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A review by cheekylaydee
Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex: A Collection of Her Short Stories, Fables, and Lesser-Known Writings, Revised Edition by Anne Frank
5.0
First off, I believe that even if you've read Anne Frank's diary before it's advisable to re-read it before picking up this book, which is what I did and I'm glad of it.
The first section is full of Anne's observations of life in the Secret Annexe. Quite a few of them are taken directly from the diary, and then there are some that were written seperately. What struck me was, bearing in mind that everything written in this book was penned when Anne was 13 to 15 her observations and perceptions read like someone a lot older than herself.
She was a shrewd observer, sometimes merciless but always truthful to herself. Some of her musings about human behaviour are child like in their simplicity yet they make a lot of sense, and if only adults listened to children like Anne and others like her the world would probably be a better place.
In Anne's fiction what resonates is the theme of loneliness, but there's always a ray of hope towards the end. Reading the diary you get the sense that Anne is very much like that. Although constantly surrounded by seven other people, there were times when she felt extremely lonely, which is why her diary was so very important to her.
If Anne had survived she would have been 82 this year (2011). I find it very hard to imagine a world without the legacy that Anne left behind her, and this little unassuming book has been an absolute joy to read.”
The first section is full of Anne's observations of life in the Secret Annexe. Quite a few of them are taken directly from the diary, and then there are some that were written seperately. What struck me was, bearing in mind that everything written in this book was penned when Anne was 13 to 15 her observations and perceptions read like someone a lot older than herself.
She was a shrewd observer, sometimes merciless but always truthful to herself. Some of her musings about human behaviour are child like in their simplicity yet they make a lot of sense, and if only adults listened to children like Anne and others like her the world would probably be a better place.
In Anne's fiction what resonates is the theme of loneliness, but there's always a ray of hope towards the end. Reading the diary you get the sense that Anne is very much like that. Although constantly surrounded by seven other people, there were times when she felt extremely lonely, which is why her diary was so very important to her.
If Anne had survived she would have been 82 this year (2011). I find it very hard to imagine a world without the legacy that Anne left behind her, and this little unassuming book has been an absolute joy to read.”