WHITE OLEANDER by JANET FITCH THE SECOND READ AROUND HAS ME THINKING ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POETRY SCENE A WHILE BACK

Recently bought a copy of "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch at a library book sale, and immediately (again) became transfixed by the story of the poetess who poisons the poetry groupie who seduces and humiliates her and, most of all, the story of her daughter, who goes through a number of abusive homes in the LA County Foster Care System, while trying on various identities as part of her formative development.

This is a second time around for me reading Fitch's book, which I hear was turned into a movie a while back.

At the time the book first came out I heard Fitch was a local author, and this book is sweet with references to the towns, topography, and weather of Tujunga, Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Hollywood...

"White Oleander" brings me back to a place I was several years ago when I heard a lot of poetry being read and spoken word around town. I remember people/characters who were so like this poetess in their way, esteemed for publishing a few books maybe but also not operating in full sanity.

I recall the revenge poetry that was often staged to get back at a ex lover or to reveal an affair to a dummy husband.

That tragedy was an inspiration for creativity is, well, not surprising.

I recall that there was competitiveness among poets for mentions in poetry magazines and covers on literary publications (that probably wasn't much different than Supermodels doing what they "had to" to get an assignment) and so much talk of who was "Real" or "Serious."

I recall there was a lot of jealousy and sabotage going on.

So the other day, I spent some time on the net looking to see what Web presence, if any, certain poets and poetesses (old fashioned word choice I know) had on YouTube, if anyone was publishing books, or even remained in poetry.

I realize that not everyone is interested in Web presence and the absence of people/characters is not necessarily telling. After all, some poets like their privacy.

It was sort of interesting to see what's up with people/characters, rather than surprising, the way it's interesting when you hear about someone you used to know in high school but whose life no longer touches yours.

Thus: The man who was a high school drop out and openly ridiculed me (lots of laughter around) for taking my reentry into college seriously (all that studying late at night in coffee houses) turns up with a MFA and as an esteemed teacher. HA HA HA! His ex-girlfriend who was the one with the true educational ambitions may have earned a PHD and a new name somewhere along the line. Where is she? (Maybe a married housewife poet like Sylvia?)



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C 1999 White Oleander is by Janet Fitch and published by Little, Brown, and Company