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| White Oleander (novel) | |
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| Author | Janet Fitch |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | JADE |
| Genre(s) | Bildungsroman novel |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Co. |
| Publication date | 1999 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 446 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-316-28526-9 |
White Oleander is a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. It is a coming-of-age story about a child (Astrid) who is separated from her mother (Ingrid) and placed in a series of foster homes. The book was a selection by Oprah's Book Club in May 1999.
Themes
Much of the novel deals with Astrid's quest to find herself while living in the shadow of her mother. The book may also be seen as a memoir, as it is told directly from Astrid's point of view, as if she were recalling the entire novel. Each new foster home she enters, she goes into a new phase in which ideas are presented to her from different aspects and many different encounters with other characters.
While living her life with her mother, Astrid fears abandonment, While living with Starr, Astid begins to selfishly pursue Ray without any care for Starr and the other children. At Marvell's home Astrid reaches new levels of depression when she feels used by Marvell. At Amelia's, Astrid feels great fear and desperation. At Claire's Astrid finally feels perfectly loved by Claire, a kind of love that she never felt with Ingrid. While in Mac Astrid learns how to live in isolation as she doesn't want to love anyone else. And finally when living with Rena, Astrid learns how to live in a life where she chooses to remain independent of her mother while still holding power of Ingrid.
Throughout the book, Astrid learns how to survive.
The book takes place in Los Angeles, California.
External links
- "Making a monster": Salon.com article with the author by Laura Miller
- White Oleander at Oprah's Book Club website
