Customer Reviews

Love, Otto: The Legacy of Anne Frank

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As an avid reader of Anne Frank, her story and family history, I was interested in this book, as there are few written of Otto Frank.
I was appalled to say the least. It left me questioning the authors motives?
I feltthe author had an unnatural obsession with Otto,and to be "part" of his world. She wrote him from her teens to adulthood. In early letters, it's as if she's trying to "channel" Anne Frank,to write and be like her, claim she "feels her" all around.It's as if she is trying to BE her for Otto, in hopes that she'll remind him of Anne. She talks/complains about her younger life in letters and asks for advice. After Otto's history and his family's fate, it seems bizarre she would do this. Especially since his daughters never had the chance to live their lives.It's unnerving. In one letter, as the author is older, she excitedly shares news that her new house has an attic and she's always wanted one. Saying this to a man who hid his family in an attic to try and save their lives is tactless. I cringed through most of the book and wondered why it seemed in some letters, genuine and others, self serving. It was just plain odd.
There are clear instances when Otto Frank, refuses to answer questions, suggests he's not able to do what she wants him to do (visit her, come to her wedding, etc) The author tells him she wants to write a book about him, he states he wants no part of it, and specifically requests that she does not follow up on the idea. (pg56) Her "love" for this "adopted grandfather" is questionable to me, as she went against these wishes to write this book anyway. In reading and learning about Otto Frank, he was an intensly private man who would have never wanted his letters shared.He corresponded with anyone who was kind enough to write him.He turned no one away and often met with people who wrote. I think his genuiness,care and thankfulness for people who appreciated and loved his daughter was exploited here. He wrote back to her and cared for this author, but his letters rarely seem anything other than polite.
It's not a book I'd recommend, it left me feeling so sorry for Otto Frank. I felt this book exploited him (in my opinion)