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Loving Natalee: A Mother's Testament of Hope and Faith
This is the story no one should have to tell, about the nightmare no one wants to live, told by the parent no one wants to be.
In May of 2005, Beth Holloway received the worst phone call a parent can imagine. Her beautiful daughter, Natalee, had disappeared without a trace in Aruba during her high school senior class trip. Two years later, for the first time, Beth Holloway steps forward in this astonishingly candid and inspirational memoir to tell of her harrowing ordeal and her never-ending belief in the power of faith that gave her hope against all odds.
Natalee's senior class picture was splashed across the front pages of the country's newspapers and on television. Desperate for a clue as to her daughter's whereabouts, Beth and an army of faithful volunteers searched tirelessly for the missing eighteen-year-old. In their pursuit of Natalee, they encountered many roadblocks. As the horror stretched out, Beth stood on her foundation of faith, which at times was all she had to give her strength against a barrage of unbearable questions with no answers.
Natalee's disappearance remains unsolved and her location unknown to this day. Beth's search continues.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 15, 2008
I'm not in any hurry to visit Aruba after reading this.
December 27, 2015
http://theworldbybook.blogspot.com/20...
What can you say about a book that tells the story of a promising young woman's disappearance and her heartbroken mother's painful journey to find her and eventually, to reconcile the mystery of her loss? I've written, revised, scrapped the whole thing, started over, puzzled about it, and am still stuck.
It's hard to imagine anyone not being familiar with the Natalee Holloway tragedy, but in case you're not, Wikipedia offers as good as summary as any. What you should know about the book is that while it isn't the most well-written piece of writing, it's gut-wrenching exploration of Beth's pain and helplessness followed by her strength and determination pretty much supersedes any critique you may otherwise feel compelled to offer. It just doesn't feel right. So I'm not going to do it.
You should read this book if you are curious about how things work (or don't work) in Aruba's justice and legal system. Take note of Beth's excellent advice at the end of the book when she talks about how to be safe while traveling outside of the United States. She's not complimentary about the State Department (which I found to be unfair ... full disclosure: I have been a vice-consul at two overseas posts and spent many years working in Washington in support of American citizens who encounter difficulties while traveling). But she does get it right when she says that once you're outside of the United States, things work differently and U.S. officials' ability to influence a foreign government is often quite limited. And it's okay that she's angry about this. In fact, she's earned the right to be angry about whatever she wants to. I'd be remiss though if I didn't take this opportunity to say here that vice-consuls around the world do great work for Americans, and we are so fortunate that our U.S. passports grant us significant support and advocacy when we are overseas.
You should also read this book if you are curious about how the mother of a lost child keeps standing. Beth takes us on that journey with her, from shock to anger to determination to crippling grief to resolution. Her family, friends, and faith get her through to where she is now. She writes a lot about hope and is an amazing example of how someone use their personal tragedy to do something good in the world.
Beth Holloway writes about what's commonly accepted as life's most unthinkable loss. Her book succeeds in making the Holloway family real, something that news stories often fail to do since we read about them or watch news stories on tv from the comfort and safety of our own homes where it's easy to think "that will never happen to me." But it did happen to Natalee ... and it's still happening to Beth and the rest of their family. I suspect it will never end.
What can you say about a book that tells the story of a promising young woman's disappearance and her heartbroken mother's painful journey to find her and eventually, to reconcile the mystery of her loss? I've written, revised, scrapped the whole thing, started over, puzzled about it, and am still stuck.
It's hard to imagine anyone not being familiar with the Natalee Holloway tragedy, but in case you're not, Wikipedia offers as good as summary as any. What you should know about the book is that while it isn't the most well-written piece of writing, it's gut-wrenching exploration of Beth's pain and helplessness followed by her strength and determination pretty much supersedes any critique you may otherwise feel compelled to offer. It just doesn't feel right. So I'm not going to do it.
