White Oleander discussion questions

Go to http://www.litlovers.com/guide_whiteoleander.html and page down to the "Book Club Discussion Questions" at the bottom of the page. Answer one (or more for extra credit) of these fifteen questions in a well-written paragraph of at least five sentences with a good topic sentence and a good conclusion. After reading other students' posts, respond to at least two.

Are memories valuable?

How are memories valuable and/or detrimental? Are they guideposts that can help people live their daily lives? Are they suggestions about how people should look at the future? Are they anchors that keep people tied to the past in both good and bad ways? How do Astrid's memories operate in White Oleander? Is this a good indicator of how memories work for most people? Are memories a necessity and/or a plague and why?

Is beauty "nothing"?

Is beauty really "nothing" as Astrid believes? Does it only mean something if "you intend to use it" (W.O., pg. 301)? Is it otherwise "just something for people to use and admire, or envy and despise" (pg. 301)? Is it something for the beautiful "to nail their dreams onto"? Does Astrid only undervalue beauty because, as Paul says, she's "'never been ugly'"(pg. 301)? From your perspective, what is the true value of beauty?

Why do teens lie to their parents?

Answer the following in a well-written paragraph of at least five sentences with a good topic sentence and a good conclusion.

Why can't the majority of teens be truthful with their parents all of the time? Do you think that most teens fear punishment or a loss of freedom for being totally transparent? In what situations? Do you believe that many teens don't believe that adults (especially their parents) respect the way that they feel? Is this belief legitimate (real) in a lot of cases? (In other words, do most adults lack respect for what teens think and feel?) Do many teens value their privacy or feel that they would be embarrassed if their parents knew everything about them? Are you in this situation or do you know a teen who is? Would most teens get along better or worse with their parents if they decided to become completely truthful?