The time commitment that reading a book requires can seem daunting; therefore, the process of choosing a book is important. This is where the influence of paratext becomes evident. Paratext, as Dr. McNeil quoted from Whitlock’s “Introduction: Word’s made Flesh” are “features that surround and cover the text”.  As Smith and Watson explain using Ginette’s concept of paratext in “Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives” the discussion around the book, including but not limited to online reviews and critics, is called epitext (100). The epitext helps to form the first impressions of a book. The story of Anne Frank, is one that has captured reader’s attention for generations. The conversation about Anne Frank’s life narrative has been influential in the portrayal of her work.

A repeated theme occurring in the reviews is why someone should read the Diary of Anne Frank. Often reviewers who were expecting a dramatic life narrative were disappointed, as can be seen through Liam’s review on goodreads: “If you are interested in the history surrounding the diary then I’d recommend you read this but if you’re expecting a gripping, exciting book then this may not be for you” (Liam’s Review). As we are reading Anne Frank’s life narrative as a diary, one should be reading with the intention of gaining a deeper understanding into Anne Frank and her life. Therefore, the Diary of a Young Girl appeals to a reader who is interested about finding insights into a family during the holocaust. This is a book that will get you to think, wonder, and question, but it is also “exceedingly tedious” (Alejandro’s review). Through reading the reviews it became evident that many people felt an emotional connection to this book. There are reviews such as, “when I read The Diary of Anne Frank for the first time, I identified with her at every turn. I felt her emotions…” (Nikki Nielsen’s review) which prove that reading Anne Frank’s life narrative requires a degree of empathy.  The reader who will enjoy The Diary of a Young Girl  is one who anticipates that reading the diary will not be an enjoyable experience, but instead an experience that will leave them with a greater “insight into the hardships that people had to go through during this holocaust”  (Nilesh Kashyap Review).

Through reading the online reviews by novice book reviewers one can conclude that “The Diary of Anne Frank” is a novel to be read in the right mindset. It should be read by a reader who is interested in the effect of the holocaust on a young girl and her family. Moreover, the reader must accept that the life narrative is written as a diary; therefore, the central concept is self-examination rather than entertainment. Anne Frank wrote to her diary as a way to confide her emotions. As is portrayed by the reviews, an ideal reader of the Diary of Anne Frank is someone who will empathize inquisitively with the emotion of an adolescent girl living through one of the most tragic events in history.

Works Cited

McNeil, Laurie. Judging Books and their Covers. ASTU G01 Soft Weapons: The Work of Life Narratives. WordPress. Accessed October 6, 2016. https://blogs.ubc.ca/astug012016/

goodreads. 2016 Goodreads Inc. Accessed October 6, 2016. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48855.The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl?from_search=true

Smith, Sidonie and Watson, Julia. Reading Autobiography : A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives, Second Edition (2). Univ Of Minnesota Press. July 2010.