Books Briefly Noted

White Oleander by Janet Finch is a novel about a sickly intimate relationship between a mother and a daughter. Ingrid, a single mother, was a beautiful, poet and wanted an artist lifestyle for herself and her daughter, Astrid. Ingrid's eccentric personality and life rules caused them to live isolated from the rest of society. Suprising Astrid, Ingrid fell in love with a man, Barry, breaking all of her own rules. Barry did not love Ingrid, he was the first man to ever reject her and this made Ingrid snap. She poisioned barry with White Oleander sap leaving her dependent daughter alone with no warning. Astrid is constantly moved from one sick foster home to another. with each move Astrid cchanges herself to fit the new lifestyle of the homes. Each visit with her imprisoned mother, Ingrid poisoned daughter with her words by telling Astrid that she is forgetting who she really is and is becoming someone she is not. Ingrid wanted Astrid to become her. In the final confrontation between Astrid and her mother, Ingrid finally surrenders and lets her daughter go in a way that finally frees Astrid forever.

Daria's White Oleander Trailer Copy

From the novalist, Janet Fitch

White Oleander
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkUuUqtgz70&feature=related

Only the oleanders thrived. An artist only becomes an artist if they have to.
He came into our lives without warning, she was breaking all of her rules.
A journey through a broken girl's life, searching for herself. Her beautiful, artist mother in prison for murder. Through countless foster homes she learns to adapt, changes her self for the lifestyle of each move.
Don't forget who you are.
Breaking more and more, from each continuing loss, but no one could currupt her more than her mother had. Her only parent. Astrid was raised to be her mother. A sickly intamte relationship, her words alone poised her daughter.
Being with someone so dangerous is the last time that I felt safe.
Her only father figure was disturbed. Their bond sexual.
This is what it's like to be beautiful. What my mother felt.
Even from high maximum security prison her mother controlled Astrid's life, hating and manipulating anyone who loved her.
Remember it all, every insult, every tear.

Cast:

Ingrid: Uma Thurman

Astrid: Christina Ricci

Starr: Reese Witherspoon

Claire: Jessica Capshaw

Barry: Owen Wilson

Ray: Eric Dane