I made 3 attempts to read this book diary. The initial 2 attempts had me through 10-15 pages and I gave up. I felt that the diary is going to make me feel miserable and lonely, knowing the background of it and how it ends. However the third time, I kept a strong heart and pitched through.Then Anne held my hand throughout the diary to never let go even after I finished reading the diary today morning.
After a long time, have had never shared what I went through when I was in my teenage years, I felt so heartily connected to this girl who was pouring her innermost feelings, being vulnerable to her diary friend “Kitty”. For years now I felt questionable and sad about what I felt during my adolescents and now Anne seems like my best pal for the old me.
In 1942, Anne, her family and with some more people went hiding in their secret Annex for 2 years in Amsterdam, Holland. Living in hiding and disconnecting yourself from the real stream life outside is one of the extreme painful emotions a teenager might have to go through.
In those 2 years, Anne kept longing for freedom, fresh air, open sky, sunlight, the moon and the stars. Freedom is usually taken for granted when given for free. Only those who earn it know the real worth and how it feels to walk on the streets, have your own voice heard in public, to laugh out loud and just be yourself.
Anne was a courageous, strong teenager. She keeps a strong & witty face in front of everyone else and but breaks down in her diary Kitty. She longs to open the windows, walk on the open streets freely, get back to school. She wills to grow into a strong idealistic women, to be specific, “not just a Housewife” like the other ladies in hiding. She desires to be a Journalist when she grows up. Her hope for a life after war and future plans breaks you down every time knowing the fact that there is no future ahead.
However her wish, the way she wrote in her diary
I don’t want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!
has certainly come true.
Long after her death in 1945 Anne is still alive and talking to us through her diary. Her profound maturity at the age of 13-15 is admirable and many a times even surpasses the maturity of many adults I have met.
She is faithful with her ideals and believes that there is something good in every person.
Anne’s hope and faith in life after the war still succeeds to give hope to someone who has lost it.
After all the books I have read until now, this book will remain to be one of the best so far and Anne to be a pal to turn to.
If you like to read and have a chance, do swipe through pages of diary of a strong, hopeful, visionary and matured Anne and I’m sure she won’t fail to make you realize how blessed we are to be free souls of our own will.
Listing below few of Anne’s quotes which touched me deep
Every child has to raise itself. Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.
We aren’t allowed to have any opinions. People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but it doesn’t stop you having your own opinion. Even if people are still very young, they shouldn’t be prevented from saying what they think.
In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.
I can’t imagine how anyone can say: ‘I’m weak’, and then remain so. After all, if you know it, why not fight against it, why not try to train your character?
No one has ever become poor by giving.
Everyone has inside 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!
So, until next time, stay happy, healthy and keep doing what your heart loves to 🙂