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Archer will hook genre fans with a likable cast and overarching plot worthy of further worldbuilding. Recognizing the effectiveness of the BBC and Radio Oranje, Seyss-Inquart issued a “Measure for the Protection of the Dutch Population Against Untrue Information.” It stated that the Dutch should be protected from “false news,” and that only Nazi stations would be officially sanctioned. As expected, the law declared that anyone caught listening to the BBC or Radio Oranje would be severely punished.” The first time I read it I was unfamiliar with the Holocaust. I remember being disturbed by Corrie and her sister sleeping on straw that was full of fleas! Obviously, this was the least of the horrors they would go through!
I firmly believe that books about WWII, including the Holocaust, need to be read and the topic needs to be learned and remembered, so we can at least hopefully notice when something similar is taking place and try to do something to stop it (I'm looking at you China re: the Uyghurs).Corrie stopped at nothing to face down the evils of her time and overcame unbelievable obstacles and odds. She persevered despite the loss of most of her family and relied on her faith to survive the horrors of a notorious concentration camp. But even more remarkable than her heroism and survival was Corrie’s attitude when she was released. Miraculously, she was able to eschew bitterness and embrace forgiveness as she ministered to people in need around the globe. Corrie’s ability to forgive is just one of the myriad lessons that her life story holds for readers today. That little rant aside, this was not a bad book. It took me so long to finish it because I kept coming across parts that had me so tense, I couldn't keep reading, even though I knew how the story ended.
I do own a memoir by Corrie Ten Boom, The Secret Place, which I plan to read soon. I was debating which one I should read first and decided on this biography and then I would compare to the memoir.
Corrie Ten Boom
Larry Loftis pays long-overdue homage to one of the great women of the 20th (or any) century . . . Loftis successfully brings Corrie ten Boom to a new generation, skillfully and aptly providing daily happenings, lively dialogue and inner thought to this well-researched history. Her achievements and courage as arrayed by Loftis will offer hope and a renewed sense of resolve to all who labor in good cause." — Bookreporter Astounding ... An intimate, detailed portrait ... The extraordinary bravery of Corrie ten Boom is eclipsed only by her ability to find faith and hope in utter darkness. Perfect for readers of biography and history." — Booklist
The Watchmaker's Daughter is one of the greatest stories of World War II that readers haven't heard: the remarkable and inspiring life story of Corrie ten Boom—a groundbreaking, female Dutch watchmaker, whose family unselfishly transformed their house into a hiding place straight out of a spy novel to shelter Jews and refugees from the Nazis during Gestapo raids. Even though the Nazis knew what the ten Booms were up to, they were never able to find those sheltered within the house when they raided it. The Watchmaker's Daughter is a very well-researched, well-written, and thorough portrait of a woman who was a hero. There is included at the end of the book a section called "The Rest of the Story,” which covers the accomplishments of those central to the overall Dutch World War II story and includes picture. There is also an Appendix on refugees who stayed with the ten Booms, Bibliography, Notes, and Index.I also didn't feel any of the urgency when describing Corrie's time in the various prisons and the concentration camp that she was in. It didn't have that immediacy that something of that magnitude should have felt like. I guess I'm just used to listening to and reading Holocaust memoirs, where everything is more personal and first person, causing the listener/reader to really feel what the narrator went through, because this book, while interesting, fell flat on occasion. To avoid spoilers, I won't mention too much about how the ten Boom's Christianity is tested and how their hope is incredible under the circumstances. Anyone looking for a story about faith overcoming all odds will not be disappointed. The Hiding Place is an unforgettable book, the story of quiet, determined, and faith-based heroism by an otherwise unassuming middle-aged Dutch woman. Larry Loftis’s new release, The Watchmaker’s Daughter, greatly expands her story and is the first major biography of Corrie ten Boom.”— Jewish Journal
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