Customer Reviews

Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Who doesn't remember the mysterious disappearance of the Alabama HS senior while on vacation with her high school friends in Aruba, now almost 3 years to the date. When I saw this book, I simply had to pick it up and read it for myself. One may think that you know the whole story, but until you read this book, you really don't.

In "Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith" (255 pages), Beth Holloway, the mother of Natalee, brings us in brutal details what she experienced as a mother when her daughter went missing (and is now presumed dead). Holloway kicks off the Preface of the book with "I am the parent who got the dreaded call. The parent no one wants to be." Right then and there, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, and indeed this is no easy book to read, as Holloway describes the nightmare she and her family and loved ones went through upon arriving on Aruba, and try and find Natalee. The utter incompetence, if not outright unwillingness to assist and underlying corruptness, of the Aruba police authorities is beyond comprehension, even as it is clear that 3 young men are directly involved in Natalee's disappearance. Just sickening.

What keeps Beth Holloway going is her strong faith. I am deeply saddened by what she has had to go through, and (being a parent of a HS senior myself) can only hope and pray that I will never have to go through this. As to the culprits who did this to Natalee, they will receive their due, be in in this life, or in the next when they sit in judgment of our Lord. My prayers are with Beth Holloway and her family.

I liked the book, primarily because I enjoy good first-person narrative accounts of very personal dramatic experiences and Beth has accomplished that quite well, describing her miserable first days and the frustrating first few weeks looking in vain for her missing daughter on the island of Aruba. If you are looking for some kind of a case-solving revelations, you won't find them here. In fact, there are only a few surprises, because so much of this story has already been recited on endless television shows. Something interesting is that there is far more detail about the drug and underworld scene than has been reported, which turns out to be a much scarier part of this vacation spot than most would imagine. Plus, you get the feeling of a police department bored with complaining parents (whose offspring evidently have always "turned up" in the past). What Beth does well is allow you to feel the anguish and frustration first-hand in her maddening attempts to get anyone in authority in Aruba to pay any attention to her plight (a daughter missing after a week of high-school class partying on the island with no one really caring enough to take it seriously) and that's good reading. Plus, I felt the disgust she probably felt when I experienced the time sequencing that this kind of account accomplishes (as you live it with her) and realized more glaringly than I had imagined how the three suspects purposefully misled the family for many days with a bogus tale about their last location with Natalee. I came away saying, "Why would anyone do such a cruel and insensitive thing, unless they are hiding something very sinister?" The dramatic story really ends after the family's tedious and fruitless first weeks' efforts... and it seems apparent that Beth concluded (and the reader will too) that this case investigation was also truly over very early (the police subsequently seemingly going through meaningless motions to satisfy the American press). Beth came (wisely it appears) to the conclusion and that her daughter would never be found (and the culprits who were responsible would never be charged or punished). You will be convinced that there really was no one on Aruba who could give her any hope that Natalee could be found (nor is there today). Was there a police cover-up or was it just an unsolvable mystery? Beth doesn't have any answers to give (only questions) and we are left with her same perplexities.

Where the book fails miserably is that Beth doesn't recant her repeated earlier television broadcast accusations (or provide the proof) where she promised that she had evidence of admissions to rape and murder. You will keep wondering where those documents are that she said would "shock the world." Maybe she's planning a sequel. Nor does she apologize for her role in the now-exposed (by the Dutch NFI) Dr. Phil altered recording of one of the suspects.

I do recommend the book, because anyone traveling to a foreign land will profit from stripping away naivety about the support which might be expected in an emergency when you are the "foreigner." It's a tale sometimes repeated... but evidently, not often enough. While reading the book, I related what she wrote to my own travel experiences. I came away convinced that Beth's reasoning in starting her safetravelsfoundation group really is the most logical avenue for her to accomplish some benefit to others from her own traumatic circumstances (and have a legal vehicle for managing various contributions). If anyone has a child heading out on one of these "girls (and guys) gone wild" weeks in a tropical "paradise," they need to read this book. It telegraphs the kind of "be aware" message to parents that needs to be told. So buy the book and make your kids read it if they are going on a "crazy wild-on" end of school adventure trip out of the country. Recommended, but with reservations.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about Natalee Holloway and her disappearance, and also for those who have followed the case all along. After reading this book, I am amazed that people continue to question Beth's recollections and her sincerity. I found her notes on events to be extremely compelling and coherent - especially considering the trauma she was experiencing at the time. This is a beautiful story of faith & resilience in the midst of some truly ugly events.

