White Oleander Janet Fitch
White Oleander is a very artistic novel illustrating the journey of Astrid through a variety of foster homes after her biological and legitimately evil mother is incarcerated for murdering her lover using poison from the Oleander flower. This book is ripe with imagery and symbolism- especially in relation with Nordic Mythology, Aquatic Imagery, and the concept of Beauty as an entity. Astrid is given to one mother , then another as circumstance ejects her into the unknown time and time again. She picks up the dirt from each household and carries it on with her like a dirty sponge- losing herself in the layers of others. This is an exceptional read- however the ending left much to be desired. It was later adapted into a film starring Michelle Pfieffer as the murderess Ingrid.
