The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Another book review in the life of Megan Ruth Rempel. I start to wonder after posting so many of these if they all sound the same, or if they actually help readers pick and choose. Most of my ratings for books are pretty similar because I enjoy almost everything that I read! Each novel to me has it’s own set of things that make it unique.  This is my second time reading Anne’s diary so I know that I definitely got more out of it.

Anne Frank’s extraordinary diary,  written in the Amsterdam attic where she and her family hid from Nazis for two years, has become a world classic and a timeless testament to the human spirit. Here she is first and foremost a teenage girl – stubbornly honest, touchingly vulnerable, in love with life. She imparts her deeply secret world of soul-searching and hungering for affection, rebellious clashes with her mother, romance and newly discovered sexuality, and wry, candid observations of her companions. Facing hunger, fear of discovery and death, and the petty frustrations of such confined quarters, Anne writes with adult wisdom and views beyond her years. Her story is that of every teenager, lived out in conditions few teenagers have ever known.

 

The Diary of Anne Frank contains many lessons on the coming of age of a young girl. Anne lives in a time of hate towards the Jewish and even before she goes into hiding there are strict rules for all of her people. Anne talks about the discrimination her family lives casually before she goes into hiding. Jewish people in Amsterdam aren’t allowed to drive cars or share public facilities with others that aren’t Jewish, and the Star of David was worn dutifully. When discussing these facts with her diary: Kitty, Anne has a calm air about her. Her character was one of the highlights of the story.

Throughout her confinement in the Secret Annex Anne grows from a selfish young girl to a reflective young woman. Many changes take place in Anne’s life. She learns to be independent of her parents and to develop her own view on things. Despite the ongoing war, she decides that being optimistic is the only way to live her life. Last but not least Anne goes through puberty and finds companionship in Peter – the son from the Van Daan family who are also in hiding.

Anne’s writing is crisp and developed, she writes down dialogue that emerges between the Annex members and describes the setting quite well. Her diary is overall an intriguing read.

I decided I’m not going to rate the books I read anymore because I always manage to find something I like in each one. So read my reviews and judge for yourself if the book is enjoyable, if it is up your alley. I would recommend Anne Frank’s diary to a young person growing up or anybody that is interested in such a subject.

Later gaters,

- MRR

Runaway: The Diary of a Street Kid by Evelyn Lau

Good evening everybody, guess who’s back? I finished Lau’s diary a while back but just haven’t put in the effort to get this thing done. Nothing new with me besides the fact that I’m working at an organic grocery store from a BC company called Pomme. I’m a cashier and I’ve been learning to appreciate all natural food. I strongly recommend checking it out if you live in the Tri-Cities.

 At the age of six, Evelyn Lau already knew what she wanted from life – to be a writer. Frustrated and discouraged by her parents, who forbade her to ‘waste’ valuable study time writing, Evelyn ran away at the age of fourteen. Seduced by the freedom and independence that life on the streets of Vancouver seemed to offer, she was soon trapped in a downward spiral of drug addiction and prostitution. During her two harrowing years on the street, Lau’s writing ambition never left her; almost obsessively, she kept a written record of her days on the street. This record is Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid.

Lau’s writing at the beginning of her teenage years is exceptional for somebody of her age. Her style changes from formal to poetic depending on what mood she’s in and trust me her mood swings are few and far in between. Here is a brief quote from when Lau receives a letter back from a publisher:

'The rain has left water diamonds hanging from each bare branch. Somebody else’s fingers tear open the battered manila envelope. I examine her hands curiously, the chewed painted nails. Like a drowning person my eyes beseech the blameless pages…’ (Page 142)

One of the strongest focuses in the diary is writing and Lau’s passion for it. Writing is the only stable/routine thing that she keeps consistent in her life on the streets. When she writes it is an escape and a comfort to herself. The diary improves Lau’s writing as well as helps her get through rough times.

Like Nomi in A Complicated Kindness, readers may not sympathise with Lau even though she is a troubled teen going through irregular circumstances. The reason being this: she constantly pushes people who care about her away, delves deeper into drugs and starts prostituting. Running away seems to be her only solution to the pressures of people around her.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, it’s eerie to go driving in Vancouver and pass the streets that Evelyn once stood in her get up. It forces the thought that there are more girls out there right now just like Lau to the front of my mind. This diary has made me more aware even when enjoying myself downtown. She has quite a journey, finding herself, choosing her writing over anything else, and rooting out her deepest problems.

I’m going to give this one a 3.5 OUT OF 5. The poetic bits of writing throughout the diary were my favourite part and I thought Lau structured her life events well on paper. Smooth reading. Here is an interview of her if you’re from Canada, BC, or Vancouver and want to learn more about a local author! http://www.januarymagazine.com/profiles/lau.html

I’ll TTYL, I’ve got more stuff to read and write.

- MRR

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews

How sad is it that as soon as I started to work at Chapters, I never had any time to read? Shutter Island has been sitting neglected on my toilet for almost a millennium it seems. I’m getting my shit together this year so there will be lots more time for literature and there are tons of books to be read for all of my English classes! Any doodle let’s do this I must make my review grand.

A Complicated Kindness is a fiercely original story about the ties that bind families together and the forces that tear them apart. This is the world according to Nomi Nickel, a bewildered and wry young woman trapped in a small Mennonite town that seeks to set her on the path to righteousness and smother her at the same time. as Nomi searches for the truth behind the recent disappearance of her mother and sister, she finds herself on a direct collision course with the only community she has ever known. This is a book that has found its way into the hearts of thousands of Canadians, Miriam Toews reveals herself as a master storyteller at the height of her powers.

 

The description is correct when talking about how original A Complicated Kindness is. Toews conveys the story through Nomi  in a way that isn’t like anything that I’ve read before. Nomi isn’t a very reliable narrator, she’s usually drunk or high or just distant from the present happenings in front of her, so pay attention to detail. The fact she is lost in her past allows the reader to slowly sum things together, as each memory reveals a clue to what makes Nomi the way she is.

Family and hope are the focus in terms of theme. Nomi and her family members are trapped in a religions system that does not agree with them. All of them struggle to deal with various forms of oppression and conflict. At the time when things are really tense for Trudie and Tash (Nomi’s mother and sister) Nomi is still a child and does not fully understand the situation, where the reader does. This is one of the reason’s that Nomi is chosen as a narrator; her viewpoint is unique. Although the family is broken apart, there are acts of kindness in between the sad parts. Despite witnessing so much going wrong, Nomi has hope for a different life.

This novel doesn’t have a typical structure in terms of plot, climax and a resolution. If you’re looking for a satisfying ending or a character you can sympathise with, then I wouldn’t recommend this read. A Complicated Kindness is for a person who is looking for a divergent story, a story that requires the mental stamina of a detective.

Definitely a 4.5 OUT OF 5 kind of novel. It was awesome but wasn’t a winner. If you want to learn more about Toews click the link: http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/miriam-toews/ 

Until next time

- MRR