Did anyone else watch the BBC's adaptation of Anne Frank's Diary last week? I'm still catching up and only finished watching it a few days ago. It was a 5 part mini-series with each episode being 30 minutes long.I first read Diary of a Young Girl when I was 11 or 12. I felt connected to Anne is so many ways. I loved her voice, her sense of hope. It was her diary that opened my eyes to World War II. I became obsessed after that to read what I could of other experiences during WWII. It's something I'm passionate about, even now. When I started my first journal around this time, I began each entry with 'Dear Kitty' and when I started my first blog many years ago, I included the passage in which Anne writes about how no one would be interested in the musings of a 13 year old girl.
Watching the TV adaptation has made me realise how deep my affection is for Anne Frank, how much I've taken the suffering that happened during this period to heart, and especially that there is more I'd like to accomplish on my Lifelong list of goals including visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and visiting a concentration camp, possibly Auschwitz.
My dad was able to go to Amsterdam a few years ago in which he visited the Anne Frank House and bought this gorgeous book for me. I've included a photo of a random page, which shows pictures of some of the Hollywood film stars that Anne collected. I think if there's any book that I'd like to re-read this year, it will be Anne Frank's Diary of A Young Girl.
And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren't any other people living in the world.
I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.
I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.
I read just a little over half of this book. I had picked it up when I was interpreting in that 4th grade class room. I never did get to finish it..
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the adaptation, but I had a similar experience with the book. I was very young when I first read it, and I felt so close to Anne. I wanted her to be alive and be my best friend.
ReplyDeleteI havent read ann franks diary as yet but would really love to. It sounds absolutely amazing and I am sad to say I missed the adaptation too :(
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Michelle! I read Anne Frank also when I was 13, and it was during a very troubled time of my life. Reading her book was inspirational for me. I'm like you and Nymeth, I wanted her to be alive, and I started my journal then too, with 'Dear Kitty' at first, then it became 'Dear Misty' because I didn't want to copy Anne too much! I'd love to go visit her house some day, but most of all, her book keeps alive the hope that goodness will prevail.
ReplyDelete