Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to in intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery – but their idyll is shattered when Astrid’s mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison. Published 1999. Fiction. 390 pages.
In her debut novel White Oleander Fitch proves to be nothing short of exquisite. Fitch’s writing style is something beautiful like poetry while still delivering a brilliant well paced plot. The story starts out introducing you to the two main characters Ingrid Magnussen and her daughter Astrid Magnussen. Ingrid and Astrid are inseparable, Astrid could never imagine a moment, let alone a life, without her mother in it. Astrid’s greatest fear creeps its way into their lives faster than she could have expected when her mother starts seeing a man named Barry Kolker. Things between Ingrid and Barry turn foul fast leading Ingrid into murdering Barry, landing her in prison, and sending Astrid into the foster care system. Astrid ends up experiencing four different foster homes (Starr, Ed & Marvel, Claire and Rena) each one teaching her lessons about life and leading her on a self finding journey until an elegant ending. Each of her foster homes come with their own stories, their own heartbreaks, and their own triumphs. This all while constantly intertwining with Ingrid’s own experiences in prison through letters and scattered visits. The reader is taken on a true journey of up and downs as Astrid and Ingrid navigate a timeless tale of mother & daughter relationships. It would be impossible to pick a favorite part of the novel, as each home, each part, is something unique and captivating. I loved how each character effortlessly comes to life in every sentence of the story. I can say one of my favorite characters out of the book is Claire, I wouldn’t say she was the best home overall, but I do admire how much she loved Astrid. She was kind, caring, and attentive, although she suffered from crippling depression Claire never stopped trying her best simply for Astrid. Overall, I found the book to be crisp, timeless and beautiful. It has definitely left it’s mark as one book that will stay with me throughout. If you are looking for your next great read, grab this one. You will not regret one moment spent lost in this harrowing yet heartful story of one girls journey on finding herself.
Ali’s Book Nook Corner 📚 