Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal by Diana M. Raab
When Diana was ten years old, she entered her grandmother’s bedroom one morning to request permission to go and play with a friend. When she was unable to awaken her grandmother, she became very frightened and called her mother. It was later determined that Diana’s grandmother Regina had committed suicide by overdosing on medication.
Many years later, when Diana was an adult, her mother brought her Regina’s journal, which had been found in a pile of papers in her closet. Between this journal and interviews with family, Diana was able to piece together much of the life of the grandmother she had loved and lost.
When I was offered this book, I thought it sounded quite interesting, but I was wary. There were so many ways a story like this could go wrong. It could have been overly emotional or too dry and removed, Regina’s life could simply have been very boring.
Luckily, none of those things was true. Regina had a fascinating life. Born to a Jewish family in a Polish section of the Autro-Hungarian Empire prior to World War I, Regina survived the war and escaped to America prior to World War II essentially on personal strength alone.
The book basically consists of Regina’s journal relating her life from a young age until she left for America. Diana has interspersed notes giving journal passages historical or family context, making them even more meaningful. The very beginning and very end of the book are also told from Diana’s perspective, beginning with the suicide and ending with her memories of Regina.
This book was fascinating and very well written. I found Regina’s life fascinating and gained insight as to what might have spurred along her depression. I highly recommend this book as the story of an incredible, if ultimately tragic, life.
I’ve been interested in this book, and was glad to see your positive review. I’ve done a lot of genealogy/family history research and I know how important those primary source documents are – journals, family Bibles, letters. I’m adding this to my wish list!
Thanks – this sounds very interesting. Definitely going on the TBR list!
This one sounds like one that I would like. I think I’ll go see if I can find a copy. Thanks!
This is the second great review I’ve read of this book…it will definitely be going on TBR now. Thanks for sharing!
You make a compelling case for reading it, but I think I’ll have to wait till I’m in a happier place. It’s never a good idea for me to read tragic things when I’m already inclined to be down (which doesn’t happen often, but we’re a bit stressed out right now, which leads me to feeling down).
This sounds like a fascinating book. I’m very interested in family history, so I’d love to stumble across the diary of an ancestor.
i think some of the best books are finding out about family sorts, like rain of gold and everything is illuminated…