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Novel Question
November 9th, 2007 | 
Author: To all my readers, I need your help. I’ve reached a dilemma in my plot. Please answer the following by leaving a comment….
If an old diary written by someone you don’t know came into your possession, would you read it? (By old, I mean one that is obviously 40-50 years old, but also personal.)
If not, why?
If so, would you feel guilty or like you were prying into someone’s life?
What would you do with the diary? Keep it? Try to find the owner or relatives?
How curious would you be about the people in the diary?
What would you expect to find in the diary?
Again, please answer! I need your help! 
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Yes, I’d definitely read the diary out of curiosity, mainly just to find out what life was like for a person who lived 50 years ago. Today we are so distracted with the latest technology to entertain us… back then life was simpler, and there was more time to focus on what’s most important. (I’m assuming your novel is taking place in today’s time period.)
I would absolutely read it Kara! Now, if it was boring after a few entries I might stop. But how can anyone’s life be boring, really? Life is so exciting and everyone has joys and trials and unique experiences! PS I am glad you liked my little Peter Pan!
I would read it. It’s a piece of history. It’s a glimpse into a different time and place.
I never felt like I’m prying into Anne Frank’s personal life.
I would definitely flip through the diary at least. Whether I would read it cover to cover would depend entirely on the contents of the diary. It would have to hook me somehow, and it would have to be very well written.
As to what I would expect to find: the relatively mundane details of someone else’s life.