Janet Fitch
Goodreads Author
Born
in Los Angeles, California, The United States
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August 2008
URL
https:// goodreads /janetfitch
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White Oleander
136 editions
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published
1999
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Paint it Black
57 editions
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published
2006
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The Revolution of Marina M. (The Revolution of Marina M. #1)
13 editions
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published
2017
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A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life
by
9 editions
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published
1999
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Chimes of a Lost Cathedral (The Revolution of Marina M. #2)
11 editions
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published
2019
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Los Angeles Noir (Akashic Noir)
by
13 editions
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published
2007
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Palm Springs Noir
by
4 editions
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published
2021
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Kicks
3 editions
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published
1995
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No Stopping Train
by
2 editions
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published
2014
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Kicks
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Related News
The author of
White Oleander
takes readers inside the St. Petersburg bourgeoisie in
The Revolution of Marina M
. Fitch tells us about her...
28 likes·0 comments
Janet’s Recent Updates
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I've read the Brothers K maybe five or six times in the Constance Garnett edition--Garnett translated all the major 19th Century Russian authors, and was the first to translate Dostoevsky into English. Respect due, but her translations (re Brodsky an ...more | |
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This wonderful book! It's all in the style--not surprisingly for the first novel of Kaveh Akbar, a well-known poet. The story: A 20-something Iranian-American poet from Indiana, Cyrus Shams, just two years sober after a young adulthood of blackout dr ...more | |
Janet
rated a bookit was amazing
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This wonderful book! It's all in the style--not surprisingly for the first novel of Kaveh Akbar, a well-known poet. The story: A 20-something Iranian-American poet from Indiana, Cyrus Shams, just two years sober after a young adulthood of blackout dr ...more | |
Janet
rated a bookit was amazing
|
|
I've read the Brothers K maybe five or six times in the Constance Garnett edition--Garnett translated all the major 19th Century Russian authors, and was the first to translate Dostoevsky into English. Respect due, but her translations (re Brodsky an ...more | |
Janet
rated a bookit was amazing
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Garth Greenwell is an exceptionally sensitive, nuanced, deep thinking and often shocking writer. His last two books,CleannessandWhat Belongs to Youexplore life in the body, sexual desire, shame, explicitly and movingly, the protagonist pushing pa ...more | |
Janet
started reading
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Janet
started reading
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“
Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. An intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you'll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.”
― White Oleander
― White Oleander
“Always learn poems by heart. They have to become the marrow in your bones. Like fluoride in the water, they'll make your soul impervious to the world's soft decay.”
― White Oleander
― White Oleander
“She would be half a planet away, floating in a turquoise sea, dancing by moonlight to flamenco guitar.”
― White Oleander
― White Oleander
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College Students!: Fall/Winter Challenge: Official Record of Points | 44 | 739 | Dec 15, 2009 01:25AM | |
Cover to Cover Ch...: Aths' Race to 144 in 2010 | 13 | 115 | Jan 13, 2010 08:49AM | |
The Life of a Boo...: Abbey's TBR Challenge - 2010 | 24 | 117 | Jan 17, 2010 05:42AM |
“Many couples, many people, are not living with real human beings, but with their ghosts. Who has not followed for years the spell of a particular tone of voice, from voice to voice, as the fetishist follows a beautiful foot, scarcely seeing the woman herself? A voice, a mouth, an eye, all stemming from the original fountain of our first desire, directing it, enslaving us, until we choose to unravel the fatal web and free ourselves.”
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“Military operations alone cannot defeat an insurgency because only economic development and political action can address most sources of disaffection. If military operations are not conducted consistent with political objectives or occur without economic development, they are certain to alienate the population further, reduce the amount of intelligence available to [...] security forces, and strengthen rather than weaken the enemy.”
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“When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.”
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The F-word
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This is our reading group for anybody who loves to read and identifies as a feminist. We'll be reading a variety of books that may fall into one of th ...more
This is our reading group for anybody who loves to read and identifies as a feminist. We'll be reading a variety of books that may fall into one of th ...more
Russian Readers Club
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The place where both russian readers and lovers of russian literature can share their thoughts about russian literature as well as about foreign one, ...more
The place where both russian readers and lovers of russian literature can share their thoughts about russian literature as well as about foreign one, ...more
Goodreads Librarians Group
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Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
Silverlake Classics
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— last activity Oct 06, 2021 02:56PM
To share opinions and recommendations on any genre prose, poem, or play.
