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iselinrustenberg's review against another edition
3.0
Veldig interessant og spennende, men tung å lese til tider!
sareidle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Antisemitism, and Abandonment
loveangle's review against another edition
5.0
A thoroughly absorbing account of Audrey Hepburn’s life during WWII. These were her formative years, from ages 11-16. Imagine being a young girl, learning about the world and yourself, your body, and all of those experiences and puberty being impacted by trauma, death, and hunger. Robert Matzen writes with a clear reverence for his subject, one of the most renowned women of all time. Audrey was destined to be a star; this book once again shows us why, in so many vivid ways.
The ending is almost like a cliff hanger, as if the story of Audrey isn’t yet over. Though she’s been gone for over 25 years, she’s left an imprint on the world that can’t be easily removed. And who would want to? The reason we are all still talking about, dressing like, and admiring Audrey Hepburn is because she was a real jewel of a human being. Forged in the fires of a cruel war, but ultimately rejoicing even when death and destruction were always so near. Beautiful biography of a tremendous lady.
The ending is almost like a cliff hanger, as if the story of Audrey isn’t yet over. Though she’s been gone for over 25 years, she’s left an imprint on the world that can’t be easily removed. And who would want to? The reason we are all still talking about, dressing like, and admiring Audrey Hepburn is because she was a real jewel of a human being. Forged in the fires of a cruel war, but ultimately rejoicing even when death and destruction were always so near. Beautiful biography of a tremendous lady.
sandyvan's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Well documented and written in a way that is entertaining but factual.
juliaisreadingg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
justme856's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea. I was drawn in with the subject of Audrey Hepburn’s youth in the Netherlands. What it lead was a historical accounting of the privation that the entire country experienced under Nazi occupation. It was a fascinating read.
jbkep's review against another edition
5.0
Up front, I want to say that my rating is more of a 4.5 but I'd rather it get 5 that 4.
I really did like this book. I remember entering to win this boo as an ARC. I've previously read the author with his Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe. That book was amazing and this was a close second. Very good possibility that I would've liked this one better had I more experience with Miss Hepburn.
Quite frankly, I just didn't know much about the actress. I knew a couple movies that she'd been in, but hadn't seen them. My main interest came as an historian, that she had been involved with the Resistance to the Nazis. While that involvement was not what I expected, I was also not disappointed.
Really, I was flooded by the sheer amount of personal information. The amazingly realistic views of what happened to Audrey Hepburn, her family, and her towns. The research Robert Matzen does is fantastic. I love his Chapter Notes. I do wish that the pictures had been peppered throughout the book, but that may have been an issue with the Kindle version rather than the print. I'm still not fully happy reading electronic books over print.
Regardless, if you are curious about Audrey Hepburn, WWII, or any combination therein, this is a must. Very readable and very interesting.
I really did like this book. I remember entering to win this boo as an ARC. I've previously read the author with his Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe. That book was amazing and this was a close second. Very good possibility that I would've liked this one better had I more experience with Miss Hepburn.
Quite frankly, I just didn't know much about the actress. I knew a couple movies that she'd been in, but hadn't seen them. My main interest came as an historian, that she had been involved with the Resistance to the Nazis. While that involvement was not what I expected, I was also not disappointed.
Really, I was flooded by the sheer amount of personal information. The amazingly realistic views of what happened to Audrey Hepburn, her family, and her towns. The research Robert Matzen does is fantastic. I love his Chapter Notes. I do wish that the pictures had been peppered throughout the book, but that may have been an issue with the Kindle version rather than the print. I'm still not fully happy reading electronic books over print.
Regardless, if you are curious about Audrey Hepburn, WWII, or any combination therein, this is a must. Very readable and very interesting.
starfish422's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5
I appreciated learning so much of Audrey’s life and about WWII in Holland. This book did get somewhat into the weeds of the final year of the war - a shell-by-shell description of Sept-May was hardly necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War