You should read this book if you are curious about how things work (or don't work) in Aruba's justice and legal system. Take note of Beth's excellent advice at the end of the book when she talks about how to be safe while traveling outside of the United States. She's not complimentary about the State Department (which I found to be unfair ... full disclosure: I have been a vice-consul at two overseas posts and spent many years working in Washington in support of American citizens who encounter difficulties while traveling). But she does get it right when she says that once you're outside of the United States, things work differently and U.S. officials' ability to influence a foreign government is often quite limited. And it's okay that she's angry about this. In fact, she's earned the right to be angry about whatever she wants to. I'd be remiss though if I didn't take this opportunity to say here that vice-consuls around the world do great work for Americans, and we are so fortunate that our U.S. passports grant us significant support and advocacy when we are overseas.
You should also read this book if you are curious about how the mother of a lost child keeps standing. Beth takes us on that journey with her, from shock to anger to determination to crippling grief to resolution. Her family, friends, and faith get her through to where she is now. She writes a lot about hope and is an amazing example of how someone use their personal tragedy to do something good in the world.
Beth Holloway writes about what's commonly accepted as life's most unthinkable loss. Her book succeeds in making the Holloway family real, something that news stories often fail to do since we read about them or watch news stories on tv from the comfort and safety of our own homes where it's easy to think "that will never happen to me." But it did happen to Natalee ... and it's still happening to Beth and the rest of their family. I suspect it will never end.
August 23, 2009
I do remember seeing news of Natalee Holloway's disappearance but being in Australia it probably wasn't publicised to the degree that it was in the US. Beth's story is absolutely heartbreaking, I cried from the very first page but was also inspired by Beth's faith, the compassion of many Arubans, and the innate goodness of most people. I can relate to the grief of a child's death, having lost a daughter myself but cannot even begin to comprehend the anguish and torment Beth & her family have gone through and continue to go through with the nightmare of not knowing. Reading 'Loving Natalee' is difficult enough, I can't imagine living it and I hope I never have to.
This is the story no one should have to tell, about the nightmare no one wants to live, told by the parent no one wants to be.
It's time to feel with the heart what the mind is incapable of comprehending.
Not only did I shed quite a few tears throughout the book but I also found myself shaking with anger. The apathetic approach by Aruban officials, the lost evidence, missing statements, the wicked attitude of those 'in authority' in Aruba, the lies and corruption was just staggering and I was horrified at how much needless pain was contributed to an already unbearable loss. Can you imagine being faced with this from an officer while frantically waiting to give a statement about your missing daughter "I'll have to eat my frosted flakes first ... "and get a shave before I can deal with you."
US officials & the FBI were on-site waiting for an invite from the Aruban government to assist in the investigation. When no invite was forthcoming the United States was left helpless to provide any official assistance to the so-called investigation or to the Holloways. This book certainly stripped away any naive ideas I had about the support which might be expected in an emergency when you are a foreigner in a country with an entirely different legal system and a corrupt government.
Loving Natalee is a raw, honest, coherent & courageous account. My heart goes out to Beth Holloway and her family and the many others in similar situations.
This is the story no one should have to tell, about the nightmare no one wants to live, told by the parent no one wants to be.
It's time to feel with the heart what the mind is incapable of comprehending.
Not only did I shed quite a few tears throughout the book but I also found myself shaking with anger. The apathetic approach by Aruban officials, the lost evidence, missing statements, the wicked attitude of those 'in authority' in Aruba, the lies and corruption was just staggering and I was horrified at how much needless pain was contributed to an already unbearable loss. Can you imagine being faced with this from an officer while frantically waiting to give a statement about your missing daughter "I'll have to eat my frosted flakes first ... "and get a shave before I can deal with you."
US officials & the FBI were on-site waiting for an invite from the Aruban government to assist in the investigation. When no invite was forthcoming the United States was left helpless to provide any official assistance to the so-called investigation or to the Holloways. This book certainly stripped away any naive ideas I had about the support which might be expected in an emergency when you are a foreigner in a country with an entirely different legal system and a corrupt government.
