I finally managed to read ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank. Somehow, I perceived this to be a very serious book and hence never ventured to read it when I was younger. I wish I had. The book is easy to read although some words may have to be looked up. Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who went into hiding along with her family in Amsterdam during the Second World War. They hid in the secret annexe of their office along with another family and took in one more man sometime later. After listening to a radio announcement that said diaries and journals maintained during the war will be published as historical documents, Anne made up her mind to record the daily events of her life in a systematic and elaborate manner. The family was in hiding for two years and the book narrates Anne’s experiences in the annexe, her interactions with the others, her thoughts on various subjects and her dreams.
I don’t think it is appropriate to be reviewing someone’s diary. A diary is basically a person on paper. And we have no right to judge a person. A fictional character has traits established by the author. It is easy to criticize when the character doesn’t stay true to its personality. But how do you comment on a real person? Anne’s diary reaches out to us at a personal level. The book may seem to be full of teenage angst. But let me tell you, I had a diary at a similar age and it was no different. There were times when I thought I could have been Anne Frank in my previous birth :) Then again, maybe every other teenager felt so. That’s the reason I think that this book must be read by both adolescents and adults. Anne expected her parents to treat her as an adult but her parents had no clue. These days, it is known as the 'generation gap'. Anne seems bright and mature for her age. She is spunky and has an opinion on everything. I wonder how many kids can cope so well in a restrictive environment. Yet, she is constantly subjected to age bias.
But that does not mean that her parents did not care for her. They ensured that their kids did not miss out on education. They even remembered to bring Anne’s movie poster collection. The only area where they fell short is in understanding their daughter. To be honest, during the first half of the book, even I got tired of listening to Anne’s rants. Then, I imagined myself being cooped up in a small house with several people, not being able to go out, having to eat the same food, listening to the horrifying stories of cruelty being meted out to people and thinking will I be next? I could relate to Anne much better after that. Once I had taken these few steps, the rest of the journey did not take long.
I think the main drawback of the book is incorrect publicity. This book does not describe the holocaust or its atrocities, as often stated. Anne fleetingly touches these topics since she wrote this book when she was in hiding. In fact, I will go to the extent of saying Anne’s family was relatively safe while the diary was being written since they were in the annexe. But it surely affects you when you get to know how these people were denied basic rights. Despite having shelter, the family never felt secure. They had to be on constant vigil. However, Anne’s optimism even in the face of danger is inspiring. You can actually see Anne growing mature and dealing with the situation better.
I realized how important it is to channel our emotions and try to do so in a constructive manner as much as possible. Writing helps me gather my thoughts and reflect on them. It is really sad that Anne never got to experience freedom in the end. The after math is too touching. Anne’s family was compromised and they were arrested by the Gestapo. All her loved ones were separated from her and she herself succumbed to Typhus. It is indeed tragic that the concentration camp where she spent her last days was liberated soon after her death. A special mention goes to all the Germans and Christians who helped the Jews, during dark periods of struggle, without caring about their own safety. Every one of you is a brave heart. After living Anne’s life through her diary, I am happy that at least her book got published, thus fulfilling her lifelong wish. I will sign off with a quote which appeals to both Anne and me..
I don’t think it is appropriate to be reviewing someone’s diary. A diary is basically a person on paper. And we have no right to judge a person. A fictional character has traits established by the author. It is easy to criticize when the character doesn’t stay true to its personality. But how do you comment on a real person? Anne’s diary reaches out to us at a personal level. The book may seem to be full of teenage angst. But let me tell you, I had a diary at a similar age and it was no different. There were times when I thought I could have been Anne Frank in my previous birth :) Then again, maybe every other teenager felt so. That’s the reason I think that this book must be read by both adolescents and adults. Anne expected her parents to treat her as an adult but her parents had no clue. These days, it is known as the 'generation gap'. Anne seems bright and mature for her age. She is spunky and has an opinion on everything. I wonder how many kids can cope so well in a restrictive environment. Yet, she is constantly subjected to age bias.
But that does not mean that her parents did not care for her. They ensured that their kids did not miss out on education. They even remembered to bring Anne’s movie poster collection. The only area where they fell short is in understanding their daughter. To be honest, during the first half of the book, even I got tired of listening to Anne’s rants. Then, I imagined myself being cooped up in a small house with several people, not being able to go out, having to eat the same food, listening to the horrifying stories of cruelty being meted out to people and thinking will I be next? I could relate to Anne much better after that. Once I had taken these few steps, the rest of the journey did not take long.
I think the main drawback of the book is incorrect publicity. This book does not describe the holocaust or its atrocities, as often stated. Anne fleetingly touches these topics since she wrote this book when she was in hiding. In fact, I will go to the extent of saying Anne’s family was relatively safe while the diary was being written since they were in the annexe. But it surely affects you when you get to know how these people were denied basic rights. Despite having shelter, the family never felt secure. They had to be on constant vigil. However, Anne’s optimism even in the face of danger is inspiring. You can actually see Anne growing mature and dealing with the situation better.
I realized how important it is to channel our emotions and try to do so in a constructive manner as much as possible. Writing helps me gather my thoughts and reflect on them. It is really sad that Anne never got to experience freedom in the end. The after math is too touching. Anne’s family was compromised and they were arrested by the Gestapo. All her loved ones were separated from her and she herself succumbed to Typhus. It is indeed tragic that the concentration camp where she spent her last days was liberated soon after her death. A special mention goes to all the Germans and Christians who helped the Jews, during dark periods of struggle, without caring about their own safety. Every one of you is a brave heart. After living Anne’s life through her diary, I am happy that at least her book got published, thus fulfilling her lifelong wish. I will sign off with a quote which appeals to both Anne and me..
"Paper is more patient than man."
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