Karen's Reviews > The Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl
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Karen's review
bookshelves: book-discussion-perfect, classic, creates-questions, educating-moments, excellent, favorites, inspiring, makes-you-think, memorable, captivating, engaging, gripping, heart-felt, realistic, riveting, thought-provoking, transformative
May 01, 2023
bookshelves: book-discussion-perfect, classic, creates-questions, educating-moments, excellent, favorites, inspiring, makes-you-think, memorable, captivating, engaging, gripping, heart-felt, realistic, riveting, thought-provoking, transformative
This book was given to me by my Rabbi as a gift on my confirmation.
My edition is so old, you can't even find it. It is a Modern Library Book edition with an introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt. It doesn't mean that I am that old (although I am old-ish), but, the copyright is 1952 (I will say I wasn't born then).
I still have this book.
So this book is very personal to me. For a past I experienced growing up in a very prejudiced neighborhood. The anti-semitic past and hatred I endured living in Southern California. So a lot of times, I had to hide that I was Jewish. To protect myself.
And it is especially hard to see the hatred in today's world.
I don't practice Judaism today. But it is my history. It is a part of me. And my ancestors have endured a lot. So, yes, this book, Anne Frank's experience, it is personal.
Premise: the diary of a young girl beginning on her 13th birthday (6-12-42). {Interesting that I am posting this review on the date that would have been celebrating her birthday 81 years later.} The diary ends August 1, 1944.
Despite all that was going on around her, Anne was a happy and cheerful person. She was talkative and inquisitive. She was challenged as a teenager, and didn't always understand everyone or the situation, but she still had a great sunshine spirit.
I think this was another reason the Rabbi felt this was an important book to share with us young ones as we were entering our commitment to Judaism. He not only wanted us to understand what it meant to be a Jew, and the sacrifices of those before us, but the joy of a good positive attitude - despite the circumstances they endured.
I'm not sure that always worked for me. I questioned why the Jews didn't fight back. Why they allowed themselves to be shuttled into camps so easily once they knew that was what was happening. And as I questioned, I was reminded of the deepness of their religious beliefs of love and fellowship and the goodness and belief in humanity.
Thank you Anne.
We need to get back there again. Love. Fellowship. Goodness and belief in humanity. Yes?
My edition is so old, you can't even find it. It is a Modern Library Book edition with an introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt. It doesn't mean that I am that old (although I am old-ish), but, the copyright is 1952 (I will say I wasn't born then).
I still have this book.
So this book is very personal to me. For a past I experienced growing up in a very prejudiced neighborhood. The anti-semitic past and hatred I endured living in Southern California. So a lot of times, I had to hide that I was Jewish. To protect myself.
And it is especially hard to see the hatred in today's world.
I don't practice Judaism today. But it is my history. It is a part of me. And my ancestors have endured a lot. So, yes, this book, Anne Frank's experience, it is personal.
Premise: the diary of a young girl beginning on her 13th birthday (6-12-42). {Interesting that I am posting this review on the date that would have been celebrating her birthday 81 years later.} The diary ends August 1, 1944.
Despite all that was going on around her, Anne was a happy and cheerful person. She was talkative and inquisitive. She was challenged as a teenager, and didn't always understand everyone or the situation, but she still had a great sunshine spirit.
I think this was another reason the Rabbi felt this was an important book to share with us young ones as we were entering our commitment to Judaism. He not only wanted us to understand what it meant to be a Jew, and the sacrifices of those before us, but the joy of a good positive attitude - despite the circumstances they endured.
I'm not sure that always worked for me. I questioned why the Jews didn't fight back. Why they allowed themselves to be shuttled into camps so easily once they knew that was what was happening. And as I questioned, I was reminded of the deepness of their religious beliefs of love and fellowship and the goodness and belief in humanity.
Thank you Anne.
We need to get back there again. Love. Fellowship. Goodness and belief in humanity. Yes?
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Reading Progress
May 1, 2023
– Shelved
Started Reading
June 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
book-discussion-perfect
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
classic
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
creates-questions
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
educating-moments
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
excellent
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
favorites
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
inspiring
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
memorable
June 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
makes-you-think
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
captivating
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
engaging
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
gripping
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
heart-felt
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
realistic
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
riveting
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
thought-provoking
July 3, 2023
– Shelved as:
transformative
Comments Showing 1-50 of 53 (53 new)
message 1:
by
Zainab
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Jun 13, 2023 04:05PM
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Thank you so much Zainab.
Ahhh.... I can see why.
Oh Nina, don't feel that way. When it is time, you will know it.
Thank you so much Carmen.
Jsiva, thank you so much for your compassion. And yes, I do believe in humanity. I am a Hope girl, through and through. I am a fighter, too. If I don't like something, I just won't sit back and take it - I will stand tall and say something about it. And do something, too. I've done this all my life. In my career. In my volunteer life. I think going through what I did as a child taught me a lot. I hated my experiences as a kid. It overwhelmed me, hurt, and confused me. But it also gave me the strength to grow and question and decide that I wasn't going to let these people win. It's just so hard to watch what is happening in our world now. We need Hope for Humanity. So, thank you for saying what you did. I have to believe that you are more than a reviewer of books. I would like to believe you contribute in your world in a very beautiful way for others. Thank you for this conversation. :)
Hand Over Heart Emoji!
Thank you so very much Gaurav! :)
Thank you so much Ulana. What a beautiful moment to have been there that must have been for you. :)
Thank you so much Sujoya for listening and reading it. :)
Thank you D.H. for telling me that. I like to personalize the experience, as I feel it. So thank you for noticing my style of writing. :)
CB
CB"
Thank you so much Colin for coming by and seeing this part of me! :)
Oh Carol, thank you so much. :)
Thank you so much. Obviously you have a deep understanding of all of this Jill. :)
So very true, Corey. We can learn much from it. :)
Thank you so much Sara. :)
It is in a very special place, Sara. :)
Thank you so much for reading it sof. :)
Ahhh....my sister Karen...thank you so much for saying that...I appreciate you. :)
Thank you so very much Carol for your thoughtful comments. :)
We toured the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam some years ago - a powerful experience
We toured the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam some years ago - a powerful experience"
Thank you Jan. And what a wonderful experience for you to have, Jan. :)
Thank you so much da. :)
Thank you Margaret. Yes, very touching - and powerful!
Thank you for sharing your background. Beautiful review. I was a pre-teen when I read this book.
Thank you so much Mark. Yes...very difficult.
Thank you so much Cheryl. I have to imagine that the book had an impact on you, too at that young age, as well. :)
You are absolutely right Sneha. I'd like to believe that everyone would be moved by reading this book, as well. :)