White Oleander by Janet Fitch (2000)

I bought this book not long after it was first released, on my quest to conquer all the books in Oprah's book club.

Janet Fitch could not have written a better book to debut her abilities with. White Oleander is pure genius! I found the book hard to put down, even though it has almost 500 pages. The book presents the story in such a living, breathing manner that the characters are easily brought to life in your mind.

The story is about a young girl whose mother has been imprisoned for murdering an ex-boyfriend. This mother is particularly strange to me; she's very eclectic and poetic. Her daughter is quite like her, but has grown to stand in her mother's shadow. When the mother is imprisoned, Astrid, the young girl, must learn to live in a series of foster homes around the area with all types of people trying to tell her how to behave and what to believe. Astrid has few friends and becomes somewhat alienated. Gradually, she comes to live with herself and grows away from her mother.

This is a typical novel of self-discovery with some odd twists and turns along the way. The voice of this book will leave a lasting impression on you long after you've finished reading, which is partly what makes it so special. It also presents controversial issues and brings awareness to alternative living conditions, such as foster care, in a very human, engrossing way.

A must for anyone seeking a great, long book with amazing emotional power.

White Oleander by Janet Fitch is the story of a vain, toxic mother and her young daughter. The mother, Ingrid, is imprisoned fairly early on the book, but not before scarring her daughter with her on and off coldness and neglect. The rest of the story is about the daughter, Astrid, who goes through a series of foster homes, hoping against hope to find love and acceptance. You'll find yourself aching to put your arms around Astrid throughout her trials and struggles. My favorite thing about this story is the language used. Janet Fitch is a master of description, metaphors and similes. I've read a lot of books, and this is one of my all-time favorites. It really is remarkable!