To share opinions and recommendations on any genre prose, poem, or play.
Nobody Reads In L.A.
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— last activity Jul 07, 2016 08:52AM
L.A.'s original alternative book club. Designed to be the "Book Club for the Nightclub set." We are dedicated to putting books into hands accustomed t ...more
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Dalkey Archive Press reads
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— last activity Apr 18, 2020 08:39PM
Hi everyone, Join our Backlist of the Month discussions! What is Backlist of the month, you ask? It's something we'll tell you all about on Faceboo ...more
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AROHO Reads
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AROHO women write. AROHO women create. AROHO women retreat and gather and find community. AROHO Reads is a platform for AROHO women to share with one ...more
AROHO women write. AROHO women create. AROHO women retreat and gather and find community. AROHO Reads is a platform for AROHO women to share with one ...more
The BURIED Book Club
— 867 members
— last activity Dec 31, 2023 07:57AM
TODAY BOOKS ARE NOT BURNED. THEY ARE BURIED. WE SHALL UNEARTH THEM.
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TODAY BOOKS ARE NOT BURNED. THEY ARE BURIED. WE SHALL UNEARTH THEM.
Comments(showing 1-31)
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Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me! It really means a lot to me! I can see what you mean...Would be great to read about her further journey, but to imagine it is also quite satisfying. Wishing you also good reading and good writing! Samantha
Saaamaaa wrote: "Dear Ms. Fitch,
I always wanted to write to you, but never knew how to start. So I will just begin with: When I was twelve years old I watched the movie "White Oleander". I didn't know it was bas... "
Thanks Samantha, for this note--glad things are going better for you these days! So glad you took the time to write to me. Yes, I can imagine her with a child, and being a far more caring parent. But also having certain ideas about conventionality that would be as hard for her as for her mother, a certain restlessness with how other people do things... more inner conflict than Ingrid ever had. Wishing you good reading, and all best! Janet
I always wanted to write to you, but never knew how to start. So I will just begin with: When I was twelve years old I watched the movie "White Oleander". I didn't know it was bas... "
Thanks Samantha, for this note--glad things are going better for you these days! So glad you took the time to write to me. Yes, I can imagine her with a child, and being a far more caring parent. But also having certain ideas about conventionality that would be as hard for her as for her mother, a certain restlessness with how other people do things... more inner conflict than Ingrid ever had. Wishing you good reading, and all best! Janet
Dear Ms. Fitch,
I always wanted to write to you, but never knew how to start. So I will just begin with: When I was twelve years old I watched the movie "White Oleander". I didn't know it was based on your book until I was 19, but I have never forgotten about the story. I watched the movie multiple times because it made me feel understood and less alone. Later, when I had read the book, I felt the same way but was in a totally different place in my life. I was able to see everything from above now and not from the inside anymore. When someone asks me, which book in my life made me feel the most emotions, I always say it's the story of Astrid and her mother Ingrid. My childhood and youth were really tough sometimes but I'm very good right now and I just wanted to let you know, that you helped me a lot with coming to terms with everything. So, thank you for these beautiful, poetic words, for the memorable characters, for letting art take an important place in this novel and for sharing this story with us.
Sometimes I wonder, how Astrid's life would look right now...
Do you?
I imagine her with a daughter, being a very different mother than Ingrid, when it comes to parental care and warmth but also very much alike, talking about secrecy and gracefulness.
English is not my first language, so I hope you understand the bottom line of what I want to tell you.
I saw on you're Goodreads profile that you're very much into Russian literature and history. I must say, it didn't surprise me. But I was really happy to see it. One of my all time favorite stories is Anna Karenina. It also helped me grow a lot and taught me some important life lessons.
I hope you're very well and have a lot of stories in your life that touch your heart like yours will always touch mine.
