In the article, it claims that Barry commits suicide and made it look like a murder. This beautifully written story is told with an artists eye, through exquisite scenery and poetic wordplay. Astrid finds herself in a number of foster homes through her childhood. A young girl is forced to go though a series of foster homes while her mother is sent to prison for killing her boyfriend. Her mother, Ingrid Magnussen, murdered Barry Kolker. She then moves in with a recovering drug addict who also used to be a stripper and has four kids of her own, including two foster children. Thank you! Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her beauty to intimidate and manipulate. I'll send you notes on entrepreneurship and summaries of the best books I'm reading. Her mother is hauled away in handcuffs. A young girl named Astrid struggles in the Los Angles foster care system after she is put there when her mother is sent to prison for murdering her lover. After the incident Astrid is moved to the next foster home. Your email address will not be published. Subscribe to get summaries of the best books I'm reading. The whole book turns out to be a struggle between Astrid and her mother. For once in her life she feels special. Want to get the main points of White Oleander in 20 minutes or less? Olivia is an African American woman who has money and power in the world because she uses her femininity to her benefit. Amelia Ramos is the next host for Astrid. We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on White Oleander, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Janet Fitch. White Oleander is the story of a young girl, Astrid Magnussen, who in the beginning of the book lives in Los Angeles. It is at this first foster home that Astrid discovers the second meaning of the white oleander, beauty. Eventually, Claire kills herself by overdosing on pills because she can’t handle her problems anymore. She teaches Astrid about how men are powerful and women can use their sexuality as a commodity if they need to do so at some point in time. The book was selected for Oprah's Book Club in May 1999, after which it became a national bestseller. A man who Ingrid... White Oleander is an exciting novel written by Janet Fitch. Issues Astrid deals with while in the foster care system following her mother's crime of passion include: destructive sexual relations, drug use, self-mutilation, sexual orientation, violence, and a highly manipulative, one-of-a-kind character that is her mother, Ingrid. Her mother is the kind of beauty who turns people's heads. Ingrid is imprisoned when Astrid is fourteen. When Mom loses control over a lover, killing him, she is sent to prison, and Astrud, who's about 12 years old at the time, is sent from foster home to foster home. During this incident, Astrid gets addicted to Demerol which causes painkillers after being hospitalized for bone injuries sustained by the gunshot wound. Read the world’s #1 book summary of White Oleander by Janet Fitch here. This is the beginning of her journey. He, of course, lets her down and leaves her. Ingrid sees herself as a Valkyrie who would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven. However, tensions escalate between Claire and Ron when Claire thinks he’s having an affair with his assistant Katie. White Oleander follows Astrid through a a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in the world. The book is about childhood and growing up alone, when a child does not have somebody who would support and give some advices. Your email address will not be published. Astrid is a twelve-year-old girl who lives with her beautiful mother, Ingrid, a poet. Janet Fitch Booklist Janet Fitch Message Board. Within this foster home Astrid is often faced with new difficulties but learns from them. Astrid is placed with a couple named Ed and Marvel Turlock. Astrid is 20 years old by the end of the book. To her mother Astrid is but a mere shadow in the corner, a pet that needs occasional feeding. Click to confirm and you will start receiving new posts in your inbox. The review of this Book prepared by Tendai Mita. It is about a young girl whose mom is a poet, and mentally unstable in many ways. White Oleander follows Astrid through a a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in the world. She cannot come to terms with this and poisons him. Eventually Ingrid entirely looses herself and she is now attempting to kill Barry. One morning, Paul brings home a newspaper article on Ingrid’s release. Astrid and Ingrid float through life, adhering to Ingrid's somewhat arbitrary rules regarding relationships with men, until Ingrid breaks her own rules with a man she falls for. Sign up to receive updates to Janet's Blog via email. How Do You Build One? How poetic and perfect it is that now is when I chose to read this book.