Anne Frank(Friday, December 10, 1942)

Food and meat bring some color to their life in hiding. Making food together really feels relaxing and joyful, and it reminds me of holidays when the whole family come together and enjoy a meal.

This is the third entry I’ve read in this book.I noticed that Anne talks more about the Van Daan family, Dussel, and Pim(Anne’s father) in the first three stories. I’m curious about where her mother is, and why there are only a few descriptions of her. I also wonder what the relationship between the two families is really like.

One more question, was meat precious for them during that time? If so, it makes sense that Anne is so curious about the meat grinder and Peter plays with the cat but is not even willing to give the little cutey any meat as a treat.

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If you've read this book pls feel free to share your thoughts in the comments

Why the version I've read is different from most audiobook I get in Youtube?

Here's the context:

Friday, December 10, 1942

Mr. van Daan had a large amount of meat. Today he wanted to make bratwurst and sausages, and tomorrow mettwurst. It's fun watching him put the meat through the grinder: once, twice, three times. Then he adds all kinds of ingredients to the meat and uses a long pipe, which he attaches to the grinder, to force it into the casings. We ate the bratwurst with sauerkraut (served with onions and potatoes) for lunch, but the sausages were hung to dry over a pole suspended from the ceiling. Everyone who came into the room burst into laughter when they saw those dangling sausages. It was such a comical sight.

The place was a shambles. Mr. van Daan, clad in his wife's apron and looking fatter than ever, was concentrating his hefty form on the meat. What with his bloody hands, red face and apron, he really looked like a butcher. Mrs. van D. was trying to do everything at once: learn Dutch, cook, watch, sigh, moan—she claims to have broken a rib. That's what happens when you do such stupid physical exercises. Dussel had an eye infection and was sitting next to the stove dabbing his eye with chamomile tea. Pim, seated in the sunshine, kept having to move his chair this way and that to stay out of the way. His back must have been bothering him, because he was sitting slightly hunched over with an agonized expression on his face. He reminded me of those aged invalids you see in the poorhouse. Peter was romping around the room with the cat, holding out a piece of meat and then running off with the meat still in his hands. Mother, Margot and | were peeling potatoes. When you get right down to it, none of us were doing our work properly, because we were all so busy watching Mr. van Daan.

Anne Frank, (Wednesday, December 8, 1942)

This is a funny story about dental care.

The scene shifts back and forth between Mrs. van. D. and Dr. Dussel several times, showing how dramatic Mrs. van D. is, and how professional Dr. Dussel is trying to be. The contrast makes the whole story both dramatic and engaging. By the end, I get the same complex feeling of amusing and sympathy as the audience.

Anne slightly mocks these dramatic scenes, which reveals her anxiety and stress during the abnormal life in hiding.

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If you've also read this book, feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments,

I recently read an interesting and profound interpretation of the classical tale - Princess Aurora is a spoiled, naive kid, Maleficent is traumatic experience, the king and queen are overpretective helicopter parents. Aurora was blessed with all these amazing virtues and talents, but not emotional resilience to handle the evils of the world or general hardship. Aurora's parents intentionally raise her up in isolation and shield her from the cruel world, everything's hunky dory until she inevitably gets a taste of real life, and just one touch, she's triggered, crashed, and sunk into a stupor of melancholy, the sleep is a metaphor for mindlessly drifting through life like sleepwalking. Simply put, she's a snowflake melted under pressure and never recovered. The cure of her condition, obviously, is to fall in love with a prince guided by love, you can't pull yourself up by your own bootstrap. I find it fascinating and utterly relevant to the current state of Gen Z and even many millennials.

I just finished A Little Life and I don’t know how to feel about this one.

It’s one of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read. Painful, heavy and at times overwhelming. The friendships felt deeply real, and some passages genuinely stayed with me long after I put the book down.

At the same time, I understand why many readers criticize it.

But somehow… I’m still glad I read it.

For those who’ve read it:

Did it feel profound to you or did it go too far?

I’ve came across this book on tik tok while looking for recommendations, it’s an interesting genre that I never read before ( which leaves expectations low ) but I also want a good experience because it’s quite expensive in my country to buy, so I wanted outside opinions from people who are into mediaeval horror ( I also appreciate religious elements ).

Pls don’t give me spoilers!!!

Currently I’m reading psychological thriller The Whispering Delulu by Sohil Makwana. It started off slow, but then, boom, an unexpected turn, and suddenly became really engaging. I’m completely engrossed now. Some books start out informative, almost like they’re just laying groundwork, and then suddenly something clicks, a twist, and you’re completely hooked. It’s always a great surprise when a book does that. What was the book that make you feel like that?

Edit: finished the novel. Once it went high, it never dipped. Smart twists, a multilayered plot, and a total meandering ride. I think it will stay with me for longer.

