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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
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.
I would give this book more stars if I could. It is an inspiring story of glorifying God through faith, humility, and forgiveness in unimaginable circumstances.
This book is excellent. How had I never read it before this summer?! Grateful Etta, Mandy, and Lillian all suggested I read it (reasons varried). Corrie Ten Boom's life is encouraging, convicting, and inspiring. I know God better having seen his relationship with Corrie and Betsie.
I'm grateful the book didn't minimize the tragedies, but also maximized God's glory in the midst of terrible pain. The Lord was good and providential even as many people died. There is a steadiness and deep contentedness that comes from walking with God through pain and suffering and Corrie and Betsie lived with this type of confidence in God.
Delightful lines:
I loved the story Corrie recounts of her dad equating challenging knowledge with his weighty suitcase and his willingness to carry the heavy load until she could bear it. God is gracious to dod this too and I loved this analogy.
"In a Dutch reformed church, a minister's first sermon in his first church was the most solemn, joyous, emotional occasion that an unemotional people could conceive." (hilarious comment on the frozen chosen in ch. 3)
"If there was one thing he loved better than making a new acquaintance, it was discovering a link with an old one." (ch. 6) - this is me! :)
I loved the joke about the 100 and 66th Psalms. Delightful. "It must be a joke and nothing could please father better than a scriptural joke." - Casper Ten Boom and I might be kindred spirits.
"But what I had not realized in solitary confinement was that to have companions meant to have their griefs as well." (ch. 12) - This is a beautiful truth I've thought a lot about recently.
I'm grateful the book didn't minimize the tragedies, but also maximized God's glory in the midst of terrible pain. The Lord was good and providential even as many people died. There is a steadiness and deep contentedness that comes from walking with God through pain and suffering and Corrie and Betsie lived with this type of confidence in God.
Delightful lines:
I loved the story Corrie recounts of her dad equating challenging knowledge with his weighty suitcase and his willingness to carry the heavy load until she could bear it. God is gracious to dod this too and I loved this analogy.
"In a Dutch reformed church, a minister's first sermon in his first church was the most solemn, joyous, emotional occasion that an unemotional people could conceive." (hilarious comment on the frozen chosen in ch. 3)
"If there was one thing he loved better than making a new acquaintance, it was discovering a link with an old one." (ch. 6) - this is me! :)
I loved the joke about the 100 and 66th Psalms. Delightful. "It must be a joke and nothing could please father better than a scriptural joke." - Casper Ten Boom and I might be kindred spirits.
"But what I had not realized in solitary confinement was that to have companions meant to have their griefs as well." (ch. 12) - This is a beautiful truth I've thought a lot about recently.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
What can I say. Every time I read this book I am humbled and my soul laid bare. Let God prevail.
What a remarkable family. I was beyond moved and encouraged by this Christ-driven family. 100% worth the read.
This isn't just another story of survival and bravery in the face of adversity; it's an incredible testament to what only the love of God can do. The most powerful moment of the book was when Corrie found herself confronted by a prison guard years later. He heard her speak and told her how grateful he was for her words about forgiveness, that Jesus had died for his awful sins too. She didn't want to shake his hand, didn't want to forgive, and was only able to do so because it was God's forgiveness through her. Nothing we can do on our own. Good stuff.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Parts of it were good - and I get that she is a Christian, but oh my word. Could we lay off all the miracles and such? I find this whole version of events simplified and a bit too "miraculous" to buy. I believe that a lot of it happened, but it seems that huge periods of time were skipped over. Also, I understand that this was penned decades after the fact mostly by those who were not even there with Ms. ten Boom.
It's incredibly hard to give this a rating that says "really liked it" but it's also impossible to deny the power of her words and the good she was able to bring from her experiences living in Holland and then in prison and concentration camps during WWII. Her faith -- bolstered by her father's and sister's unwavering faith -- was extraordinary. Though very hard to read at times -- considering the indignity and inhumanity she and her fellow prisoners experienced -- she amazed me with her resilience and fortitude. Somehow she and her sister enabled others to glimpse hope in the darkest times.