WHITE OLEANDER

·        " IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE MANNER, THE FAMILY IS A LINK TO OUR PAST AND A BRIDGE TO OUR FUTURE" (ALEX HALEY)

           Definition of white oleander-OLEANDER is an evergreen shrub cultivated for its showy flowers and handsome foliage. It belongs to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. In warm regions it grows outdoors all year.

·         The book- White Oleandar by Janet Fitch, was not really about a shrub, but about a dysfunctional family. This seems to be the topic of many of the books we read-don’t know why???

·         I told you many books we pick are later made into movies, and this is one of them, although the book is way better than the movie (trust me on that!)

"When a woman murders a former lover and is imprisoned for life, her daughter must navigate a new reality — that of a series of foster homes, each its own universe, each with its own limits and dangers."

Lisa and Lois served up a fine meal of beef filets ( the only time I ever get these is at book club! Thanks girls!), Lisa's garlic mashed potatoes and her famous salad...

Lisa's Garlic Mashed Potatoes

4-6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1/3 cup milk
2-4 Tbsp butter (I like more, you may want less)
Sour cream
Salt and Pepper
Roasted garlic*

Make roasted garlic ahead. Take 1 head garlic, cut off top so cloves are visible, put on a square of foil, drizzle with olive oil, salt to taste and seal foil bundle. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. When cooled, squeeze to remove roasted cloves to add to potatoes.
Boil potatoes in salted water 25-30 minutes til tender. Drain and put back in pot. Combine milk and butter and microwave til butter is melted. Add to potatoes, plus add the roasted garlic you made earlier. Mash by hand or with mixer- salt and pepper to taste. Add sour cream to the desired consistency. Check seasonings. Yummy!

The door prize was a plant, sunglasses, and a scarf.


Because of the dual nature of the oleander plant – being both beautiful and poisonous, toxic and healing – it is not surprising that it is the emblem of caution. Beautiful and poisonous perfectly describes the mother in this book- hence the title.

Our next book ( for July 2002) is Girl With A Pearl Earring (and guess what our door prize was...)