“White Oleander” is a novel by American author Janet Fitch. The book is about childhood and growing up alone, when a child does not have somebody who would support and give some advices. The book is so frank and shrewd that it just breaks something in the reader. After reading, you will not perceive the relationship between mother and daughter as before, because Ingrid and Astrid will never be the same people regardless of whether they were good or bad before.
However, this novel is not so much about death, as about life, the struggle for life against death; naturally, many thoughts and questions can appear in the mind of readers. Many different feelings can appear in our souls. Readers will want to praise Janet Fitch and her work for the incredible depth and the story, which is described in the book “White Oleander”, because it is very exciting and even absorbing.
There is a stunning, incredible and profound story about the life of women in the “world of men”. The subtle philosophy of each phrase evokes the desire to parse the novel into quotes. This book is poison, which will penetrate into readers slowly and gradually, fill all their thoughts and bring discord into the familiar and balanced mechanism, which people call life. Sometimes, it will blast readers with pain and sympathy towards the main characters, especially towards Astrid.
The novel is about how parents with their own selfishness do not notice that they are destroying the life of children. Parents are confident that they are acting for the sake of children, but in fact, they are breaking many dreams and hopes of their children without hesitation.
There are many interesting, different, strong female characters in this book. Almost all men are like furniture in this book - perform some function in the life of women. In principle, it seems that it is easier for Janet Fitch to deduce the contrast with mother of the main character Astrid.
This is a terrible book and at the same time, it is interesting and attractive, because it contains all relationships between children and parents, which affects all problems. There are problems such as the fear of a child to be abandoned; all attempts to deserve maternal love; a teenage period with all troubles of a lonely child, who tries to become adult and break the connection with mother; turning a girl into a woman; development of feminine and character.
The most complicated theme is discussed with a considerable number of nuances, plans, and details completely. The author shows the achievement of the meaning of life, the attitude to pain and loneliness, the theme of freedom and its limitation, social structure of America, art and religion. Each character of the novel teaches readers to achieve different goals. Astrid teaches to appreciate freedom, independence and be strong, Ingrid always teaches to educate children during all stages of growing up, Starr proves that readers always should fight for your love, and Claire teaches readers never to give up and be upset if you have a difficult life. “White Oleander” is a reason to appreciate everything what you have and not to destroy your love.
