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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
This is a side of the WW2 occupation that isn't often seen. I've read lots of Holocaust survivor stories before, but this picture of the underground efforts and the women's prisons add to the gruesome scene.
I didn't think this book would impact me. Picking it up, I knew it was something the rest of my family had already read and loved, so I had expectations; I hoped I'd like it, I hoped it would stay in my head for a while. But I didn't think to hope that it would mean so much.
But it did. For a while, I was dismayed, because a lot of the story felt like it was more about the evidence of God in miracles, which is humbling and inspiring, but that wasn't what got to me. I was looking at something deeper that I couldn't describe yet. But a few chapters from the end, in a spot I don't quite remember, I found it: it was the presence of God that they, Corrie and her family, held onto, and brought everywhere with them. That feeling is what made me start thinking of Him as a hiding place, even for me, right now, living in such a safer, smaller bit of world; that's what's going to stay with me. The idea that faith isn't just about trusting God to make things work out; in some ways, it's just about knowing His presence in the space inside and around you, and trusting the essential safety of that. It's that part of faith that enabled Corrie and the others to do the incredible things they did, out of love for others and for good; it's something that changed prayer for me. It changed a lot.
[A little sidenote--the day that I initially noticed this, a few days before I finished the book, I happened to come across a bunch of those 'obscure dictionary words' pictures you see on social media from time to time. And, somehow, I found one that had the definition for "abditory", which literally means "a hiding place". That might've been when I really started to grasp what this all meant to me. So I've been holding the word in my head lately, writing it in random places and naming playlists after it and etc, to hold onto that association of safeness. Maybe it was one of Corrie's little miracles of God's good timing that showed me this, maybe it's just something I saw because I needed it. But this book is the reason why the idea mattered to me at all, and I don't think I'll forget that.]
Ultimately, The Hiding Place was kind of an incredible thing to experience. I'm grateful I got to read this.
But it did. For a while, I was dismayed, because a lot of the story felt like it was more about the evidence of God in miracles, which is humbling and inspiring, but that wasn't what got to me. I was looking at something deeper that I couldn't describe yet. But a few chapters from the end, in a spot I don't quite remember, I found it: it was the presence of God that they, Corrie and her family, held onto, and brought everywhere with them. That feeling is what made me start thinking of Him as a hiding place, even for me, right now, living in such a safer, smaller bit of world; that's what's going to stay with me. The idea that faith isn't just about trusting God to make things work out; in some ways, it's just about knowing His presence in the space inside and around you, and trusting the essential safety of that. It's that part of faith that enabled Corrie and the others to do the incredible things they did, out of love for others and for good; it's something that changed prayer for me. It changed a lot.
[A little sidenote--the day that I initially noticed this, a few days before I finished the book, I happened to come across a bunch of those 'obscure dictionary words' pictures you see on social media from time to time. And, somehow, I found one that had the definition for "abditory", which literally means "a hiding place". That might've been when I really started to grasp what this all meant to me. So I've been holding the word in my head lately, writing it in random places and naming playlists after it and etc, to hold onto that association of safeness. Maybe it was one of Corrie's little miracles of God's good timing that showed me this, maybe it's just something I saw because I needed it. But this book is the reason why the idea mattered to me at all, and I don't think I'll forget that.]
Ultimately, The Hiding Place was kind of an incredible thing to experience. I'm grateful I got to read this.
challenging
dark
inspiring
slow-paced
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it more than most books I own. If you have any interest in the holocaust I highly recommend this book.
This was one of my favorite childhood books and I still find it enjoyable today. I have always enjoyed studying and learning about the Holocaust and this book brought to life some of those things for me. I could read this book a thousand times over and never be bored from it!
Wonderfully fantastic. This bio was such a story, yet intertwined Christian beliefs. Very encouraging. I would recommend it to anyone, having faith or not. God truly is with them. Praise him!
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Would recommend: Maybe
I liked this book well enough. It was a little unbelievable to me at times, like overly preachy or saintly, but the story is very compelling. There's no escaping the bravery of the ten Boom family's acts during the Holocaust, and this story is a unique one from the time period.
I liked this book well enough. It was a little unbelievable to me at times, like overly preachy or saintly, but the story is very compelling. There's no escaping the bravery of the ten Boom family's acts during the Holocaust, and this story is a unique one from the time period.
2021: Read aloud with my 14 year old. Having read this for the first time only a couple of years ago, I knew this would be one I’d want to share with my daughter when the time was right. And, my goodness, this story bowled me over again. I loved hearing my daughter verbalize how she felt about the love and obedience of the ten Boom family. Proof once again that faith shared is faith multiplied.
2019: I am only sorry that I waited so long to read Corrie ten Boom’s story. What an amazing person, not only to overcome so much, but to do so while giving her life to ease others burdens. This is one I will place in my kiddo’s hands when she reaches high school age. We all need heroes such as Ms. ten Boom.
2019: I am only sorry that I waited so long to read Corrie ten Boom’s story. What an amazing person, not only to overcome so much, but to do so while giving her life to ease others burdens. This is one I will place in my kiddo’s hands when she reaches high school age. We all need heroes such as Ms. ten Boom.