Summer Reading Blog: White Oleander

White Oleander

By Janet Fitch

Relentlessly under the impression of her mother's rigid beliefs, Astrid is forced to accept life only from her mother’s viewpoint. After her mother is imprisoned for murder, Astrid is navigated through a chain of foster homes each a world apart. With each new "family" comes an unfamiliar lifestyle with its own morals, rules, and risks. Every time Astrid moves homes, with another unexpected experience in her past, she learns a little more about herself, breaking out of the mould her mother formed for her years ago.

Though this novel is more oriented towards a female audience, I would strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a juicy read. The main reasons I would suggest this novel is because of its unexpected plot and Janet Fitch's writing style. Astrid's life is full of events that are unimaginable to think of in reality, but after every blow to her heart or her head, the author isn't afraid to push the envelope even more. Even when the plot is less eventful, the story focuses on Astrid's personal perception, countless thoughts and emotions or her unique observations about other people. Another reason I would recommend this novel is because of Janet Fitch's writing style. Each scene of the novel is written in a way in which every event, thought and feeling is a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The reader emulates the emotions that Astrid is experiencing. The novel is written with such detail that the reader is able to be in the exact moment with Astrid, witnessing every hardship she experiences.

One of the most powerful scenes in the novel is when Ingrid, Astrid’s mother is being taken away by the police after being charged with murder. In a film version of White Oleander the song Speeding Cars by Imogen Heap would be playing. The lyrics to the song speak to Astrid and would say everything her mother was unable to say. The song talks about how life is hard, and how some things turn out for the worst, but there is really nothing to change some situations and you just have to move ahead. These blunt but realistic messages convey exactly what Astrid’s mother’s beliefs are in life, and the messages she passed on to Astrid. But for Astrid, some things in life simply can’t be fixed with a web of excuses and lies.

If White Oleander were to be turned into a film, the opening shot would appear like this: Astrid would be sitting on the corner of a metal bed, with a crumpled letter from her mother, in her hands. There would be a voice over narration of her vaguely explaining how torn apart her life is, and her circumstance. Astrid would then get up, drop the letter on the floor along with an oleander flower and walk away. The camera would slowly pan to a sign taped to the door saying: "placement needed". The film would fade back to the beginning of the story. The film would start like this because it would introduce some of the key symbols and themes of the story. It would also explain how Astrid has been feeling prior to entering the foster system, and how she isn't going to let her mother’s mistakes control her life. Astrid is going to walk away from the life her mother created for her. She knows she deserves better.

By Leah Kuzmuk