White Oleander

Very important pieces were left out that I felt was important to the storytelling. I love Oprah, but I didn't love her narration. Her accents and tones were off (example, Ron was described as smooth, but her tone was nothing near smooth). I ended up reading the unabridged book so that I could get the complete feel of the characters and their development.

Well written. Engaging, fully drawn characters. it is at once a coming of age story and an attempt at redemption story. The author creates uncomfortable life situations which may be foreign to the reader but are described skillfully and help in understanding the world which confronts Astrid, a teenager growing up in the chaos left by a mother who is a flowerchild with sharp edges at a time long after that species went extinct. Unnerving at times and satisfying at others.The narrator, Opra Winfrey, successfully brings her great talents to audiobooks.

Liked the book & narrator.

This is an intensely realistic book that tells you of a child and her mother. The mother is a poet – and a kind of monster of self absorption. Her mistake is to believe she can get away with murder when her boyfriend throws her out. She will not rest until she has taken revenge. Astrid is a child and she is the one who pays when her mother is taken into custody. Intense and heart breaking story.

Hey so – so book. You do get a lot of insight into this wonderful abused neglected unfortunate girl’s life. It’s really quite a sad book, so many people miss use her. The one thing she’s looking for in life is love. A basic primary animal need it takes her decades to acquire

Oprah was an awesome narrator! I love this book and Oprah was icing on the cake! Narrators can make or break an audiobook and I finished in an entire day…couldn’t stop until the end❤️❤️❤️❤️

uiltimate favorite book /movie

Keeps one entranced, although some parts were a little predictable. Oprah does a wonderful job (who's surprised?)

Great read. Beatifully written. The main characters changes throughout from beginning to end keep the mind wandering on who she will become. Was not thrilled with the abrupt end but understand the shadowing of what was to come.

The book is wonderful however, the only version available through Audiobooks is the abridged (shortened) version. If you’ve already heard the audiobook, I encourage you read the actual book as there were so many chapters left out.

Loved this book! Oprah is an amazing narrator. I felt hypnotized by the prose and the unfolding of the characters. I highly recommend this read to any Oprah fans out there!

Great listening to Oprah, will go out

A huge disappointment! So much was left out, just watch the movie.

Good read!

Very well written novel. Strongly recommend to the courious reader.

I loved this story. And I loved Oprah's reading of it.

Such a great book, I need to see the movie.

The writing was very descriptive and precise, which made it easy to visualize the characters and their situations. The story was disturbing and yet compelling, leaving me feeling sad for Astrid's character. It is amazing to consider how resilient this young girl was, but, in the end, she was not left undamaged.

It was a good, sad and I believe realistic story. It was very well written so the reader knew well how the main character was feeling in all her situation and it was understandable why she formed a different personality.