The Diary of a Young Girl
discussion
Anyone else hate this Diary
Elizabeth wrote: "Let's not do this child's homework for her, ok? I'm beginning to suspect that's what this all is."Oye vay! This is an outstanding observation and analysis of this entire thread.
I think that a discussion is fine, but honestly, guys, just don't insult each other. A toadie is a tag along/ side kick, and I do not think that it describes anyone in this discussion. And no, I have not supported Anamika for most points, but it is just rude to be insulting each other.
Tomorrow is anamikas big reveal! I'm getting a bit excited. I think I'll hang up balloons and streamers before I log into my account in the morning.
Good idea. Lets collect all that food we were passing around and have a snack table while we wait.
haha. ill get the video camera and the cake :P
Dustin wrote: "Anamika wrote: "No I didn't find a copy anywhere.My friend happened to have it and I asked her if she could lend it to me but she had a few problems before she actually could give it to me.There ..."
You are assuming Anamika is
a) in school, public or otherwise and
b) she is in the US
I don't think she has stated either of these things anywhere in this thread.
I think a) is a pretty safe bet.
I think a) is a pretty safe bet.
I don´t know in what shcool she might be...in the US, it has ended the school year for about a month or so....she will end when it´s almost time to start again.Even here, school vacation started 2 weeks ago and we are always the most delayed...
Nope, i think i will need a nice red wine, because i am sensing dissapointment in the Reveal....
If the reveal even comes. Or, if it does, it will be spectacularly half-assed and unclear.
Olivia wrote: "If the reveal even comes. Or, if it does, it will be spectacularly half-assed and unclear."Yep,that too - either case, a glass of nice read will steady my nerves ( sound like Mrs Bennett from P&P ahahah)
Too bad I can't drink. Kids drinks seem to only serve the point of exciting us. Perhaps a mug of tea...
Hmmmm... I think we still have some popcorn stashed around here somewhere.....
Olivia wrote: "And p&p? I don't know what that is."Pride and Prejudice
An right. Sorry. I haven't read it yet.
Have Anamika's reasons been stated? It's been a while since I've checked in.
Juniper wrote: "Have Anamika's reasons been stated? It's been a while since I've checked in."Nope, she said tomorrow is the day she'd be able to tell us though, so we'll see.
Sara wrote: "Juniper wrote: "Have Anamika's reasons been stated? It's been a while since I've checked in."Nope, she said tomorrow is the day she'd be able to tell us though, so we'll see."
Oh, okay. Thank you.
It is rude to even ask if anyone hates the diary, while it is not really a very exciting read, it is a very serious part of history. The haulocaust was a VERY TERRIBLE event in history. And this is a TRUE account of Anne's life while hiding in the attic with her family. This was no game, this was them hiding to keep fom getting taken to the camps where 1000s were KILLED. The diary stopped without an ending because the family was found and we dont know what happened to Anne. She was most likey killed. This is true, not just a made up story. This is a serious matter, not to be talked stupid about. No I do not Hate the diary. Have some empathy for heavens sake.
Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Anamika wrote: "No I didn't find a copy anywhere.My friend happened to have it and I asked her if she could lend it to me but she had a few problems before she actually could give it..."You are correct: I am making assumptions.
As for school, she just gives off the school age vibe. And just because this was posted today doesn't mean the whole thing didn't start earlier. Three months is a decent length of time and would put her in the academic school year if you go backwards from now (or from her first post on Jun 6).
I don't know many countries where English is the first and only language kids learn, other than the US. Perhaps the UK? But hasn't Anamika stated English is her first (and only) language?
Anywho, yes, I made assumptions. You have to start somewhere, even if that somewhere isn't the most ideal or correct location.
I didn't like it at all. I think it was sad and all but I just didn't like it.
I'm getting jazzed up for the Reveal, though in my heart I know that it'll be like expecting zebras and getting horses. :( I'm going to check periodical throughout the day tomorrow, like once an hour or something until she posts. It's going to be an exciting day!
Dustin wrote: "Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Anamika wrote: "No I didn't find a copy anywhere.My friend happened to have it and I asked her if she could lend it to me but she had a few problems before she actual..."You know what is said about the word "assume"?
It makes and ASS out of U and ME - so try not to assume anything.
To assume Anamika lives in the US is without basis. She could be living in tent in the war torn Middle East for all we know; despite her protestations about English not being her first language, I still doubt that's true - as my earlier exchanges with her show.
When all is said and done do her nationality and location really matter?
Totally agree with Joodith… her nationalityl and location really don't matter.
message 778:
by
Belle ~carry on my wayward son~
(last edited Jul 02, 2014 12:11AM)
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Anamika wrote: "No I didn't find a copy anywhere.My friend happened to have it and I asked her if she could lend it to me but she had a few problems be..."because someone living in a tent would have a PC and a Goodreads. And no, her age is the only thing that matters...wow. that sounded stalkerish.
