The Diary of Anne Frank is one of those books that should be picked up at least a few times in ones life. Reading it in 9th Grade English, as I did, was not quite enough. It seems to be one of those reads that will affect you differently at various stages of your life.After Jordan described how Neutral Milk Hotel's album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was conceptually based to represent both the everyday life of the Frank family and their horrific deaths, I decided it was time to pick up a fresh copy.
Anne speaks of political unrest and food rations and her fear as she hears sirens outside her window, but some of the most touching moments are when she talks of ordinary things: fights with her parents, boyfriends, photographs (to bring to the annex because "memories are more important than dresses,") and of decorating her walls with pictures of movie stars.
Here are just a few excerpts of how smart, insightful and heartbreaking it can be:
"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."
"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"
"I have often been downcast, but never in despair; I regard our hiding as a dangerous adventure, romantic and interesting at the same time. In my diary I treat all the privations as amusing. I have made up my mind now to lead a different life from other girls and, later on, different from ordinary housewives. My start has been so very full of interest, and that is the sole reason why I have to laugh at the humorous side of the most dangerous moments."
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
There is an amazing online exhibit which archives Anne's short life, including a very brief and grainy video image, though to be the only one existencence.
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