White Oleander
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4.3 • 41 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
The unforgettable story of a young woman's odyssey through a series of Los Angeles foster homes on her journey to redemption.
“Liquid poetry.” —Oprah Winfrey
Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her beauty to intimidate and manipulate. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world of ritual and mystery. But their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother murders a lover, and is sentenced to prison for life.
Hailed as a novel of rare beauty and power, White Oleander follows Astrid through a a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in the world. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons. Astrid's journey investigates the nature of the mother-daughter bond, burgeoning sexuality, the redemptive powers of art, and the unstoppable force of self-discovery.
An Oprah's Book Club pick • A 2002 feature film starring Michelle Pfeiffer
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Much like adolescence itself, this acclaimed coming-of-age novel is equal parts beautiful and harrowing. Twelve-year-old Astrid is deeply close to her mother, Ingrid, a celebrated poet. But Ingrid’s passions run deep—so deep that she poisons her cheating boyfriend, landing her in prison and throwing Astrid into foster care. That’s just the beginning of Astrid’s frightening adolescent odyssey as she leapfrogs from one abusive, unstable home to another, all the while trying to come to terms with her increasingly complicated feelings for her mother. We were blown away by author Janet Fitch’s brilliant psychological insight as she charts Astrid’s dysfunctional attempts to grow from girl to woman amid a seemingly endless parade of women who hurt her, forget her, or let her down. White Oleander was adapted into a big movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Renée Zellweger, but there’s no replacement for reading this unforgettable novel.
Customer Reviews
Amazing book.
All time absolute favourite.