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A review by lunabean
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I havenโt read this mesmerising a book in a while๐๐๐ A compulsive Bildungsroman from beginning till end, filled with a childโs painful, enduring longing. I love books about longing. What is life if not painful longing??? ๐ซ๏ธ
Through Astridโs eyes from 12 to adolescence, we see how a daughter endures figurative imprisonment in exchange for a relationship with her mother: A traumatic loss first happens (as in every Bildungsroman) when her mother Ingrid whom she idolised, kills a scorned lover and gets a life sentence. As Astrid is forsaken, she goes through cruel ordeals from foster home to foster home whilst savouring every meagre letter her mother sends from prison. These events shape Astridโs thoughts, behaviours; innocent beliefs about her mother evolving as she grows up and begins to understand the impact of her motherโs pivotal decision years ago.
I find books remarkable when
a) ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ: this book has clear themes, Fitch draws a vivid picture of a daughterโs relationship with her mother; how an event can be formative; the pure, intense yearning of a child to be loved, seen and protected; the strength that comes from a need to survive.
b) ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฎ, ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ก๐. Fitch captures the affection of the reader through Astridโs fierce resolve and resilience, persuasive characterisation that allows us to understand their motives, and consistently draws connections between parts of the novel (consequently between parts of Astridโs life) to establish parallels and a realistic world.
With prose that is fluid and moving, this book is raw, powerful and heartfelt. I will recommend this book to anyone whoโs looking to know a characterโs whole world intimately and who loves taking pauses when they read a good line (cuz youโre gonna take lots of pauses in this one)๐ค
Through Astridโs eyes from 12 to adolescence, we see how a daughter endures figurative imprisonment in exchange for a relationship with her mother: A traumatic loss first happens (as in every Bildungsroman) when her mother Ingrid whom she idolised, kills a scorned lover and gets a life sentence. As Astrid is forsaken, she goes through cruel ordeals from foster home to foster home whilst savouring every meagre letter her mother sends from prison. These events shape Astridโs thoughts, behaviours; innocent beliefs about her mother evolving as she grows up and begins to understand the impact of her motherโs pivotal decision years ago.
I find books remarkable when
a) ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ: this book has clear themes, Fitch draws a vivid picture of a daughterโs relationship with her mother; how an event can be formative; the pure, intense yearning of a child to be loved, seen and protected; the strength that comes from a need to survive.
b) ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฎ, ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ก๐. Fitch captures the affection of the reader through Astridโs fierce resolve and resilience, persuasive characterisation that allows us to understand their motives, and consistently draws connections between parts of the novel (consequently between parts of Astridโs life) to establish parallels and a realistic world.
With prose that is fluid and moving, this book is raw, powerful and heartfelt. I will recommend this book to anyone whoโs looking to know a characterโs whole world intimately and who loves taking pauses when they read a good line (cuz youโre gonna take lots of pauses in this one)๐ค