The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition

I think I am the only person I know who didn't have to read this in high school! It is amazing to follow her through all of her experiences however horrifying. ( )

I confess to feeling slightly voyeuristic while reading this. It was constantly in the back of my mind that this was no ordinary novel, or even a true-to-life account. This was someone’s diary. Every page written in confidence, each word revealing the thoughts closest to the heart of this young girl. While reading Anne Frank – The Diary of a Young Girl I do not get the sense that there is any such ‘filtering’ going on. From the ages of 12-15 Anne lived an extraordinary life, and quickly grew far beyond her years in her understanding and handling of a horrendous situation.

There are surprises in this book. No matter how broad or limited your understanding of the world events that threw Anne and her family into a life in hiding, I had – before reading this – held the general assumption that, “Well, it was wartime. They were in hiding for their lives. They must have been miserable all the time. Who could possibly find anything good or redeeming in the confines of such a life?” In hindsight, of course, I have had to reconsider. I found bits of beauty, kindness, and even humour popping up in the most unexpected places. And why shouldn’t I? Aren’t our lives much the same? Oh – we’re not dodging bombs and trying to sleep to the sound of gunfire. But we, each of us, are often faced with some sort of tragedy or travesty. Sometimes we may have an entire ‘bad year’, or longer. And yet, doesn’t the buoyancy of the human spirit always shine through? It is really tough work to be miserable 24 hours a day. No matter how difficult or challenged our day-to-day life, we all have those little pockets of joy that arise, and sometimes it is those tiny occurrences that make the rest of it bearable.

I would recommend Anne Frank – The Diary of a Young Girl to absolutely everyone, for I believe that it holds some truth or enlightenment for everyone. ( )

[Edition with previously redacted sections included.] ( )

[Edition with previously redacted sections included.] ( )

(Still can't believe I hadn't read this before. The very beginning sounded familiar though--so I'm pretty sure I must have started it at one time.)

An amazing book, not that I expected anything less. It truly is astonishing that these are the words and thoughts of a 13-15 year old girl. Don't get me wrong; there are definitely times when she absolutely sounds like the teenagers I know and spend time with on a daily basis. Other things that she writes, though--so mature and perceptive, and ultimately heartbreaking. Altogether it's very hard to read when you know darn well what's going to happen--and, even knowing that, I was still practically sobbing as the afterword was being read. (Seriously, I had already heard what would happen to them all in the end. Still, the sobbing.) Only one complaint about the audio version--which otherwise is excellent, read by actress Selma Blair--there really should be a brief pause between the last statement Anne makes and her "Yours, Anne" closing. Each time it took me a millisecond to realize that it *was* the closing, it was just so quick. With that small exception, though, it really is a very well done production of a classic piece of literature.

Now, though, I need something light and fluffy and mindless. ( )