Belle wrote: "Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Joodith wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Anamika wrote: "No I didn't find a copy anywhere.My friend happened to have it and I asked her if she could lend it to me but she had a..."Sorry to disagree with you Belle, but you would be surprised at how much technology is available in the most far flung places on this planet. My daughter, now living in Vietnam has travelled extensively throughout SE Asia, and has never been far away from an internet connection. GR is an internet website, is it not? So, regardless of where you connect to the internet, GR would be available. I'm sure you're aware that the internet is available even on Mount Everest.
Anamika has left a few clues - she said she doesn't have a room, so maybe, just maybe, her living circumstances are very different from our own. Maybe she doesn't have constant access to the internet, which most of us seem to enjoy. She has said she is studying but that does not necessarily mean she is of school age - she could be a mature student - studying English, even
As to her age - I do think she is young, and maybe this is the reason for her bald statement right at the beginning. I think I suggested her opinions might change as she matured. But no, her age is NOT the only thing that matters.
Whilst I have disagreed with her - and you - along the way, this thread had actually taught me quite a lot about human nature. I await The Rabbit Out of the Hat with interest and just hope the mob mentality that reared its ugly head in this lengthy discussion does not erupt again.
Well, that was worth waiting for!
Hi, Anamika, now that you've posted your reasons I'd like to discuss them with you.Regarding your points 1, 2 and 3 I must ask: if you were between the ages of 13 and 15 and spent all your time locked up in a small space, with hardly any access to the outside world, with the same people, for about 2 yeasr, what would you talk about in a diary?
Regarding points 3 and 4, I doubt that posthumous attention would be something Anne would be looking for. She planned to publish the diary, but I think that if she had been the one to do it, it would have been vastly different. Trying to grab attention in this case isn't, I think, bad. There are some people who deny that the Holocaust happened, so documentation of it is extremely important. Hopefully, if we remember, we won't allow it to happen again.
As for point number five, I don't she was the only one regarded as courageous. She just gets more visibility. I doubt that many of those who lived through this period in similar (or more severe) circumstances had the chance to record their thoughts. She did, it's as simple as that. You could extrapolate this to any other period in history: why do we only have a limited number of sources? Because not everyone has the ability/opportunity/inclination to record their lives and the details of the time they live in.
head desk thunk...yep, the reasons were as crappy as I expected - big surprise...
Joana wrote: "Hi, Anamika, now that you've posted your reasons I'd like to discuss them with you.Regarding your points 1, 2 and 3 I must ask: if you were between the ages of 13 and 15 and spent all your time l..."
I agree. And Anamika, that was a really big build up for such a small comment :0
no one regards only her as courageous - there are MANY stories of resistance from WW2 - Corrie Ten Boom and the Hiding Place; Beliski Brothers (which was Belgium IIRC)I did a senior English paper on people who survived and their life experiences since the holocaust - one was one of the few survivors of the Sobibor Death Camp (I think only 7 managed to escape) - she now travels around the schools telling kids her story; a guy who survived Auschwitz for the sole reason that he was wearing long pants when the train arrived, so he was an adult and sent to work, the rest of his family was killed
Anamika wrote: "She planned to publish the diary.I've been waiting for someone to say that.People have been telling me that she didn't write it in order to get it published.But she did.I'm sure you'll have a lot t..."she wanted to be published, not necessarily that her diary was going to be published - she was an aspiring writer long before they went into hiding
if you claim that you are correct, even with no evidence...then you are automatically telling others that they are wrong
Anamika wrote: "She planned to publish the diary.I've been waiting for someone to say that.People have been telling me that she didn't write it in order to get it published.But she did.I'm sure you'll have a lot t..."She planned it and she was editing it to do it. When you edit you change/remove/add things and the final version isn't like the original. Anne only had the opportunity to edit part of it and she and her father aren't (weren't?) the same person, so the end result would never be the same.
i think shes just trying to say that shes not insulting anybody Dee :)
the one thing I didnt understand was her and Peters relationship...
so you're telling me that if you say you are correct and everyone else is wrong - that its not an insult...uh-huh...
Dee wrote: "so you're telling me that if you say you are correct and everyone else is wrong - that its not an insult...uh-huh..."lol. she said "not that you are wrong" and you cant change her mind if she thinks she is right so thats that.
which further supports the arguments that she is a teenager...the i'm always right is a teen thing through and through - and FWIW - i'm right and you can't change my mind (insert sarcasm here)
um...thats not a teen thing. if one has an opinion, they're not going to change it easily, especially when people are shoving it in their facest...
I saw this thread and, to be honest, I jumped from page 1 to 18 without reading anything else.I get the feeling that some people confuse criticizing the diary itself with criticizing the person, Anne or even the whole Holocaust history.
So yes, Anamika expresses herself with the carelessness of a teenager (regardless of her age) and says "I hate this diary". However, at least on page 1 and on page 18 of this long thread, she never said "I hate Anne Frank".
