Rereading a Favorite Book in my Childhood Home. 

It sounds like your parents are quite the dynamic duo. Their individual talents really complement each other! Beautiful home and childhood bedroom ♥

Rereading a book years later can be an interesting experience. I had read "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in seventh grade. I remember not only liking the book cover of a disheveled old man, but also the story. A few years ago, I decided to reread it All I remembered all these years later was the premise of the book. Rereading it, I caught the nuances of the conversations, the light flirtation between the protagonist and his friend, the conversations regarding art, beauty, gender, things I did not remember reading it long ago. I was rereading with knowledge I didn't have back them. That made me appreciate the experience even more.

Gosh your childhood home is so beautiful....love your thoughts on nostalgia and returning

Lovely home. I'm a bit envious of those that can return home and revisit old haunts like that fantastic looking thrift store and café. When I last visited the area I spent my teen years it had changed so much that I often felt like I must have turned down the wrong way. I've not read that book but I remember seeing it around quite often in the 90s. Cheers!

My grandmother is not a big fiction reader (whereas I am), but White Oleander is one of the handful of novels that we both read together and obsessed over and still talk about. It's been many years since but, oddly, just the other day she brought it up, and I thought: I should reread that.

My book club just read White Oleander, none of us knew what we were getting into and while we were definitely surprised and found some of the subject matter really visceral and difficult, it’s really interesting to study Astrid and Ingrid’s relationship to each other, how they shape each other, and Astrid trying to figure out her identity through puberty with constantly changing influences and circumstances. While the first 100 or so pages had me questioning whether or not I liked it and was comfortable with the material presented, the writing just gets better and better as it goes, the story gets more gripping, and by the end we all agreed we actually really loved it overall. We did watch the movie together afterward and had fun heckling it. Even though it’s not bad, they do cut out a LOT of important things and they definitely down play some of the more troubling material (which is good and bad depending.)

Such a gorgeous home! My dad all so built my childhood home and we also had a house fire! I was an adult when White Oleander was released, but it is still one of my favorites.

You are so spectacularly unique and refreshing - I love seeing where you’re from and how it’s clearly defined the things that so intriguing about hearing books through your mind. White Oleander was so transformative for me as well - it captivated and gripped me and was so cinematic for me.

OH MY GOD I literally just posted a vlog of myself reading that book!!! 😭😭 white oleander was a haunting gem of a book

Oh I didn’t know this was a book! Adding it to my reading list! I’ve seen the movie years ago and I remember being fascinated by the way the daughter had to navigate through an already difficult life, stuck behind a perpetual veil of manipulation and mind control from her mother. And the part with Renée Zellweger 💔💔💔

I have re-read White Oleander every couple of years since I first read it. It's always such a great read and I find that as I grow up and take on new perspectives, my perspectives of the events that happen to Astrid and Ingrid change. Very dynamic read.

I've seen the movie White Oleander, visceral, hard-hitting, gritty to the core. Can't say I've had the privilege of reading the book though. Oprah gave it a lot of props and exposure on her platform, without which, the book probably wouldn't have been as successful as it was. Returning to your childhood home allows you to see with the benefit of hindsight how much your youthful interests and experiences shaped you as an adult, the continuities and discontinuities. Lovely place by the way!

I never read the book but saw the movie adaptation of White Oleander. I felt so bad for Renee Zellwegger's character -- she just wanted someone to care for and about in a way that her husband wouldn't for her.

Lovely home ! I've had The White Oleander (bought as a second hand in a Montreal bookshop years ago) on my TBR then I almost gave it away every time I was unhauling books but kept from doing so. I actually did pick it up a few days ago to add on my TBR of 2024 so it was really surprising to see you reading it again and loving it. My child home still exists but my room is gone (my Mom had walls tore down) so now it's a beautiful suite in the attic for visitors ! I'm actually writing these words from there, because I'm pet-sitting their dog and birds. I don't feel nostalgic as before, maybe because I've grown up and I really love the place where I live now. But I still love the garden and the antique furniture (same hobby as your parents). Now I'm excited to read this book because after I bought, I remember reading mixed reviews about it

I definitely wanted to tell you to go and get a coaster. Ooo rrr

This is so great! I have White Oleander and had read many years ago and have recently thought, I really want to re-read it. I was unsure since I was afraid it wouldn’t be a favorite anymore. But wat hing your experience makes me sure I should. 🙌🏼Thank you Ana!

Oh my favorite book!🥛🪻🪻🪻 The only one that I started rereading immediately after I finished reading it.😆 Thanks Ana!

Loved this - combo travel vlog and reading vlog. I read White Oleander a million years ago and I don't remember one thing about it but I do remember that I loved it. I should re read it to see if I still love it.

This was one of my favorite books as a wee lass!!! Also loved the film. ❤

I need to give White Oleander a re-read! Read it as a teen, remember liking it, however don’t remember the goods😂

Dude I want to do this. My childhood favorite which jumpstarted my obsession with reading was My Lone Star Summer. I read it in the summer usually at night in my parents bed with the window open so that I could hear the frogs outside. What a time.

I was just debating if I should go read in the bath, but my book is in the car, and I was like forget it, but ya know what! You’re right, I deserve a bath damnit. I’m getting out of here

While watching this video I ran over to my bookshelf and made sure I still have my copy of White Oleander that I read so long ago. I do! It's the Oprah's Book Club edition. Maybe time to revisit? Also your childhood home is magnificent!

Enjoyed your trip down memory lane!

I reread White Oleander recently and it was amazing!

I have to do that. I remember how shook I was reading this book at 13 or 14

I read White Oleander in middle school and it destroyed me. It’s such an underrated book. I’ve been wanting to reread it but I worry it won’t feel the same as it did the first time.

i love this video

You know it's gonna be good when the slavic queen makes a comeback😊

OMG the Clark? I loved that place,,I really need to go back and do WTF again

Just curious. Is it better to have a big role in off broadway or a small role on broadway ?

Omg its literally dishes time again. How do you keep doing that.

can your mum decorate my home?? bc the woman has VISION

What year did you read this? Literally how old are you because it is impossible to tell! Tell us!!!

Whats her ig?