Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank

Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank

Oh my heart, my heart.  I think perhaps it might burst from sadness.  I first read the book when I was thirteen?  Fourteen?  Anyway, Anne's age at the time of her writing.  Now, I have kids that age.  And upon viewing this I discovered that Anne's real name is the same as my daughters.  It was gut wrenching and riveting the first time and it is now.  Only different.   This is  a touchstone that I revisit every decade or so to discover how much and how little I have changed.

I just can't review this one except to say that it may very well be the definitive version.  There was at least one thing about it that I didn't love and maybe I will come back and talk about it later but I just can' t do it now.  I am too moved to say a bad word.




Here is a picture of the real Anne that we know from her book.  And here is one of her most famous quotes.

"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.  I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death. July 15, 1944"

I am editing to add this.  It is a thought I just had concerning this topic.  I think that a life that shies away from sadness can know no joy. Suffering, pain, all of it are essential to knowing beauty. The terrible sadness of reading Anne Frank (or in the case watching it) reminds me of who I am and who I could easily become if I allow evil to reign. It makes me a stronger, better person. Anne reminds me of who I want to be.

3 comments:

  1. This was one one of the formative books of my life. I so completely identified with Anne, when I was a young girl, reading this book. The quote you used? Her hopes were my hopes.

    I feel so much older now. It breaks my heart to think about the balloons of hope that I used to float high in the air as I carried them, that now just drag behind me in tatters on the ground.

    People are no dang good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hugs to you Susan. I still think that most people are good. Even if it is deep down, buried under pain, and fear, and years of neglect, it's still in there. Looking for a way to get out. The trick is having the eye to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Anne Frank book, her spirit is inspiring. anyway, great blogsite.

    More power to your site.

    ReplyDelete