Scan barcode
emj03's review against another edition
4.0
Truly heartbreaking. It is so important to read accounts of the horrors that happened between 1939-1945 and after, the victims who were persecuted must always be remembered.
nickmasters's review against another edition
5.0
Renia Spiegel’s diary has allowed a life that was cruelly cut short, to have a future and longevity that Renia herself so hoped to have. The introduction paints a picture of a young girl filled with hope for the future, a future that was denied, but at least now her story lives on.
In contrast to this sentiment, we dive into the first diary entry, where Renia’s wishes that her thoughts and concerns are never to be revealed, are laid bare. This juxtaposition in itself is quite beautiful.
A lot of the diary, especially the earlier years read like the ramblings of a teenager girl (which is what you would expect) and is interspersed with poetry, some of which is actually pretty amazing. On that note, I am really impressed with the translation of this diary, perhaps some of the intent is lost, but all in all it is pretty incredible that even subtle poetry can be translated into something of equal relevance.
The innocence of Renia’s view is really eye opening. Without the benefit of hindsight meant that some of her opinions seem to trivialize what was actually happening, or at least starting to happen. But that view in itself helps us remember that these were ordinary people, trying to live ordinary lives, whilst the machine of war simply eroded their lives bit by bit.
Renia was at the age where moments, glances, touches, slights, all mean so much (don’t we all miss that age), but yet she was trapped in a time of war, a time where freedom comprised of daydreaming and hoping.
Renia clearly battled with what live was throwing at her. And the effects of the lack of her Mothers presence were very apparent. Despite this and despite the persecutions and oppressions, she could still see the beauty in the season, in love, in family, in friends. To be able to still show empathy towards the German soldiers epitomizes how Renia viewed the world. She was proud of who she was and dreamt of equality and democracy. At the same time believing fully that there would be an end to this nightmare and that they would be able to hold their heads high and live the rest of their lives in happiness and love.
We get to experience Renia’s personal growth through her writing, which is painful in itself, knowing that her life, her dreams, her everything is going to simply cease to exist in a future page-turn.
Thanks you NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
In contrast to this sentiment, we dive into the first diary entry, where Renia’s wishes that her thoughts and concerns are never to be revealed, are laid bare. This juxtaposition in itself is quite beautiful.
A lot of the diary, especially the earlier years read like the ramblings of a teenager girl (which is what you would expect) and is interspersed with poetry, some of which is actually pretty amazing. On that note, I am really impressed with the translation of this diary, perhaps some of the intent is lost, but all in all it is pretty incredible that even subtle poetry can be translated into something of equal relevance.
The innocence of Renia’s view is really eye opening. Without the benefit of hindsight meant that some of her opinions seem to trivialize what was actually happening, or at least starting to happen. But that view in itself helps us remember that these were ordinary people, trying to live ordinary lives, whilst the machine of war simply eroded their lives bit by bit.
Renia was at the age where moments, glances, touches, slights, all mean so much (don’t we all miss that age), but yet she was trapped in a time of war, a time where freedom comprised of daydreaming and hoping.
Renia clearly battled with what live was throwing at her. And the effects of the lack of her Mothers presence were very apparent. Despite this and despite the persecutions and oppressions, she could still see the beauty in the season, in love, in family, in friends. To be able to still show empathy towards the German soldiers epitomizes how Renia viewed the world. She was proud of who she was and dreamt of equality and democracy. At the same time believing fully that there would be an end to this nightmare and that they would be able to hold their heads high and live the rest of their lives in happiness and love.
We get to experience Renia’s personal growth through her writing, which is painful in itself, knowing that her life, her dreams, her everything is going to simply cease to exist in a future page-turn.
Thanks you NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.
annvsted87's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
meldav4's review against another edition
Renia’s Diary is a novel that I can see as being a required reading assignment for high school. It was not an easy read, but rather a raw look at a young Polish girl’s life before and during the Holocaust shown through diary entries she wrote. I found that the ending written through the voice of Renia’s sister was easier and more comfortable, and I was more interested and invested in reading that part that than I was the rest of the novel. That being said, I also see this as an important piece of work with valuable historical information and I thank her sister for sharing this with all of us.
bjkatcher's review against another edition
4.0
This book just goes to show you how much your life can change in the blink of an eye. Most of this book was about her relationship with her boyfriend until one day she was shot by the Gestapo. And it could change like that for any of us.
kiperoo's review against another edition
Heartbreaking. What Renia might have become had she survived ...
55_sallymander's review against another edition
5.0
Renia's Diary: A Holocaust Journal by Renia Spiegel; With Her Sister, Elizabeth Bellak and With Writer Sarah Durand
Renia started a diary for herself, in Poland, so she would have a nonjudgmental friend who could console her when she was down January 31, 1939.
Renia shares her hopes and dreams, poetry and songs-some that she made up and others that spoke to her. She hangs out with her friends. She misses her sister-who is a start and is gone a lot. She misses her mama-who lives in a different part of the country.
She gets a boyfriend Zygmunt. He survived and Renia did not. She had given Zygu (a nickname she called him by) her journal. Her journal is interesting, she lives is Przemysl, Poland with her grandparents, who live in the apartment above their stationary shop. Her mother is mostly in Warsaw and their father lives out on their country estate, farming and keeping people working for him.
Renia gets together with her friends regularly, there are 6 or 8 guys and girls that hang out together, regularly.
Her diary is interesting, but seems to stay in one place. There was an expectation, that this was a diary from someone who lived and died during the Holocaust, or who survived. It wasn't until the Epilogue by her sister Elizabeth that explained a lot of things. The poetry and songs aren't my thing, but for the right person, it would be great.
Renia was murdered by the Nazis in 1942.
I received a complimentary copy from Goodreads and St. Martin's Press with no obligation to review.
Renia's Diary: A Holocaust Journal by Renia Spiegel; With Her Sister, Elizabeth Bellak and With Writer Sarah Durand
Renia started a diary for herself, in Poland, so she would have a nonjudgmental friend who could console her when she was down January 31, 1939.
Renia shares her hopes and dreams, poetry and songs-some that she made up and others that spoke to her. She hangs out with her friends. She misses her sister-who is a start and is gone a lot. She misses her mama-who lives in a different part of the country.
She gets a boyfriend Zygmunt. He survived and Renia did not. She had given Zygu (a nickname she called him by) her journal. Her journal is interesting, she lives is Przemysl, Poland with her grandparents, who live in the apartment above their stationary shop. Her mother is mostly in Warsaw and their father lives out on their country estate, farming and keeping people working for him.
Renia gets together with her friends regularly, there are 6 or 8 guys and girls that hang out together, regularly.
Her diary is interesting, but seems to stay in one place. There was an expectation, that this was a diary from someone who lived and died during the Holocaust, or who survived. It wasn't until the Epilogue by her sister Elizabeth that explained a lot of things. The poetry and songs aren't my thing, but for the right person, it would be great.
Renia was murdered by the Nazis in 1942.
I received a complimentary copy from Goodreads and St. Martin's Press with no obligation to review.
Renia's Diary: A Holocaust Journal by Renia Spiegel; With Her Sister, Elizabeth Bellak and With Writer Sarah Durand