Book Club Chit Chat Thread

[anthony]

Just read the back... not really a 15 year olds diary by the sounds of it, but about her diary that contained her writings at 13+ whilst hiding in the attic during the Nazi invasion, then continuing the following two years whilst Nazi occupied. I gather the author has put her own input into the book? Have you read it already Ayesha?

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I am confused?

I have read it, many times. I was saying that I guess it would be hard to read for us ( being trauma survivors). So that would be a little out of our comfort zone, has reading about something so...Hiding from the nazis would be a traumatizing thing. And being coped up in the attic for years. Then she dies in the camps.

I don't understand the " I gather the author has put her own input into the book" ? She wrote it.

Very confused. I think it's me though, been writing an English essay all day, rung out.

 

[anthony]

The book is written by Francine Prose, not Anne Frank. It is written about her diaries and life, is my understanding... as I also just read the first pages praise from its reviews in papers and such.

Reading about the author, she has used Anne Franks diary as her inspiration and sources it as inclusion within the book, but the book is not a word for word memoir from reading about it and the author.

Argh... I get you on the trauma part. I don't honestly find reading about trauma hard, as me personally, it is one thing I can empathise with easily.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I thought we were reading her actual diary.We are reading her biography?

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Oh, we are. Oopps.

 

[anthony]

Yes, the book listed and chosen was: Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Well, don't I feel sheepish. :) Sounds very good though, would love to read about her from that point of view.

 

[anthony]

Is this not the one you recommended? Do you have a different one? I read in the opening credits of this book, that there are many books written on Anne Frank, including a biography, memoirs, and other versions.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I meant her actual diary. But I think this is better choice for a book club.

 

[KP the nut]

I've never read her diaries, so would have been prepared to read either.

In England we were taught about Anne Frank in schools. She has always seemed a fascinating person, possibly because I was a similar age when I heard about her.

All of the books chosen so far are books I would never have picked. Personally I could live without having read the Tigers Wife, but the Alchemist is one which I know I will re read.

 

[anthony]

I'm scared about Mao's Last Dancer... but hey, I'll read it anyway to embrace variation. Maybe plenty of coffee as well. :coffee:

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I never started the tigers wife, read a few pages and it just didn't grab my attention.