Corrie Ten Boom – The Hiding Place

“A groundbreaking book that shines a clear light on one of the darkest moments of history.”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

I first read The Hiding Place when I was eleven. Someone past me a copy and said they thought I’d like it and it was one of the first books I had ever read that dealt with truly adult themes. Apart from Anne Frank’s Diary, I hadn’t read any World War II novels or accounts and this really does throw you into the deep end.

At eleven this book moved me, profoundly and occasionally I feel the need for some positivity and a warm cuddle and I pull it off the bookshelf and read it again.

There’s no spoiler to tell you of the atrocities of World War II. Corrie and her family live in Amsterdam where Corrie’s father is a watchmaker.

They are not Jews but deeply Christian and these values are reflected through the story. This should not put you off if you are an atheist, if anything it’s more reason to read it I think! I’m not deeply religious myself and I fear that the perception of this book as Christian literature puts some people off.

Anyway, back to the story. The Ten Booms can’t stand by and watch their Jewish neighbours persecuted and they end up risking everything to help get people out, hide people away and save many lives.

Corrie, her sister and her father show a selflessness that leaves you in wonder, a positivity that is truly blinding, and while harrowing in parts this is definitely a tale to teach you that sometimes you even have to be thankful for the fleas.

The Hiding Place would be in my (ever changing) top ten favourite books of all time and has found a place there for a long time.