Loving Natalee is a raw, honest, coherent & courageous account. My heart goes out to Beth Holloway and her family and the many others in similar situations.
October 15, 2009
"Hope is the only thing, that keeps me holding on." Beth Holloway's Loving Natalee mesmerized me with her strength.
First of all, Beth Holloway, is the mother of Natalee Holloway. Natalee has been missing from Aruba since May 2005. Natalee was on her senior trip, along with several other classmates. She never showed up at the airport, for her flight home.
Natalee grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She was an honors student, on the dance team, and was involved in several extracirricular activities. She planned to use her scholarship to attend the University of Alabama and become a Pediatrician.
Next, Beth has been such an inspiration to me. Her faith has shown me that the power of faith can give us hope against all odds. Beth never gave up looking for her daughter.
I personally connected with Loving Natalee. Beth has been my mother's best friend since kindergarten. My mother and I have visited Beth at her house in Birmingham during her search for her daughter. Beth is a very strong and inspiring lady.
Lastly, a good theme for Loving Natalee is live each day to the fullest; you never know when it might be your last. Always be nice to everyone and treat others with respect. Both Beth and Natalee, never dreamed it would be the last time they would see each other before she left for Aruba.
To this day, everyone is still searching for any clues of Natalee. Beth travels to schools spreading the words of teens and their safety. She has made a lifetime movie and has written the book Loving Natalee. I enjoyed this book very much. I would recommend this book to every teenage student. Every teen needs to be educated about situations that have happend to prevent bad situations happening to them.
First of all, Beth Holloway, is the mother of Natalee Holloway. Natalee has been missing from Aruba since May 2005. Natalee was on her senior trip, along with several other classmates. She never showed up at the airport, for her flight home.
Natalee grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She was an honors student, on the dance team, and was involved in several extracirricular activities. She planned to use her scholarship to attend the University of Alabama and become a Pediatrician.
Next, Beth has been such an inspiration to me. Her faith has shown me that the power of faith can give us hope against all odds. Beth never gave up looking for her daughter.
I personally connected with Loving Natalee. Beth has been my mother's best friend since kindergarten. My mother and I have visited Beth at her house in Birmingham during her search for her daughter. Beth is a very strong and inspiring lady.
Lastly, a good theme for Loving Natalee is live each day to the fullest; you never know when it might be your last. Always be nice to everyone and treat others with respect. Both Beth and Natalee, never dreamed it would be the last time they would see each other before she left for Aruba.
To this day, everyone is still searching for any clues of Natalee. Beth travels to schools spreading the words of teens and their safety. She has made a lifetime movie and has written the book Loving Natalee. I enjoyed this book very much. I would recommend this book to every teenage student. Every teen needs to be educated about situations that have happend to prevent bad situations happening to them.
May 29, 2011
I really wanted to be able to read this book since I have always been very curious about the Natalee Holloway case. She was such a beautiful young woman and I can't imagine how it must feel for her family and friends who to this day have no idea what happened to her or where she is. It has to be an awful feeling. I just couldn't get into the book though. I read it half way through because I was really trying to like it and to finish it but I couldn't. It just didn't keep my attention which is sad because most books of this type do.
September 11, 2014
This was a heart-breaking book. Times I put it down and thought god how does this family do it? They stayed so strong hoping praying that Natalie would be found come home be ok! But still NOTHING and all the ups and down they have never lost faith in each-other or in her " life's mission to bring Natalie home"
This is not a happy book read if you want to feel emotionally drained not only because its true!, but this woman (family) lives this story everyday
One day nat you will come home...
This is not a happy book read if you want to feel emotionally drained not only because its true!, but this woman (family) lives this story everyday
One day nat you will come home...
