Disclosure: I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.
Would you be able to risk your life for a stranger’s? That’s what Corrie chooses to do in Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma. The story still has me a little shaken. My husband is a WWII buff and likes to watch the documentaries on TV. I’ve read a few books on the subject; the story Sarah’s Key haunts me to this day. Even though I’ve seen movies and pictures of the Nazi occupation, reading this story made everything seem so real to me. I’m ashamed to say that I had never considered the loss of the people in the Netherlands before reading this book. In its pages I could feel the fear in the residents of the town as they grow distrustful of their neighbors. Even brothers and sisters guarded their secrets from their own family. Knowing that this event took place less than a century ago makes it seem even more frightening to me. While we might consider this to be the Information Age, it’s terrifying to know that one group of people can hold such sway against another.
It’s wonderful to know that goodness and faith weren’t extinguished in such a devastating era of human history. Some people maintained the strength to risk their lives for a stranger’s safety. Tolsma did a great job of moving between characters. Her descriptions of each one made them stand out against each other. The romance factor was a little strong in this book. It’s the one thing I could have done without. Thinking about my own family living on the meager rations, watching out for soldiers and being afraid to play outside caused my heart to hurt. I wondered how I might have handled such a situation. The prayers and scriptural references in the book were strong; I found myself praying along with the characters. Gotta love it when a book brings me to prayer!
I received a copy of this book from the Litfuse Group. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.
sounds like a very emotional and moving story. i have to admit that i have not thought about the plight of those in the netherlands during the nazi regime. i dont do a lot of reading but i do enjoy movies. the ones that touch me the most, and if the story is based on things that really happened, saddened and sometimes shock me. realizing how horrible this time period was is a shock to the system. it is also frightening to me that this happened not so long ago. we must learn from history!!
i love a good character-driven story. i’ll have to check this out!
This is a moving and emotional book that makes a person think about what is important in life. I would love to read this book because of the thought provoking discussion that is involved. I will have to look for this awesome book and read it.
I like historical based fiction. This sounds like a good one.
I’ll look out for this! I like stories that leave people troubled for days.
Makes me think of Anne Frank. Sounds interesting.
To be honest I wouldn’t of picked this book to read. Then I read your review and the way you described this true story made me want to start reading it immediately. I love a story that seems to pull you into it so much it feels like it’s happening at that very moment. When it brought you to prayer I knew I’d love it.
This looks interesting, I’ve never been to the netherlands, and it just sounds like a good read.