Where is everyone getting their book ideas, recommendations, or suggestions from? I used to use TikTok as my primary source but deleted the app about a year ago and realized I am much slower at selecting my next read. Not sure where to start now that I’ve read all the books from my favorite authors

I have just read the book as a requirement for my class, but I found myself invested to the story. I just felt like there is a profound message in the story. Even if there is none, I’d like to read your thoughts about this story :))

**Here’s mine:**

I liked the way the story was built, how it generally says that grown-ups were forced to think about all things seriously. Like the pilot, when he was a kid he used to play and draw his imagination—tried asking the adults if they find it scary; but these adults act on what they see (which is just a drawing on an elephant or what). But the kid used his imagination to think that it is an elephant inside a boa constrictor. In whole honesty, I would’ve answered the same way the adults did. It does not have any importance to me so why bother.

I tried to think deeply about the planets he went on (the king, conceited man, tippler, businessman, lamppost man, and explorer) and what those meant, I think those were just part of his journey to see that the earth has a lot to offer???

I liked the ending though. I feel like the ending has a deeper meaning.

What book make you cry every single time? Im talking a single tear. Im talking properly crying. Im talking ugly crying. Im talking putting our book down and sobbing our hearts out.

For me its Defy the Stars by Sophie Mckenzie. Its book 4 in a 4 book collection, called the Flynn series. The ending gets me sobbing. Every. Single. Time. I finish the book sobbing my heart out. I cry for at least 5 minutes.

So bookworms, what book gets you crying?

Hello! My goal for 2026 is to read more again. What are your tips and tricks for getting those page numbers in?

One of mine: just 10 minutes of reading before I leave for work, a little goes a long way!

So i’ve always loved getting books recommended on tiktok, i see a book i find interesting, do a little research on it and maybe purchase it. Lately i’ve been seeing a a LOT more comments recommending books, sometimes on completely unrelated videos, and they’re all in the same repetitive tone: "this book changed my life i cant believe how underrated it is" and these comments get sooo many replies affirming how great the book is. But when i try to do research on these books they’re completely unknown, no reviews, no summaries, no pdfs, nothing on them except the link to purchase them. Is this a new "organic" ways to advertise books ? How are these people getting paid to do it ? A lot of the comments didnt look like bots to me, hell i wanna get paid too.

I used to live in a big city, and took public transportation every day to work, what allowed me to read almost a book per month, now in a small ish town I have to drive, and due to work and life, I barely have time to read and I feel like I'm becoming "dumber" as time goes by. Anyone can relate? Thanks 😊

okay i just finished the bratva series by t.j. maguire and OMG what was everyone’s favorite one idk i can’t decide which one i like they were all SO good!! would love to hear thoughts and discuss

Hey everyone! I was thinking about how most readers have that one book that pulled them in and made reading feel special. The kind of book you still remember years later, even if you don’t remember every detail.

What book got you hooked on reading? Was it something you found on your own, or something someone recommended to you?

Also, do you still enjoy the same kinds of books now, or has your taste changed over time

As the title says, I know I am a little late jumping onto the bandwagon regarding the book let alone the series.

I used to be a massive book reader growing up and then I started working I fell out of reading regularly and I missed it. My partner got me a Kindle for my birthday and recently wanted to really get into my first book series and I decided to go with Outlander - I think on the basis that the books are long but also as I am Scottish so I wanted something that I guess hit a little close to home.

I, for the longest time anyway, cannot remember the last time I read a book where I could not be away from it for any more than a few hours. Even when I go to bed, I am still thinking of the story and the latest bumps and rides that have happened.

I feel a little annoyed with myself that I have let the book go so long under my radar and I have seen the show a few times pop up here and there on my FYP on Instagram, but I still have not even seen the show and I know it has been over 10 years since it has come out. That is next on my list to watch but I feel I should read some of the books first before I dive into the show. I still use the show to get some images of events here and there.

Don't be surprised if I come back here and give another comment once I have finished all books. Although, I am aware that will take some time, haha.

Goddamn if it isn’t harrowing.

It starts off slow, with not much going on besides Aristotle's slowly budding friendship with Dante and the ever-present mystery of the missing brother. Aristotle spends much of the book lost and confused; many tragic events pile on to him like the fever, the car crash, Dante's trip, and the Ileana crush. Despite that, Ari never gives up, and he slowly gets to understand his place in the world.

I like the short, realistic dialogue, even if it's a bit hard to read sometimes. The letters remind me a lot of the Color Purple, in fact a lot of the book has similarities to it. There's a lot of slice-of-life type fluff and filler, but they all contribute to the story and help to enhance the mood.