January 19, 2010
This is a horribly tragic story and gives the reader a tiny idea of what it would be like to lose a child this way. I don't mean to sound uncaring, because I am not, but I lost interest in it because I know how it ends and had seen the coverage on tv as it was happening. I also was a bit put off my Beth's willingness to be so open about the sexual acts that may have occurred between Natalee and her kidnappers. I felt it exploited her more than she already had been.
September 8, 2010
Absolutely heartbreaking. I can only imagine the pain and frustration that this poor woman went through just to try and get the Aruban police to do their job amidst corruption and indifference. I sincerely hope that she gets her answers one day.
September 6, 2020
Every person planning travel outside the U.S. should consider this as mandatory reading. We have traveled to Aruba 3 times. I never once considered many of the items deemed necessary by Beth Holloway in the way of safe travel. We were instantly enamored of the island’s magical spell with no thought that it could be so ugly and corrupted. This is a lesson to take care EVERYwhere you go.
February 22, 2021
An excellent book to read. I followed this case when it was first happening many years ago. In his book, Natalee’s mom details things not seen or heard of in the media. Though to this day Natalee was never found, a confession by her killer was given. Because Aruban authorities and laws are different, he was never charged with the crime. I loved reading what happened behind the scenes for her search and how far a mother’s love for her child will take someone. Definitely worth the read.
December 8, 2007
My mother lives right on the Mountain Brook border, so I grew up very close to where Natalee and her brother held part-time jobs. We think Natalee may have been friends with the people next door and even hung out there. Teenagers used to keep my mother awake at night hanging out on the back deck and that house had a yellow ribbon for a long time. I remember seeing yellow ribbons all over Mountain Brook when I would go home to visit. Very sad.
Anyway, this was a well-written book. Not too detailed, but enough information to give us an inside look at Holloway's ordeal. I did not know the family, but I know people whose children were on that trip or somehow are connected.
My only real complaint is that Holloway misspells Courteney Cox's name (without the extra "e"). I hope Cox does not get irritated by this. I don't know how the copy editor could have missed that.
I also think Holloway idealizes Natalee as the perfect young woman with no major flaws. It would have been nice to hear some stories of her growing up, to get to know Natalee a little better. I can understand how she'd want to keep those memories private.
All in all, a very good read. Holloway gives some good tips for international travel and plugs her nonprofit. I'm glad that something good can come out of this terrible tragedy.
Anyway, this was a well-written book. Not too detailed, but enough information to give us an inside look at Holloway's ordeal. I did not know the family, but I know people whose children were on that trip or somehow are connected.
My only real complaint is that Holloway misspells Courteney Cox's name (without the extra "e"). I hope Cox does not get irritated by this. I don't know how the copy editor could have missed that.
I also think Holloway idealizes Natalee as the perfect young woman with no major flaws. It would have been nice to hear some stories of her growing up, to get to know Natalee a little better. I can understand how she'd want to keep those memories private.
All in all, a very good read. Holloway gives some good tips for international travel and plugs her nonprofit. I'm glad that something good can come out of this terrible tragedy.
November 30, 2012
A book I found almost impossible to put down.
A book that addresses every parents worst fear and the courage that Beth and her family showed during the disappearance of Natalee and continue to show to this day education young adults across America about the dangers on international travel.
I was so deeply touched by this book... I rarely just spend literally a day and a half and not put a book down, but this was one of those books that touch your very core as a parent.
I can only pray that one day they get the answers they have waited so long for and a chance to finally lay their beautiful angel to rest
A book that addresses every parents worst fear and the courage that Beth and her family showed during the disappearance of Natalee and continue to show to this day education young adults across America about the dangers on international travel.
I was so deeply touched by this book... I rarely just spend literally a day and a half and not put a book down, but this was one of those books that touch your very core as a parent.