In fact... I read this diary when I was already an adult, and my feeling the whole time was of an intruder, peeking uninvited into a poor teenage girl's most intimate thoughts and feelings. And I have to agree with Anamika there that I am not sure that it should have been published, even edited.
As a historical document, it is undeniably very valuable, but still... I don't think how I would feel if my dad found the diary that I kept when I was 13 and published it for the whole world to read.
Furthermore, one thing is the historical value of a text and a different thing is the literary value of the same text. You may acknowledge the suffering and horrors of the war and also "hate" the text. It can make you bored or uncomfortable. You can dislike the style and even Anne (I am not saying "hate"), because you know her thoughts and you are entitled to not like the way she thought, even though you will never be able to fully identify with her situation.
Also, you are entitled to having your opinion. For example, I think that "Even if it is a true story,it has no originality" is not a sound criticism, because not being fiction, the author was not looking for originality. When I read "It's more like a diary made up by Anne simply to pass time", my head goes "Well, duh! She was locked up with nothing to do for days long, so... yeah, she would have wanted to make up something to pass the time". But I can also see how that could make for unpleasant reading.
I believe that we are all "compelled" to like this text because of the hard story behind it. But it is not so. We can dislike the text and even hate reading it, and still acknowledge the horrible story behind it. Many people just feel that it is only the politically correct thing to do to like this diary. But it is not. Literary taste has nothing to do with that.
Wow! As I said some time ago - the rabbit had already run away.Taking each of your points in turn:
1. Hiding in an attic was, indeed, a major event in the life of this 13 year old girl and her family.
2. There is absolutely no doubt that this is a true record of Anne's life at that time; I don't know why you would even doubt it. As to it having no "originality" - that is such a nonsensical thing to say it doesn't even warrant a comeback!
3. Whether or not this should ever have been published has been a matter of debate over the years - so this thought of yours is not original.
4. How could a diary, which was never meant for publication, be an intentional attention grabber?
5. I detect a certain amount of jealousy here - which is a dangerous emotion to have, particularly in this context. Anne Frank has not been "singled out" - there are many other memoirs of how people have survived many conflicts - not just WW2, but Rwanda, Vietnam, Cambodia to name a few. These also gain attention, so, once again, your reasons are pure nonsense.
6. Your last point doesn't make sense so I can't comment.
Your final comments are somewhat immature and I now, firmly, believe that you are indeed the child we have all suspected you are. Your reasons make no sense at all, and I honestly cannot see why this utter piece of nonsense has taken so long! Okay, I understand you "hate" this book - but your reasoning is way off balance, and actually really silly and childish.
I'm beginning to think we should have age limits on certain forums....
Anamika wrote: "She planned to publish the diary.I've been waiting for someone to say that.People have been telling me that she didn't write it in order to get it published.But she did.I'm sure you'll have a lot t..."She did NOT plan to publish her diary. She wanted to be a writer when the war was over, and as consequence of her confinement she recorded her thoughts and feelings privately....not for public reading.
It's great that you think you are correct, but one day those blinkers will come off and you will see that there are many opinions other than your own, and they will not necessarily agree with yours.
Laura wrote: "I saw this thread and, to be honest, I jumped from page 1 to 18 without reading anything else.I get the feeling that some people confuse criticizing the diary itself with criticizing the person, ..."
I agree with you 100%
Laura wrote: "I saw this thread and, to be honest, I jumped from page 1 to 18 without reading anything else.I get the feeling that some people confuse criticizing the diary itself with criticizing the person, ..."
The beginning of this thread was Anamika's declaration that she hated a certain book BEFORE she'd even read it. That was the comment that got peoples' backs up. Her continued refusal to explain her reasons has had us all mystified, and quite shocked. It's that continued refusal to explain that has kept this thread going. I think if you had read right through rather than jumping to the end this would have become apparent. No, she has never said she hated Anne Frank, but she has doubted the voracity of her diary - again, a bone of contention with many people. I don't think anyone on the thread has been confused about whether her criticism was for the book or the 13 year old author - I think we've all been quite clear on that.
Why didn't I make popcorn before reading this?
Daniel wrote: "Why didn't I make popcorn before reading this?"Haha - I made my lunch before I sat down to this....;)
Joodith, why are getting so angry? Its not like anything Anamika said is news, so why all this anger? Like, yeah, she has her opinion, and you have yours, and i have mine and Dee has hers. Everybody has their OPINION and you can't change that. Anamika has finally given us her great reveal, and while all of her reasons were pretty obvious to us all, I think you're getting worked up over nothing.
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There seems to be a lot of problems in your life. If you're in public school in the US, I'm sure there are plenty of copies floating around since it's required reading in many classes. And there are certainly copies in college libraries. And bookstores carry copies as well. It's a rather cheaply priced book at this point, list price is $5.99.