amberdebo's review
4.0
Wow. I never knew. This is a good book to read in these times, both to see how easy fascism can take hold, how mostly decent people can fall under the spell of destructive nationalism like Audrey's mom, and how AMAZING the very young (like teenage Audrey Hepburn) can be, defying their parents and becoming part of a resistance movement.
hannchilada's review
3.0
2.5 stars
Very interesting, well-written and well-researched, but some parts lost focus on Hepburn as well as the clear timeline.
Very interesting, well-written and well-researched, but some parts lost focus on Hepburn as well as the clear timeline.
bargainsleuth's review
2.0
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The title of the book should be something like The Netherlands during WWII, and Audrey Hepburn Was There, Too. I get putting a story in historical context, but there were chapters where Audrey wasn't even mentioned. Most chapters started out with a quote from Audrey about the war, then details about what was going on with the German occupation of the Netherlands. It's all very interesting, but not a lot of Audrey in here.
One other beef I have is the style of writing. When Audrey's Uncle Otto is hauled off to be executed, the author interjects stuff like "They picked their way through the woodland bottom over sandy ground spritzed with morning dew." A couple of paragraphs later, "Above, the birds of morning sang on, songs about summer and sun and bugs to be eaten." Sounds more like historical fiction than real history.
I'm glad that an attempt was made to tell Audrey's story and her children allowed the use of personal photos, both black and white and in color, never seen by the public before, but this book falls short.
The title of the book should be something like The Netherlands during WWII, and Audrey Hepburn Was There, Too. I get putting a story in historical context, but there were chapters where Audrey wasn't even mentioned. Most chapters started out with a quote from Audrey about the war, then details about what was going on with the German occupation of the Netherlands. It's all very interesting, but not a lot of Audrey in here.
One other beef I have is the style of writing. When Audrey's Uncle Otto is hauled off to be executed, the author interjects stuff like "They picked their way through the woodland bottom over sandy ground spritzed with morning dew." A couple of paragraphs later, "Above, the birds of morning sang on, songs about summer and sun and bugs to be eaten." Sounds more like historical fiction than real history.
I'm glad that an attempt was made to tell Audrey's story and her children allowed the use of personal photos, both black and white and in color, never seen by the public before, but this book falls short.
nancybel's review
4.0
This is not a light, easy read, but I found it fascinating to learn more about Audrey Hepburn and the battles in Holland during WW2. I have gained even more respect and admiration for this actress.
lindasdarby's review
3.0
A really good book about how the Dutch suffered during WWII with a lot of information given about Audrey Hepburn and her family. Unfortunately her mother is so unlikeable it made parts of the book really unpleasant for me. I had heard about how the Dutch were eating tulip bulbs but this book really did a great job describing what was happening in Holland especially towards the end of the war. Interesting also to learn more about Audrey Hepburn.
sarah_chapman's review
had the test for class before I finished reading so what's the point in finishing
thegeekybibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
Audrey Hepburn is best remembered for her starring roles in films—such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady—and for her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. But what is known about her life during the years of World War 2? In Dutch Girl, Robert Matzen reveals the terrors and triumphs young Audrey experienced during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Part biography, part WWII history of specific areas of the Netherlands, Dutch Girl is a fascinating book. I didn't know very much about Audrey Hepburn prior to reading this. The little I did know was about her films and humanitarian work—and that knowledge was scanty, at best.
Audrey was the daughter of Joseph Ruston and Baroness Ella van Heemstra. In the mid-1930s, Joseph and Ella became involved with the British Union of Fascists, and were intrigued by Nazism, going so far as to travel to Germany where they met Hitler. Joseph abandoned the family shortly thereafter.
Knowing war was on the horizon, Ella and her children moved to Arnhem—and, later, Velp—where much of the van Heemstra family resided, hoping that the Netherlands would remain neutral as they had during the first World War. Sadly, this was not to be. The Nazis invaded the Netherlands the following year. The Nazi occupation lasted five years, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
These were the years that molded Audrey Hepburn into the person she became. During this time, she studied dance, and gave her first performances. She felt the horror of the execution of a beloved family member. She watched as Jewish people were loaded into railcars, never to be seen again. She felt the heartache of failed liberation, and suffered the agony of slow starvation. She experienced the dangers of participating in the Dutch Resistance. She felt the terror of battles being fought close to her home. And finally, at long last... she felt the indescribable joy of the Germans being forced out when help arrived.
