What if Anne Frank’s sister survived the holocaust? What if she lived to see her sister’ Diary become so famous? This is the setting of the first novel I’ve been able to read in two years.
“Margot,” by Jillian Cantor, is told from the voice of Anne Frank’s sister who was able to flee Nazi-controlled Poland. She changes her name and tries to live a normal existence. Yet, how can she, when she has a number tattooed to her arm which she covers with a sweater even when it’s sweltering heat.
Two years is a long time to have skipped novels. In the past I always had a novel on my nightstand. Always. Even if it took a few months to complete, I was always reading a book. Non-fiction. I loved escaping into other worlds. It’s a great way to de-stress.
But two years ago I entered graduate school and my life was extremely unbalanced. I went to work, did drop off or pick up each day for my kids, came home and cooked, cleaned, got kids ready for bed, did my own homework, and collapsed only to do it over again. There was only time for Harvard Business Review articles or non-fiction related to class. And, I loved reading these. But I missed novels.
When I graduated last summer I thought it would be easy to jump back into watching mindless TV and reading novels, but that wasn’t the case. I found myself only able to read non-fiction. Books about social media, blogging, self improvement. That’s all I could read.
Last summer I visited Auschwitz during a school trip, which is why Margot probably stuck a cord with me. I’ve been to Anne Frank’s house. Read her diary and this story was intriguing. It’s fiction, but based on facts from Anne’s now famous little red diary.
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ABOUT ALICIA: Alicia is the founder of Balancing Motherhood.com. Last year, she managed to stay sane while completing an MBA, working full-time, blogging, and still baking amazing birthday cakes — all while raising a young family at home.
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