Are all lives essentially the same? TikTok users are obsessed with the diary of a normal girl. But are they interested in her life — or what her life says about themselves?
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Millions gripped by 1945 teen journal
Are all lives essentially the same? TikTok users are obsessed with the diary of a normal girl. But are they interested in her life - or what her life says about themselves?
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Charlotte Buchsbaum did not think anyone would read her teenage diary. In March 1945, the Jewish teenager found her grandfather's old journal. She scratched out the dates and made it her own. For over half a year, she recorded her life in New York City.
Buchsbaum wrote crisply. One entry begins: "Studied all day. Going to the club now." She also recorded her outfits, school test scores, trips to the movies and the political events of the day.
Almost 80 years later, Buchsbaum's diary has become a hit.
This year Helaina Ferraioli, who bought the diary in an estate sale, started posting entries on TikTok. Her first post received over three million views.
Our interest in diaries is nothing new. Diaries can make their writers famous. Anne Frank, another Jewish teenager writing in the 1940s, has become world famous for her diary recording life in hiding under NaziA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II. occupation.
Diaries are written by one person for an audience of themselves. They should show all the quirks and habits of their writer.
Yet TikTok users love Buchsbaum's diary because it resembles their own lives.
Are all lives essentially the same?
Yes! Most lives follow the same pattern, from childhood to old age. We all feel the same emotions.
No! We try to find links between ourselves and diary writers but, ultimately, we cannot know how others think.
Nazi - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Millions gripped by 1945 teen journal
Dear diary: American teenager Charlotte Buchsbaum (left) used a journal that originally belonged to her grandfather to record events taking place in her life. These included everything from what she wore and how she did her hair, to the anxiety she felt about the world being at war. Glossary
Nazi - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.