"The Hiding Place" (1971) by Corrie Ten Boom

On Thursday 5th June 2014, the hardest working Book Group in Hove reconvened for another evening of literary cut and thrust, and insightful cultural comment, and the discussion took place at a new venue: The Hove Deep Sea Anglers Club in West Hove's fashionable angling district.

Robin, full of the joys of Dutch cycle paths, and Van Gogh, wanted to share his love of the Netherlands with his HBG compadres and, frankly, who could blame him.  His eyes flashing with the gleam of the zealot, he introduced his book choice as "charming" and "understated" for Robin had selected "The Hiding Place" by a Dutch woman called Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983).   

Corrie ten Boom and her family were Christians who were active in social work in their home town of Haarlem, the Netherlands. During the Nazi occupation, they chose to express their faith through peaceful resistance to the Nazis by helping the Dutch underground. They hid, fed and transported Jews and underground members hunted by the Gestapo out of Holland. They were able to save the lives of around 800 Jews, in addition to protecting underground workers.  On 28 February 1944, they were betrayed and Corrie and several relatives were arrested. The ten Boom family members were separated and transferred to concentration camps. Corrie was allowed to stay with her sister, Betsy. Corrie's father, sister and one grandchild died. Corrie was released in December 1944.

Robin

Robin highlighted the themes of reconciliation and forgiveness that also characterised another recent choice "The Railway Man".  The book prompted Robin to take stock of his life and re-evaluate many of his assumptions, including the significance of ants.  6.5/10

Nick, who could not attend, emailed through his thoughts... he confessed to breaching the 8th Rule of Book Group: never read a book cover before reading the book. After reading the cover, Nick concluded Corrie's book was not for him.  Nick was to quickly realise his face was covered in egg as he "couldn’t have been more wrong" about Corrie, and her book: An inspirational read, full of vivid characters.  Every situation has things you can learn from - a message believers and non-believers can all appreciate.  Nick was also struck by the similarities with The Railway Man - the difficulty of forgiveness, the importance of redemption, the need to share traumatic experiences.  7/10

Don: a peaceful warrior

Don explained how he is steeped in books about the Nazis and the holocaust.  Don described Corrie as a peaceful warrior, resisting inhuman evil without violence and responding to personal persecution and injustice with grace, love and forgiveness.  "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength", murmured Don before lavishing the book with 8/10.

Nigel agreed that this was an incredible story of selflessness, sacrifice and bravery, and an always timely reminder about the evils of fanaticism and intolerance.  He observed how Corrie ten Boom believed she was an instrument of God and all that happened to her was part of His purpose, which Nigel felt raised many broader questions that the book did not address.  The book is clearly pitched at a Christian audience with little regard to style or structure; very clunky, and painful to read in places. Was this the translation?  Or just the fact that the writers were not really concerned about how the tale was told?  Nigel explained that he has no faith and finds some aspects of Christianity off putting. Corrie's inspirational bravery was insufficient to redeem the book's more negative aspects.  4/10

Tristan was able to rise above the "plodding and pedestrian prose" to celebrate Corrie's selflessness and bravery.  Despite ten months of cruelty whilst interned, Corrie always prayed for the hearts of her captors. In contrast to Eric Lomax, author of "The Railway Man", Corrie was constantly forgiving her captors and those who persecuted her, and in this way was able to accept her experiences almost as they were happening.  Tristan observed how this was in stark contrast to Lomax who was only able to reach a similar outcome after finally seeking counselling having endured years of suppressing his feelings about his wartime experiences.  "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?" asked Tristan.  6/10

Keith was also unable to attend in person however, through the medium of email, told us he felt it "a book of two halves": life in Haarlem before and during WW2, and the horrors of imprisonment and Ravensbruck.  The first half held more interest, whilst the second, like "The Railway Man", was an account of terrors barely possible to imagine. The book is a Christian testimony, and that perspective contains both Corrie’s and her sister Betsie’s outlook.  This aspect of the book did not work for Keith (including the workbook where Keith was asked to examine the fact that ‘God governs all things, even those that appear to us senseless and cruel’). From a purely literary perspective Keith gave it a 7/10.

"The Hiding Place" (1971) by Corrie Ten Boom stimulated an interesting and wide-ranging discussion about faith and bravery.

Robin enthused about his film choice, "Lust For Life" (1956) directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Robin really enjoyed this biographical film about the life of the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.  The portrayal of Van Gogh by Kirk Douglas ticked all Robin's boxes as did the the madness of creative passion and the heartbreaking tragedy of Vincent's starving, misunderstood genius.  8/10

Tistan felt the film had not aged well describing it as "mildly interesting" and "unconvincing".  4/10

Nigel felt it was competent but very dated and was curiously uninspiring and dull.  The direction and cinematography were pedestrian and this is where  Vincente Minnelli probably missed a trick - for all Kirk Douglas's efforts at bringing the tortured artist to life he needed some cinematic tricks to help create a more compelling film. Anthony Quinn's Gaugin is the best thing about it.  4/10

Keith appreciated the canvas stills which were woven in to the film's fabric and

Keith - reminded of Russ Abbott

the early section about Vincent's life in the Belgian mining town.  Keith was not entirely con-Vince’d by Mr Douglas. With his red hair, Keith got flashes of Russ Abbott. Everyone should know a bit about Vincent, and the film gives an easy-access view of his challenge to the art establishment. So why not give it a view? 7/10

Robin then apologised at length for his appalling musical selection.  Nobody had anything even slightly positive to say about "Van Halen" (1978):  

Don described it as the musical equivalent of the M25.

Tristan called it a base parody of music.    

Robin, in between apologies, called it an abomination.

Keith wanted it consigned to the cultural landfill. 

Nigel was reminded of a pumped up bodybuilder on steroids and had one question "Why?"  

Out of curiosity, Nigel had established NME's top tracks of 1978, as a way of trying to establish what he was listening to whilst in an alternate universe people were buying Van Halen's album in their droves...

Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love
Public Image Ltd. - Public Image
Ian Dury - What A Waste
Rolling Stones - Miss You
Elvis Costello - (I Don't Want To) Go To Chelsea
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
The Clash - White Man In Hammersmith Palais
Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
Bryan Ferry - Sign Of The Times
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame
Ian Dury - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

...why would anyone listen to Van Halen with that level of brilliance and diversity going on elsewhere?

With the question left hanging in the air, the HBG bade each other, and their new angling chums, a fond farewell before leaving the luxury of the HDSA club for the world beyond.