Audrey Hepburn survived the war, but she was forever changed by it.
I almost didn't read this book, but I'm so glad I changed my mind. It's outstanding in every way, and I highly recommend it.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of GoodKnight Books via Edelweiss.
Part biography, part WWII history of specific areas of the Netherlands, Dutch Girl is a fascinating book. I didn't know very much about Audrey Hepburn prior to reading this. The little I did know was about her films and humanitarian work—and that knowledge was scanty, at best.
Audrey was the daughter of Joseph Ruston and Baroness Ella van Heemstra. In the mid-1930s, Joseph and Ella became involved with the British Union of Fascists, and were intrigued by Nazism, going so far as to travel to Germany where they met Hitler. Joseph abandoned the family shortly thereafter.
Knowing war was on the horizon, Ella and her children moved to Arnhem—and, later, Velp—where much of the van Heemstra family resided, hoping that the Netherlands would remain neutral as they had during the first World War. Sadly, this was not to be. The Nazis invaded the Netherlands the following year. The Nazi occupation lasted five years, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
These were the years that molded Audrey Hepburn into the person she became. During this time, she studied dance, and gave her first performances. She felt the horror of the execution of a beloved family member. She watched as Jewish people were loaded into railcars, never to be seen again. She felt the heartache of failed liberation, and suffered the agony of slow starvation. She experienced the dangers of participating in the Dutch Resistance. She felt the terror of battles being fought close to her home. And finally, at long last... she felt the indescribable joy of the Germans being forced out when help arrived.
Audrey Hepburn survived the war, but she was forever changed by it.
I almost didn't read this book, but I'm so glad I changed my mind. It's outstanding in every way, and I highly recommend it.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of GoodKnight Books via Edelweiss.
carmenere's review
4.0
At its most basic, the Dutch Girl is the story of a Belgium born, girl named Adriaantje, later she would become Audrey Hepburn.
The book recounts the events which shaped Audrey Hepburn's life during her formative years. From her early childhood in Belgium to her education in England then to the Netherlands where Audrey continued her education but found that it was dance that most interested her and she excelled in it. She took lessons not far from her home in the Velp - Arnhem area where she lived with her brothers and mother, Ella. She began to perform at various venues through-out her neighboring communities.
The bulk of this book, however, is WWII . Ella was a Nazi sympathizer and somewhat infatuated with Hitler. When Nazi personnel work their way into the Netherlands, Ella welcomes them with open arms but things soon turn sour when the Velp - Arnhem region becomes their main area of command.
If the reader is not familiar with the the affects of WWII in this area, he or she will find this book enlighteining as well as horrifying . Also of interest, of course, was the lasting impact the war had on Audrey. She was struck by the imprisonment and assasination of her Uncle and the diary of a young girl, very similar to her in age, named Anne Frank.
Author, Matzen has written a wonderful portrayal of a much loved actress. Many readers who have enjoyed her as an actress may not have known just how much she had lived through during the years of World War II.
Thank you NetGalley, Good Knight Publishing and the author for an Advance e-ARC of this book.
The book recounts the events which shaped Audrey Hepburn's life during her formative years. From her early childhood in Belgium to her education in England then to the Netherlands where Audrey continued her education but found that it was dance that most interested her and she excelled in it. She took lessons not far from her home in the Velp - Arnhem area where she lived with her brothers and mother, Ella. She began to perform at various venues through-out her neighboring communities.
The bulk of this book, however, is WWII . Ella was a Nazi sympathizer and somewhat infatuated with Hitler. When Nazi personnel work their way into the Netherlands, Ella welcomes them with open arms but things soon turn sour when the Velp - Arnhem region becomes their main area of command.
If the reader is not familiar with the the affects of WWII in this area, he or she will find this book enlighteining as well as horrifying . Also of interest, of course, was the lasting impact the war had on Audrey. She was struck by the imprisonment and assasination of her Uncle and the diary of a young girl, very similar to her in age, named Anne Frank.
Author, Matzen has written a wonderful portrayal of a much loved actress. Many readers who have enjoyed her as an actress may not have known just how much she had lived through during the years of World War II.
Thank you NetGalley, Good Knight Publishing and the author for an Advance e-ARC of this book.