I made it! 31 days, and 31 books – admittedly some of them played fast and loose with the definition of ‘novella’, not least this final one. But what a fun time it has been, and has brought out some real gems – A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence was definitely top of the pile, but some other wonderful books alongside. Thank you so much, Madame Bibi, for creating this challenge and for doing it alongside me. It’s been really fun to see what you read, where we overlap, and where there are massive differences. I’m running out of novellas on my shelves now, but already looking forward to next year.
Today, I read a graphic work of non-fiction – Anne Frank’s diary, adapted by Ari Folman and illustrated by David Polonsky. I think it came as a review copy back when it was published in 2018, and I’m so glad I finally read it.
You doubtless all know Anne Frank’s story, and have read her diary – one of the great works of the 21st century, in my opinion, documenting life in a hidden annexe for a group of Jewish family and friends in Amsterdam. What makes the original book so incredible is all here – the extraordinary and the everyday, the teenage girl struggling against her parents’ authority and finding first love – and the girl who knows one wrong move would lead to them all being murdered. She is perceptive, witty, thoughtful, hopeful. And Folman does a brilliant job of keeping that all here.
It is shorter than the diary, of course, and mostly given in typical graphical novel ‘cartoon strip’ style, though some pages are given over to full entries. Polonsky’s illustrations capture the portrait we know so well, and convey the character and spirit of Anne.
In some instances (as explained in an afterword), they have condensed many entries into one illustration – for instance, Anne often compares herself to her sister, and obsesses over their differences. That was turned into this page:
I was a bit worried that this would be odd or gimmicky, or take away from the extraordinary original. But I think it’s a moving and beautiful way to re-encounter Anne’s story – a new angle on that testimony to man’s inhumanity to man, and yet the survival of humanity in the darkest of situations.
Firstly, well done Simon – I applaud you!
Interesting to hear about this one – I didn’t know the diary had been adapted and glad the adaptation does it justice. Such a powerful book and worryingly becoming more relevant every day.
Yes, it no longer feels quite as alien as it did when I first read it…
Congratulations Simon! I’ve really enjoyed your choices in the month and as you say the overlaps and differences have been good fun to see.
This sounds wonderful. It’s so impressive to take such an important work and make it accessible in a different way without diminishing it. You’ve definitely inspired me to pick this up.
Really hope you get as much from it as I did! And thanks again for such a fun month. Hope your brain de-covids very soon!
I occasionally read graphic novels, and this one sounds promising.
Yes, I like them sometimes – Brecht Evens was my entrance to this world.
I was wincing at a graphic version of this book, but then… OMG… Ari Folman? The man is a genius! He made the first, feature length *animated* documentary EVER – Waltz with Bashir – and he worked with David Polonsky on it! If you haven’t seen the film, try to get hold of a copy. It is, to my mind, the BEST film ever made in Israel. It should have won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, AND it should have been nominated in both the feature length documentary category and full-length animated feature film category, but it wasn’t. Robbed, they were ROBBED I tell you!
Oo I didn’t know anything about him, thank you!!
I put up a comment here, but it isn’t showing up. Can you check your spam comments? Maybe it got tossed into there because I used all caps a couple of times.
This does look lovely and very fitting (which is indeed a relief). I’ve never quite recovered from going to the Anne Frank House (on my own, on, weirdly, the anniversary of D-Day) and seeing the Actual Diary there, which I was very much not expecting.
And well done on completing your challenge!!!
Congratulations!! A novella a day is a big accomplishment–even if the books are little. I’m not sure how I feel about a graphic version of Anne Frank. I’ll have to see it to fully appreciate it.