautiful. I believe that the voice of Oprah Winfrey's voice added to the beauty of the words. (Which surprised me!). I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the content of the book has it not been so beautifully written.
I always come back to this book. I’m not even sure how many times I’ve read it now over the years. Beautifully written, it’s like poetry.
I'm sometimes skeptical of books that become wildly popular. Every review I read about this book absolutely raved about how wonderful it is, and in this case my skepticism wasn't warranted. This book is hypnotic. It reads like a poem. It's rich with symbolism and I really appreciate the main character's growth throughout. I saw this movie when it came out as a teenager and barely remembered it. I'm glad watching the movie so long ago didn't ruin this book for me. Parts of it are disconcerting, but it was a great read.
White Oleander is the story of an orphan, Astrid, and her life in foster homes after her mother is sent to prison. It’s full of sadness and defeat (after all, we’re reminded over and over again in the novel that “loneliness is the human condition”), but it’s one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. Fitch’s writing is unlike any I’ve read before. I felt like I was reading a 450+ page poem. Every line in the book can be interpreted several ways, paint multiple visuals... I even found myself at times smelling the perfumes of the women, the tobacco (which every man seemed to smell like in this novel), and the violets that stayed with Astrid’s mother even when she was in prison. I could see how some might be annoyed by her writing style because at times it’s very melodramatic, but I really enjoyed everything in this novel and I know it will be a story that sticks with me for years to come.
Alright, here's an Oprah's Book Club book that I actually enjoyed. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this book. And here are my thoughts.
Astrid Magnussen is a child, living with her mother. Her mother, an artist, a poet and a woman who fights fiercely. However, when Ingrid's boyfriend leaves her, she exacts her revenge and poisons him with oleander flowers. She is arrested, sentenced to prison and sends her daughter to a never ending string of foster homes, and we follow Astrid on her journey to find herself, without her mother.
A lot of the content of this book is truly horrifying. I think one of the reasons that it is so horrifying is because some of the experiences that this child has, are experiences that other children have, this isn't merely a work of fiction. Some homes are better than others, but a lot of them are less than ideal. as she struggles to find herself, her mother still tries to exercise her control from prison. But through the small bit of love that she does find through one foster mom, she is able to stand up for herself.
This book is graphic and intense, and if that is not your cup of tea, I suggest that you stay away from this book. I know that it was made into a movie, which I haven't seen, but I've been told that like usual, the book is far better than the movie. The intensity of this book, and the way that Astrid's story has stuck with me, though its been a few years since I have read this book, everything has stuck with me. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I give it a 5 out of 5.
Astrid Magnussen is a child, living with her mother. Her mother, an artist, a poet and a woman who fights fiercely. However, when Ingrid's boyfriend leaves her, she exacts her revenge and poisons him with oleander flowers. She is arrested, sentenced to prison and sends her daughter to a never ending string of foster homes, and we follow Astrid on her journey to find herself, without her mother.
A lot of the content of this book is truly horrifying. I think one of the reasons that it is so horrifying is because some of the experiences that this child has, are experiences that other children have, this isn't merely a work of fiction. Some homes are better than others, but a lot of them are less than ideal. as she struggles to find herself, her mother still tries to exercise her control from prison. But through the small bit of love that she does find through one foster mom, she is able to stand up for herself.
This book is graphic and intense, and if that is not your cup of tea, I suggest that you stay away from this book. I know that it was made into a movie, which I haven't seen, but I've been told that like usual, the book is far better than the movie. The intensity of this book, and the way that Astrid's story has stuck with me, though its been a few years since I have read this book, everything has stuck with me. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I give it a 5 out of 5.
This book was recommended to me by a coworker as a favorite novel read over and over again. I typically do not like coming of age books but this was a story unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Astrid’s coming of age experience is not that of your typical teenager. However, it makes me wonder how typical it is of those who get bounced from one foster home to another. The first thing I noticed about the book from the very first handful of pages is just how beautifully written it is. That’s what drew me in and kept me intrigued to the very end. Astrid’s story is tragic and it’s no wonder she becomes hardened through it all. But the strength that she finds to pull away from the toxicity of her mother is inspiring.
Beautifully written! I love her whimsical descriptions without being boring. Amazing characters! I love how she developed Astrid's character, she goes through a roller coaster with each foster home and every time she went out of a door she was a different person. You could even love Ingrid with her madness and hateful thoughts. The letters were one of my favorite things in this novel! Unexpected ending, I never thought she would get out of jail. LOVED EACH PAGE!
"I hurt, therefore I am"
"I hurt, therefore I am"
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first chapter was so pretentious I thought I was going to dnf this book. But I kept reading and wow am I glad I did. The story develops so wonderfully and devastatingly, and the imagery is just amazing. I love the use of tarot cards and smells in this book. I wish someone would write an essay about all of the different perfumes characters have. What a great book to end out this year of reading :)