I couldn't put this book down once I started it. I thought Beth Holloway did a pretty good job writing it. This is a mother's worse nightmare come true. She allows her daughter to take a vacation to Aruba with other schoolmates & teachers after high school graduation. On her last nite, Natalee & her friends hit the island bars & drink too much as most young adults tend to do. They end up at Carlos & Charlie's, a popular nightspot on the island. Natalee becomes infatuated with a local boy named Joran. When the bar closes she accepts his offer of a ride home & climbs into a car with 3 island boys. She is never seen again.

Beth Holloway & her husband, Natalee's step-father flew directly to Aruba after receiving the news her daughter was missing. I commend her for her guts, boundless determination & her stoic efforts to locate this beloved daughter of hers. At first the island townspeople are helpful & even assist her in her search. But she is upset & scared & ends up attacking the boys verbally that were last seen with her. This turns the island people against her & she gets nowhere. Natalee's father & Beth's ex-husband is also on the island searching for his missing daughter. She is never found.

It is only obvious that the 3 island boys had everything to do with her death, especially the Caucasian boy Joran. They were arrested for awhile & held, but then let go. This case is such a travesty of injustice it makes me sick. Joran is the kind of young man that mothers warn their daughters about. He is a narcissistic & arrogant young punk that knows whatever trouble, including murder, he becomes involved in, his rich & important judge daddy will bail him out. I wanted to punch him for how cruel & disrespectful he was to Beth & in his comments about the missing girl Natalee.

To this day, years later, the case has never been officially solved & the 3 boys walk free. I hope this book is read by a lot of women, young, old & middle aged, & they realize that you should never, NEVER, get into a car with one or more men you do not know. Travel in a group & always go home with that group. Natalee's poor thought out decision cost her her life.

I would like to see justice served in this case & the 3 island boys brought to trial & sent to prison for life, especially the most responsible one for her death, Joran. Ihey murdered a young girl & completely got away with it due to who Joran's father is. I don't know how Joran's father can live with himself. My heart goes out to Beth and Mr. Holloway. No parent should ever have to deal with a child being murdered, much less have to deal with the mocking arrogance of the boy that murdered her that walked away from it scotfree. Terrible injustice.

I could not put the book down. I cannot imagine how Beth and her family have dealt with this over these last few years. As far as justice being served in this case, with the corruption on that island, I can't see it happening. The "good 'ol boy" justice system is alive and well in Aruba. Beth was right, that we have no rights once we leave our country. Anyone preparing to go out of the country for business or vacation needs to go to the safe travel web site first. Natalee knew her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I hope this brings comfort to her family.

I have always had a soft spot for Beth and Dave Holloway. I can't even imagine the heartbreak and distress of losing a child. Having two girls myself, it is simply unimaginable. Natalee was such a beautiful young woman who didn't deserve what happened to her. I admire Beth for her perserverance when she must have wanted many times, especially during the beginning of this ordeal, to just curl up and die; instead she stood strong for the purpose of finding out what happened to her beloved Natalee. The part of the book that stands out to me of which I will never forget is when she dropped Natalee off at her friend's house to go to Aruba the next day. She said she started to drive away, turned and got one last glance of Natalee, which was the last time she ever saw her....

God bless you, Beth and Dave. May your prayers be answered that you find out where Natalee is.

Reading this book and realizing all the difficulties and emotional trauma that Beth Holloway and her family went through is actually very inspirational. I heard Beth speak recently and also had the opportunity to speak with her after. She is a very down to earth person who had a very tragic loss in her daughter, Natalee. This is a very good book and provides a behind the scenes insight as to the true story.

I started this book and read it in maybe 2 days......Like a non-stop thriller but unfortunately, true....How can a girl disappear and without any explanantion at all..I think many people were involved in this cover-up....

Fascinating story of every parent's nightmare......Highly recommend this book!

God bless Natalee's Mother.

What a sad story! I hope that other teenagers read this book so that they will think twice about traveling to other countries for their senior trips. It was a well written book. I would recommend this book to everyone!

I have followed the case since day one, and was thrilled with this book. The truth needs to be told, and Natalee's mother has told it. This mother is fierce in her fight for justice, and her faith in God. Powerful and gripping, you will not be able to put it down. I personally thank Beth for the foundation she has started to try and help all of us so that this will not happen to us or our loved ones. The negative reviews on this site are from those very people who where thwarting Beth at every turn in Aruba. I reported reviews that where on here before the book even came out, they were from the hateful victim bashers. I am glad to see they were removed, as those people had not even read the book.