Happy Easter and best wishes from very far away,
Samantha
I always wanted to write to you, but never knew how to start. So I will just begin with: When I was twelve years old I watched the movie "White Oleander". I didn't know it was based on your book until I was 19, but I have never forgotten about the story. I watched the movie multiple times because it made me feel understood and less alone. Later, when I had read the book, I felt the same way but was in a totally different place in my life. I was able to see everything from above now and not from the inside anymore. When someone asks me, which book in my life made me feel the most emotions, I always say it's the story of Astrid and her mother Ingrid. My childhood and youth were really tough sometimes but I'm very good right now and I just wanted to let you know, that you helped me a lot with coming to terms with everything. So, thank you for these beautiful, poetic words, for the memorable characters, for letting art take an important place in this novel and for sharing this story with us.
Sometimes I wonder, how Astrid's life would look right now...
Do you?
I imagine her with a daughter, being a very different mother than Ingrid, when it comes to parental care and warmth but also very much alike, talking about secrecy and gracefulness.
English is not my first language, so I hope you understand the bottom line of what I want to tell you.
I saw on you're Goodreads profile that you're very much into Russian literature and history. I must say, it didn't surprise me. But I was really happy to see it. One of my all time favorite stories is Anna Karenina. It also helped me grow a lot and taught me some important life lessons.
I hope you're very well and have a lot of stories in your life that touch your heart like yours will always touch mine.
Happy Easter and best wishes from very far away,
Samantha
Hi Janet,
Thank you for accepting my friend request. I am honoured of being friends on Goodreads and I want to tell you how much I enjoyed reading White Oleander. It is such a beautiful book.
Eugenia
Thank you for accepting my friend request. I am honoured of being friends on Goodreads and I want to tell you how much I enjoyed reading White Oleander. It is such a beautiful book.
Eugenia
Hi Amy,
Thank you for taking the time to send me this moving comment. I'm sorry for the circumstances in which you discovered my novel, but very glad it was there for you. Books keep us company in ways nothing else can quite do. Appreciate this note and hope things work out better for you!
all best wishes,
Janet F.
Thank you for taking the time to send me this moving comment. I'm sorry for the circumstances in which you discovered my novel, but very glad it was there for you. Books keep us company in ways nothing else can quite do. Appreciate this note and hope things work out better for you!
all best wishes,
Janet F.
Janet,
I discovered White Oleander this year in jail, of all places. How ironic for me-- The most beautiful book ever written unveiled to me through the darkest recesses of my life.
I want you to know that White Oleander got me through that time. I read, and re-read, and re-read, and re-read White Oleander, continuously, over the course of 5 months. I didn't know how something so beautiful could be found in such a lonely place, but alas, it was there-- unearthed from its grave in "true crime" novels.
Thank you for creating that world to be lost within.
~Amy
I discovered White Oleander this year in jail, of all places. How ironic for me-- The most beautiful book ever written unveiled to me through the darkest recesses of my life.
I want you to know that White Oleander got me through that time. I read, and re-read, and re-read, and re-read White Oleander, continuously, over the course of 5 months. I didn't know how something so beautiful could be found in such a lonely place, but alas, it was there-- unearthed from its grave in "true crime" novels.
Thank you for creating that world to be lost within.
~Amy
Steve wrote: "Thanks Janet, for accepting my friend request.
Steve "
Thanks for finding me here--hope you like the books!
Steve "
Thanks for finding me here--hope you like the books!
Janet wrote: "Dustin wrote:" Hi, Janet!
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been... "
Thank you for writing it! I think I will enjoy it.:)
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been... "
Thank you for writing it! I think I will enjoy it.:)
Dustin wrote: "Hi, Janet!
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been on my "to read"... "
Hope you enjoy it! Good reading and happy holidays,
Janet
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been on my "to read"... "
Hope you enjoy it! Good reading and happy holidays,
Janet
Angela wrote: "Miss Janet,
I am pretty sure I have written to you on here before but I am writing again because I believe this should be embedded into your heart like your book is embedded into mine: you were tru... "
Hi Angela,
Thanks for this lovely post. HOpe you have a chance to read Paint It Black while I'm busily finishing up the new book! Wish you good reading and thanks for the shoring-up!
all best,
Janet
I am pretty sure I have written to you on here before but I am writing again because I believe this should be embedded into your heart like your book is embedded into mine: you were tru... "
Hi Angela,
Thanks for this lovely post. HOpe you have a chance to read Paint It Black while I'm busily finishing up the new book! Wish you good reading and thanks for the shoring-up!
all best,
Janet
Hi, Janet!