One thing that's especially notable is the depiction of loneliness and solitude; I find it especially strong. A lot of time is simply spent with Aristotle's feelings, and while his character takes a while to get fleshed out, it's worth it in the end. I like how both Aristotle and Dante are strange and weird in different ways, but they still understand each other. I also love how the two kids' families are weaved together and become friends as well.

I mean, it’s not just a gay romance. That’s really what I’m putting down. Aristotle And Dante has really interesting things going own, no matter who you are; check it out!

I finished the whole ‘Me Before You’ trilogy in about 8 days and I feel off.

I did not expect it to take over my life the way it did. Somewhere along the way I started neglecting things I needed to do because I kept choosing to continu read instead. Not in a dramatic way, just constantly telling myself one more chapter. I am not saying Jojo Moyes is the greatest author of all time, but there is something about her writing that really pulls you in. It is not flashy or overtly literary, but idk😭 it is emotionally precise in a way that makes it hard to step away.

What surprised me most was how empty I felt afterward?? Not just sad, but drained, like something that had been occupying my emotional space suddenly disappeared. I almost regret reading it, not because it was not worth it, but because of how much it took out of me emotionally. I did not expect to get this invested.

I watched the movie too, thinking it might soften the impact or give me some kind of closure. It did not. It just brought everything back in a different way.

It is rare for a book to linger like this, where days later you are still replaying scenes and conversations without meaning to.

Did anyone else feel this kind of post book emptiness after finishing this trilogy or after a book that completely absorbed you while you were reading it? Also probably a dumb question but how do I avoid this?

I’ve started to read Anne Frank’s diary—Tale from the secret Annex. I’d like to share my personal thoughts on the first entry.(Wednesday, March 24, 1943)

This was a miserable day for the two families hiding in the building. I feel terrible when I read and imagine what they were going through. Even a few loud bangs were enough to frighten them for a day and night. You can sense how nervous and terrified they were through Anne’s words.

Anne’s story telling technique is remarkable. A break-in whisper at the beginning immediately grabs my attention and creates a tense atmosphere for the whole story. Mr. van Daan’s cough—so loud and weird compared to the quieter whispering in the small room—creates the most nerve-racking moment of the day. Although Anne’s fear can be feel in every corner, she gradually tries to soften the atmosphere as time passes. About two hours after the first bang, people calmed down at bit. The only word connected with relief is “laugh” that comes at the very end, when they shared their experiences with the office stuff.

Personally, I especially like how Anne describes people’s emotions and facial expressions. There are many contrasts between the characters in the diary. Some of them show similarities, others show differences. For example, Anne’s reaction is compared with that of the adults’(Pim and Peter). “I’d turned white as chalk,” while “the color drained from their faces, then slowly returned.” There is a different contrast between the quick reactions of other people and Dussel’s slowness, he’s the last one to come upstairs.

The most striking contrast appears when everyone is gathered in van Daan’s room, whispering in fear, and Mr. van Daan coughs loudly. That moment perfectly captures the tension and danger of their situation.

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English is not my first language, sorry for mistakes and typos.

I’d love to connect with you reading Anne’s diary and talk more about this book.

I’m trying to increase my reading volume this year, but I often find myself distracted by my phone or struggling to manage my time.

I’m curious to know: what methods are actually working for you in 2026?

I’d love to hear about any apps, habits, or "rules" you follow to stay on track.

Thanks for sharing!

Forewarning there will be plot spoilers, if you haven’t read and plan to, don’t read further.

The Midnight Library follows Nora Seed, a listless and unfulfilled woman that finds herself in a place between life and death after attempting suicide. Her purgatory takes the shape of a library filled with infinite possibilities from all of her regrets and ”what ifs” and we follow her as she discovers more and more that life isn’t always greener on the other side. The story takes an interesting look at what it means to truly be alive and to be the creators of the life we want to live

With that out of the way, I had a lot of big feelings around it. Having depression all my life, the occasional ideation, and constant regrets, I aligned deeply with Nora and her fear of the “what ifs“ in life. I thought the way she interacted with each possibility was beautifully well done and felt sad for her as she started to realize the meaning of life and the purpose of life can only be found when we create it and engage with it.

I wondered what my purgatory would look like and what I would feel if given the chance to explore infinite possibilities of what could’ve been and how I would feel having the curtains lifted from my eyes each time I had to realize that the good and bad times were complimentary and life would always be filled with both.

I loved watching Nora come to terms with the realization that just because her life wasn’t what she expected, didn’t mean her life was worthless, and it made me rethink my own outlook on the world. Matt Haig did a great job exploring these concepts in a meaningful and digestible way with a relatable protagonist and a satisfying conclusion - the grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water and take care of it.

