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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This was a book that I picked up and couldn't put it down. There were things I loved, but also things I didn't necessarily like.
Pros:
-Very original. I loved the whole idea of giving Margot Frank a life, a life after the Holocaust and a more prominent role in Anne's life.
-The filtering of actually historical information, within this fictional story. It was really cool to read the authors notes and learn about the historical facts that she peppered in effortlessly (among the fantasies as well).
- The characters. I loved Margot and seeing her internal struggle, how she pines for one love, while also trying to move forward with a new. Her struggle between her love for her sister, but also with the feelings that have arisen because of her diary and movie coming out. The struggle between hiding who she is, but more than anything wanting to be herself. I think the supporting characters were also loveable. I loved the contrast between the "European" character and the way they act versus those born and raised in America. The descriptions, way they act, all the nuances were spot on.
-The flashbacks. Loved how the author effortlessly gave us the backstory, while keeping us rooted in the present. It gave the story the depth and information we needed to really understand Margot and her internal struggling.
Cons:
- There were definitely a lot of liberties taken with the history. I get that this was a work of fiction, but I would've liked a little more truth and factual details embedded.
-Could have lived without the Anne/Peter storyline. I understand why it was added, but it kind of took away from Margot story. At least in my eyes.
- would've liked to have an epilogue that really "tied everything together". I had a lot of questions left at the end about Margot, her father, and what her life is like now. It felt like it abruptly ended.
Overall, the pros outweighed the cons and I would definitely recommend this book.
Pros:
-Very original. I loved the whole idea of giving Margot Frank a life, a life after the Holocaust and a more prominent role in Anne's life.
-The filtering of actually historical information, within this fictional story. It was really cool to read the authors notes and learn about the historical facts that she peppered in effortlessly (among the fantasies as well).
- The characters. I loved Margot and seeing her internal struggle, how she pines for one love, while also trying to move forward with a new. Her struggle between her love for her sister, but also with the feelings that have arisen because of her diary and movie coming out. The struggle between hiding who she is, but more than anything wanting to be herself. I think the supporting characters were also loveable. I loved the contrast between the "European" character and the way they act versus those born and raised in America. The descriptions, way they act, all the nuances were spot on.
-The flashbacks. Loved how the author effortlessly gave us the backstory, while keeping us rooted in the present. It gave the story the depth and information we needed to really understand Margot and her internal struggling.
Cons:
- There were definitely a lot of liberties taken with the history. I get that this was a work of fiction, but I would've liked a little more truth and factual details embedded.
-Could have lived without the Anne/Peter storyline. I understand why it was added, but it kind of took away from Margot story. At least in my eyes.
- would've liked to have an epilogue that really "tied everything together". I had a lot of questions left at the end about Margot, her father, and what her life is like now. It felt like it abruptly ended.
Overall, the pros outweighed the cons and I would definitely recommend this book.
In this book, Margot Frank has survived the death camps and is living as a "gentile" in Philadelphia. However, she secretly remains a Jew and in fact considers her tattoo, "the only true thing about me" even though she wears sweaters that cover it every day.
This book raises some fascinating questions of the world of assimilated Jews in America after the war. I really enjoyed (is that the right word for this? i feel weird writing that) the storyline about Anne, Margot and their family in the attic, at the camps etc. That aspect was well researched and written. However, at times, the rest of the plot and storyline felt forced and awkward.
Also, the ending was tied up a bit too cleanly and nicely.
But overall, it was a great read. I couldn't put it down even though at times, I skimmed through the redundant Holocaust camp scenes and attic conversations. This would be a great book club pick.
READ IT.
This book raises some fascinating questions of the world of assimilated Jews in America after the war. I really enjoyed (is that the right word for this? i feel weird writing that) the storyline about Anne, Margot and their family in the attic, at the camps etc. That aspect was well researched and written. However, at times, the rest of the plot and storyline felt forced and awkward.
Also, the ending was tied up a bit too cleanly and nicely.
But overall, it was a great read. I couldn't put it down even though at times, I skimmed through the redundant Holocaust camp scenes and attic conversations. This would be a great book club pick.
READ IT.
An interesting alternate-history premise (the life of Anne Frank's older sister, Margot, had she survived and escaped to the United States) which falls short due to amateurish, repetitive writing and a weak, slow, dull storyline that really doesn't maintain interest or go anywhere. Okay, we get it - 'Margie' wears a sweater constantly to cover her concentration camp tattoo. Enough with the constant references to Joshua's 'gray-green eyes', Anne's 'almond eyes', and even more laughable, Ron's 'hussy' (a very dated word that sounds silly with one utterance, let alone several throughout the book). These repetitions got immensely annoying when read over and over and over... It's a picky point, sure, but seriously now. Did this author not have an editor? Overall, I thought this book would be more intriguing than it ended up being. Margot's true story, sad though it is, is best left where it is than with this trifling story.
Read like a very good YA novel--with subject matter deeply compelling and tragic thanks to the original diarist.
Four stars. Powerful. Moving. Sad. Well written. The book uses a "what if?" premise to explore a number of topic and ends up being about love, religion, family and finding your true self among the chaos.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would actually have given this book 3.5-3.75 stars. I enjoyed the story, it was just a little thin to give more.
It feels wrong to say I liked/loved this book due to its content. So I will say it was a unique perspective and also complex. The idea of fear, guilt and a desire for a normal life are all rolled into one here. Margot/Margie feels that life in America is static for her because she believes hiding who she is is for the best of everyone. Ilsa is a great secondary character and even though her actions and words are idyllic they are not unbelievable. Most of the rest of the characters seemed stereotypical and formulaic in nature; even Joshua to a certain extent which was a little bit disappointing.
This was an easy and pleasant read, but... there is something so inherently offensive about re-imagining the personal life of a girl who died in the Holocaust. I like the fantasy of imagining that one of the Frank girls survived as well (who wouldn't), but this book feels like an invasion of Margot Frank's personality.
I liked this book, I loved the glimpse at the "other side" of Anne Frank's life. It was a good leisurely read, and I stayed pretty interested.