Flory: A Miraculous Story of Survival

This is the story of Flory van Beek's experience during World War II. Born and raised in Holland, she tried to leave when Hitler started his evil actions. She and her future husband survive the sinking of the Dutch passenger ship Simon Bolivar in late 1939. After six months of recuperation in England they go back to Holland where endure German occupation and war for six years. They are put into hiding by the Dutch resistance in the homes of good patriots. They survive the war but many of their friends and family do not. One incident that sticks with me - when Flory's mother is deported, she wrote a letter of goodbye to her children on the train taking her to Sobibor extermination camp. She threw that letter off the train. Someone found show more that letter and delivered it to Flory.

I found this book intriguing. It is written by Flory -- her story in her words. It is not literature or prose; it is Flory telling you what happened to her. I feel it was more powerful written this way than if it had a ghost writer changing her words. It is a story of bravery and courage, not only by Flory and her husband but of everyone who helped them survive the war. I highly recommend it. show less

I have to agree with the critic. Hearing this read, I felt she was right here beside me. I started this book late at night when I could not go to sleep. I then found myself fighting sleep to hear her story. It is not just about what happened to her and her family but about the people around her, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Like my worn copy of Ann Frank, this will be a story I will want to hear again and again.

The human will is amazing

Moving book of a woman who hid in the Netherlands from the Nazis. The writing was simplistic and a dizzying array of people coming in and out of the story left me confused. Still, I rather liked the story and glad she wrote it.

Like all written memories of WWII it’s heartening, heartbreaking and should be required reading to prevent this happening again. Well narrated by a true professional.

The holocaust through the eyes of a Dutch survivor. Another great historical count of the resilience of the human spirit. Heroic Dutch people hid Jewish families in their homes despite the risk to their own lives. Although the author lost a multitude of friends and relatives to the gas chambers, lots of miracles happened through various people who helped them survive. It is estimated that of the 140,000 Dutch Jews, only 6,000 survived.

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