Lean 'n Mean Corrie ten Boom: Dutch, But Not Deutsch!
Written: Dec 05 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: the beginning of the book with all the interesting characters
Cons: the second half was hard to swallow; constant Christian message
The Bottom Line: Go for this one over the Left Behind series if you want good, Christian writing.
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| jankp's Full Review: Corrie Ten Boom, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill... |
Over Thanksgiving my mother gave me her 1971 copy of The Hiding Place, written by Christian Holocaust-survivor, Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherill. It’s been a trial reading the 237 pages for more than one reason. Although written in English, the book’s latter half recounts the misery and ghastliness of Corrie’s family being taken prisoner for running from their home “the underground,” a bustling operation that hid Jews from the Germans occupying Holland in the early forties. It isn’t fun, to be sure, reading about concentration camp life, especially in howling winter when I, feeling toasty in my apartment now, not long ago suffered its icy tentricles around me.
Can you imagine standing at attention from the middle of winter’s night to dawn in just a thin dress, perhaps with newspaper stuffed inside? I sure can’t!
Another reason this was difficult for me to read, besides half of it falling apart upon turning the pages, was the constant Christian message of God’s goodness and all-knowingness, being taught by her father as she grew up and then by her older sister, Betsie, who saw only God’s presence in Ravensbruck camp. These two took on the garments of saints, quoting scripture to Corrie, holding meetings where they would read scripture (not to us) and giving God glory for one miracle after another.
I don’t mind reading a Christian book now and then if there’s some semblance of reality to it, but when characters do not change at all with their circumstances and prefer to suffer and die like Jesus, it really annoys me. I feel as if I’m being treated like a gullible child or someone desperate for a miracle.
After a while I started wondering how much of this was true and how much seen through God-colored glasses. When a daughter’s heart is breaking because the only man she’s ever dreamed of making a life with suddenly introduces her to his fiancée, does a real father advise that God only gives us what we need at the moment we need it, not before? This mysteriousness of God and our need to just trust in “His Ways” is preached throughout, which got old pretty quickly.
Of course Corrie survived camp and was released, pending medical approval because of her edema, but it was due to a clerical error and all women her age (53 or so) were sent to the gas chambers a week later. Her trial didn’t end until she limped off the train in Holland (why didn’t she sell her valuable watch or ring for food? Why did the Nazis even return them?) and then her sister’s dreams and visions still inspired her to “tramp for the Lord.” Was it only obedience to those dreams that motivated her, as she writes? Nonetheless, Corrie lived to the age of 83, giving wonderful inspirational talks and penning many other books, which Mom also gave me.
So, you may be thinking, why did I read this hard-to-read, Christian book?
The writing is what drew me in. It’s easy to be spellbound by the charming description of life in early twentieth-century Holland with all the unique characters that spinster Corrie lived with or worked with in the family watch repair shop. She narrates the true tale as effectively as a spider spins a web, with lots of colorful detail, gusto and honesty, but if you’re not Christian or seeking greater faith, The Hiding Place will probably test your patience.
There’s about fifteen, titled chapters, but I’m not going to risk further damage to the book by trying to find them (there’s no Table of Contents). I enjoyed reading it again for the most part, but I won’t be reading it again. Hopefully her triumphant, visionary story will resonate with your beliefs and give you a few hours of reading pleasure. If not, I thank you warmly for honoring me with your time and wish you a most enjoyable holiday season!
(665 words for sleeper54's Lean and Mean write-off, going on still. I trimmed off 100 words for you, Tom!)
Recommended:
Yes
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jankp
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Member: Jan Peregrine
Location: Lincoln, NE
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