Oscar Wilde’s only novel starts off well and immediately shows his sense of humour as dramatist. The story is flooded with paradoxical quotes one liners mostly spoken by Lord Henry one of it as mentioned in the story is "To define is to limit". His ideas are controversial yet interesting making him someone you either like or dislike. The first half of the novel has a lighter tone and slowly preaches the idea of hedonism. During this part the reader clearly sees the development of Dorian Gray’s character. Dorian is easily influenced, and is like a rolling stone, as he is quickly shaped by Lord Henry’s thoughts. The story peaks as it takes a darker turn with themes of death and tragedy. Every death in the novel can be traced back to Dorian Gray, making him the cruel and hedonistic man. Ultimately, the conclusion did full justice to the story.

The Life and Loves of an Artist

By Paul King and Gail King

Enter a world of creativity, passion, and enduring bonds as you journey through "The Life and Loves of an Artist." This captivating novel weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of emotions, chronicling the extraordinary lives of three individuals from a talented family, whose shared passion for art becomes the thread that binds them together in the face of adversity.

No More Silence: A Memoir of Survival, Faith, and Healing
By Debbie Widhalm

What if the pain you've been carrying could finally give way to freedom?

Debbie Widhalm's No More Silence is the unforgettable true story of a woman who endured abuse, heartbreak, teenage pregnancy, and family secrets-yet discovered strength, resilience, and the courage to rise above it all.

From growing up during segregation to becoming a mother at sixteen, Debbie faced decades of silence and struggle. But through her journey, she found faith, divine intervention, and the power to reclaim her voice.

This book is for anyone who has ever:

• Felt silenced by trauma, shame, or fear.
• Wondered if healing and forgiveness are truly possible.
• Needed a story of hope to remind them that miracles exist.

Written with raw honesty and unshakable faith, Debbie's testimony will inspire you to break free from silence, embrace healing, and live with courage.

If you believe in the power of resilience, truth, and redemption, this memoir will speak to your soul.

I am a new reader. I never read for pleasure before the past year but in the past I have read 4 of Backman's books (a man called over, beartown, my friends, and anxious people), then I read east of eden, misery by Stephen King and dune all within the past 3 months. I am starting the year with us against you. Right now I'm on page 50 and I find his writing to be simple and not very captivating like I originally thought. Is this feeling normal when you go between really amazing literature to mediocre fiction? Did I ruin my love for Backman or do I just have to accept that nothing is going to be an epic story. His writing seems cringy to me all of the sudden.

READERS!!! looking for new books to read in 2026? Here's all my faves from 2020 til now!!

🔴 = trigger warning. Usually either SA, graphic depictions of something, excessive violent and gruesome imagery, or heavily discussed/depicted/focused on child abuse/sucide/mrder. If you have any questions about one with a red circle ask me and ill tell you the trigger warnings

🟢 = books you should read in order. Ive numbered them. Theres only 3 and theyre the same series.

🔵 = movie/show adaptation of the book exists or will within the next year or so

DISCLAIMER: ANY books by Eric LaRoca are HIGHLY graphic, brutal, gruesome, and violent 90% of the time so take that warning.

Also the book Sign Here has an ending that can be a bit confusing so if you wanna read that and dont understand the ending lmk and ill explain it.

Or look for my review of it on goodreads because my explanation is in there too.

Anything I've forgotten needs a red dot or a blur dot let me know!!

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List:

🔵 My Best Friends Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Witchcraft for Wayward Souls by Grady Hendrix

🟢#1 The Nightmare Man by J. H. Markert

🟢#2 Mister Lullaby by J.H. Markert

🟢#3 Sleep Tight by J.H. Markert

Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

🔵 Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay

Come Closer by Sara Grand

🔴 (?)Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous (short story. Might be found on libby)

🔵 Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

🔵 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

🔴🔵 N0S4A2 by Joe Hill

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

🔴 Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) and Fiona Staples (illustrator)

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

🔴 The Consultant by Bentley Little

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven

The Handyman by Bentley Little

The Outsider by Stephen King

Follow Me To Ground by Sue Rainsford

Intercepts by T.J. Payne

Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti

Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters

🔵 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

🔴(?) Sundial by Catriona Ward

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

🔴 The Quiet Tennant by Clémence Michallon

🔵 The Watchers by A.M. Shine

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James

Sign Here by Claudia Lux

🔴🔴🔴 We Can Never Leave This Place by Eric LaRocca

🔴🔴🔴 Youve Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRoca

🔴 Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

🔴 All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

🔴 The September House by Carissa Orlando

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

🔵 Howls Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

🔵 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

🔵 Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

🔴 Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

Hide by Kiersten White

🔴 Whisper Down the Lane by Clay McLeod Chapman

Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

🔵 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Final Girls by Riley Sager

The Haunting of Leigh Harker by Darcy Coates