White Oleander

White Oleander

infobox Book |
name = White Oleander (novel)
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Janet Fitch
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = JADE
genre = Bildungsroman novel
publisher = Little, Brown and Co.
release_date = 1999
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 446 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-316-28526-9
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"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 who couldn't seem to 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

* [http://www.salon.com/books/feature/1999/07/01/oleander/ "Making a monster"] : Salon.com article with the author by Laura Miller
* [http://www.oprah.com/obc/pastbooks/janet_fitch/obc_pb_19990506.jhtml "White Oleander"] at Oprah's Book Club website


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • White Oleander — Título La flor del mal (España) Déjame vivir (Argentina) Ficha técnica Dirección Peter Kosminsky Producción John Wells Hunt Lowry …   Wikipedia Español

  • White Oleander — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Weißer Oleander Originaltitel: White Oleander Produktionsland: USA, Deutschland Erscheinungsjahr: 2002 Länge: 105 Minuten Originalsprache …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • White Oleander (film) — Infobox Film name = White Oleander image size = caption = Theatrical release poster director = Peter Kosminsky producer = Hunt Lowry John Wells writer = Janet Fitch (novel) Mary Agnes Donoghue narrator = starring = Alison Lohman Michelle Pfeiffer …   Wikipedia

  • Oleander (disambiguation) — Oleander may refer to: Matt Oleander, a fictional character in Degrassi: The Next Generation Morceau Oleander, a fictional character in Psychonauts MV Oleander, ferry Oleander, poisonous plant Oleander, California, in Fresno County Oleander… …   Wikipedia

  • Oleander — O le*an der, n. [F. ol[ e]andre (cf. It. oleandro, LL. lorandrum), prob. corrupted, under the influence of laurus laurel, fr. L. rhododendron, Gr. ?; ? rose + ? tree.] (Bot.) A beautiful evergreen shrub ({Nerium oleander}) of the Dogbane family,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oleander — [ō′lē an΄dər, ō΄lē an′dər] n. [ML, earlier also lorandrum: altered < ? L rhododendron] a poisonous evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the dogbane family, with fragrant flowers of white, pink, or red and narrow, leathery leaves …   English World dictionary

  • oleander — ► NOUN ▪ an evergreen shrub grown in warm countries for its clusters of white, pink, or red flowers, that are poisonous if eaten. ORIGIN Latin …   English terms dictionary

  • oleander — /oh lee an deuhr, oh lee an /, n. a poisonous shrub, Nerium oleander, of the dogbane family, native to southern Eurasia, having evergreen leaves and showy clusters of pink, red, or white flowers, and widely cultivated as an ornamental. [1540 50;… …   Universalium

  • oleander — The bark and leaves of Nerium o. (family Apocynaceae), a shrub of the eastern Mediterranean; formerly used as a diuretic and heart tonic. * * * ole·an·der ō lē .an dər, .ō lē n a poisonous evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the dogbane family… …   Medical dictionary

  • oleander — UK [ˌəʊlɪˈændə(r)] / US [ˌoʊlɪˈændər] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms oleander : singular oleander plural oleanders a bush with white, pink, or red flowers that are poisonous …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”