Song of Survival

By: Helen Colijn

Narrated by: Nadia May

Helen Colijn's account of her wartime experiences is a window into a largely overlooked dimension of World War II, the imprisonment of women and children in Southeast Asia by the Japanese and how these prisoners of war responded to their dire circumstances. The conditions were harsh, terrible. Food was scarce, medicine unavailable. Held in captivity for three and a half years, more than a third of the women in Helen's camp died of disease or starvation. Yet their courage, faith, resiliency, ingenuity, and camaraderie provide us with enduring lessons on living.

Though the prisoners had no musical instruments, they had their voices, and from memory scored classical works for symphony and piano. The music that helped sustain them while in captivity is a lasting and precious gift of these women to a world that has witnessed far too much war.

©1995 Helen Colijn (P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks

Very Well Written!

An amazing true story of Women held in a Japanese Concentration Camp in WW2. This is the book that inspired the movie "The Paradise Road" with Glen Close
released a few years ago. The book goes more in depth and really shows the strength of these courageous women. The narration is excellent. A Must for those interested in WW2.

Not about the movie

I purchased this book thinking it was about Paradise Road the movie. The other book about the orchestra is a book not available on audiobooks called White Coolies.
This book mentions the orchestra a few times and talks about some of the hardships the ladies had in the orchestra.
This book is about one Dutch lady and how she and her sisters lived and survived during that time period.
Very disappointed.

poor narration

Narrator spoke without any emotion demonstrated regarding this story of horrendous events and treatment.

I listened to all of it

The story was interesting enough to listen to all of it. Having said that, I thought parts of the book dragged a bit.

song of survival

great book and great narrator, highly recommend to anyone who is interested in wwII women's survival;