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been on my "to read" list for a couple years now, and I'll finally be reading it in a couple weeks. I'm very much looking forward to it!
Have a wonderful day, enjoy the rest of your week!!
I hope all's well with you and yours.:)
Thank you for accepting my friendship request, it's always appreciated. Also, I wanted to tell you that White Oleander has been on my "to read" list for a couple years now, and I'll finally be reading it in a couple weeks. I'm very much looking forward to it!
Have a wonderful day, enjoy the rest of your week!!
Miss Janet,
I am pretty sure I have written to you on here before but I am writing again because I believe this should be embedded into your heart like your book is embedded into mine: you were truly meant to be a writer. Your words are lyrics to the soul. White Oleander is my favorite book of all time, and every time I read it, I find something else to love and relate to. You will never understand how much this book has helped me because there are no available words. I consider you a blessing for writing it and motivating me to pick up a pen myself. I keep hoping and praying for another book from you, whenever you are ready. Until then, I will continue hold my several copies of White Oleander near and dear. Thank you for having the courage to publish such a beautiful piece.
Always a fan,
~Angela.
I am pretty sure I have written to you on here before but I am writing again because I believe this should be embedded into your heart like your book is embedded into mine: you were truly meant to be a writer. Your words are lyrics to the soul. White Oleander is my favorite book of all time, and every time I read it, I find something else to love and relate to. You will never understand how much this book has helped me because there are no available words. I consider you a blessing for writing it and motivating me to pick up a pen myself. I keep hoping and praying for another book from you, whenever you are ready. Until then, I will continue hold my several copies of White Oleander near and dear. Thank you for having the courage to publish such a beautiful piece.
Always a fan,
~Angela.
Janet, thank you so much for accepting my friend request. I read White Oleander when I first started college. It reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my mother. It's one of my all-time favorite books. I have read it twice, and I plan to read it again and again. Both times I've read it, I have taken away something new. I had been looking for a long time for Paint It Black, and finally found a copy last week. I can't wait to read it in a few days. Thanks again for accepting my friend request!
Hi, Janet! Thank you so much for accepting my friend request. It was such a pleasure to escort you, Julie Otsuka, and Christopher Tilghman at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 21st! I hear great things about "White Oleander," I must add it to my "Books To Read Before I Die" list!
I can't praise you enough for White Oleander. It was amazing and your words are still with me! I like to think of myself as a phoenix now.....
Thank you!
Thank you!
THanks David! Look forward to following you, loved comparing the books and seeing that long skein of overlap--and then fun to see the rest. I just stopped by Petersburg to see if anyone had read it. It was like wrestling an active, slender, brightly colored snake...
all best and good reading
Janet
all best and good reading
Janet
Dear Janet,
Thanks for the add and like on Biely.
Your shelf is exquisite, especially the Russians.
Loved "White Oleander."
Please stay in touch.
Cordially,
David
Thanks for the add and like on Biely.
Your shelf is exquisite, especially the Russians.
Loved "White Oleander."
Please stay in touch.
Cordially,
David
Thank you for adding me. White Oleander is a book which reached me on a profound and inexplicable level. I first read it 8 years ago when I was 17; I was submerged in a very dark, lonely, desolate period of my life. I could not put the book down, I brought it with me everywhere until I finished it. I felt very connected to Astrid. I remember sitting in one of my classes reading the final scene with Claire as the tears streamed down my face. And when I finished the book, I felt this clear and overwhelming sense of fulfillment within my heart. I wished it never had to end because it filled a void that had only been deepening by the day. I am so grateful that someone captured the experiences of this young woman and the mother-daughter relationship in a way that moved me deeply, and for which I aspired to convey myself (as I am also a writer). White Oleander is truly a gift. Thank you for writing it.
thanks for the add, janet! i love white oleander! the references in and around los angeles really amused me since i grew up in the area. my friend and i were really excited about the thrifty in alhambra, haha.:)
x
jeane.
x
jeane.
Miss Janet,
Thank you so much for accepting my friend request && for actually B E I N G my first actual friend here in Goodreads:D
BTW, I loved White Oleander. (:
-Maggieeee.: ")
Thank you so much for accepting my friend request && for actually B E I N G my first actual friend here in Goodreads:D
BTW, I loved White Oleander. (:
-Maggieeee.: ")