Why did I love this book?
Fitch’s characters are powerful, multi-faceted, and written without disclosure. Furthermore, White Oleander is a survival story, which I love.
When I first read this book, I had just had my second child, and I was in the midst of an abusive marriage. I didn’t necessarily find a sisterhood with Fitch’s characters, which could’ve been true enough, as much as I found an example to follow in genre study. Much of what I endured during those tumultuous years I tunneled into writing, and for that reason, in many ways, White Oleander is a precursor to my writing career, and Trespassing is one of the results of my studying Fitch’s style. Furthermore, publishing is part of my survival story.
7 authors picked White Oleander as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
White Oleander is a painfully beautiful first novel about a young girl growing up the hard way. It is a powerful story of mothers and daughters, their ambiguous alliances, their selfish love and cruel behaviour, and the search for love and identity.Astrid has been raised by her mother, a beautiful, headstrong poet. Astrid forgives her everything as her world revolves around this beautiful creature until Ingrid murders a former lover and is imprisoned for life. Astrid's fierce determination to survive and be loved makes her an unforgettable figure. 'Liquid poetry' - Oprah Winfrey 'Tangled, complex and extraordinarily moving' - Observer
- Coming soon!