I can only pray that one day they get the answers they have waited so long for and a chance to finally lay their beautiful angel to rest
April 28, 2009
This book was so hearbreaking. It has been almost 4 years since Natalee's disappearance. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that she was murdered but no way of proving it. The Aruba authorities covered the entire thing up and was more concerned about the effect on tourism to the country. Natalee's Mom Beth did and still does have so much faith in God and that is what got her through this experience. She tours the country today giving advice to teenagers on traveling to foreign countires.
November 3, 2009
This book was so interesting! Natalee disappeared, without a trace, in Aruba during her high school senior class trip. If you can imagine, 2 years later her mother wrote about her desperate search for her daughter.To this day Natalee has never been found! I couldn't put this book down. I just kept thinking "what would I do if it was my daughter"
I really admire Beth Holloway and the inner strength she has had to be able to go through this experience.
I really admire Beth Holloway and the inner strength she has had to be able to go through this experience.
January 6, 2012
Loving Natalee was easy to read and as someone who followed the case, I enjoyed the book. Beth is candid about her feelings and her account is sincere and heartfelt. The book walks the reader through the pain of losing her beautiful daughter. The reader feels her frustrations and the many yet unanswered questions surrounding the loss of her child. The story is inspirational as you learn how this courageous woman deals with a parent’s worst fear.
October 8, 2007
I have always been interested in this case since we were down there the week she went missing. This is a thorough, informative tale on what happened. Not what the media said happened. That being said, I feel very, very deeply for Beth Holloway however I feel she was pushing her non-profit a bit at the end. A solid 3.5 *s.
December 8, 2008
Of course I read the news accounts of this story but reading the mother's account was so much more. Most interesting was how terrible the country of Aruba behaved and it seems quite resonsible for the lack of resolution. I also really liked the theme of hope and faith throughout. I can only hope to retain that type of strength during such hard times.
June 27, 2014
This book was inspirational, although very sad. I constantly felt for Beth during the whole book. No one should go through what she has went through. Especially an extremely hard time with no cooperation with the Aruban government. I hope to one day hear this case has been solved and Justice for Natalee.
September 7, 2014
Moving account of Beth Holloway's attempts to find her missing daughter in Aruba. A fast and interesting read, even for those who know a lot of details of the case. On an unrelated note, I really liked Beth's show on Lifetime, "Vanished with Beth Holloway," which aired in 2011 and wish it would come back.
March 10, 2015
It's hard to believe that the Natalee Holloway case was 10 years ago. This book was the inside look at what Beth Holloway went through in the days and months following her daughters disappearance in Aruba. The most interesting aspect for me was how horribly the Aruban officials handled the case. I can't imagine how frustrating it must have been to be the family and not see justice.
October 25, 2007
I actually put this down half way through because it was too sad. Jacob went on a "walk" where he was missing for 15 minutes and I couldn't breathe...reading this was almost too much for me to handle. I couldn't imagine living it.
January 16, 2008
A must read for the parents of any child about to travel anywhere, but particularly high school seniors about to go on their senior class trips.
A tragic story that when read may help prevent other horrible instances
A tragic story that when read may help prevent other horrible instances
March 31, 2008
This was a well-written, interesting book. I really feel for Natalee Holloway's mom, and she was brave to share her story. It is truly frightening how we take our legal system for granted in the USA.
April 8, 2008
This book was a little disappointing. I wanted more focus on the investigation (or lack thereof) into Natalee's disappearance, but it centered more on the support her mother received during the ordeal and her mother's faith. Still a good book, but not what I wanted it to be.
June 22, 2008
I wasn't sure I was interested in reading this when a good friend passed it along. I could not put it down and finished it in 2 days! I was stunned by the Aruban officials and the underground crime going there. A must read for anyone who plans to travel internationally any time soon.
June 4, 2009
I admit it I was one of those people glued to the TV watching the news when this happened. It is a heartbreaking story, but I had no idea what ACTUALLY went on in Aruba and how they were treated there. It is very sad.
August 21, 2011
This was a fascinating and amazingly well written story by missing teen Natalee Holloway's mother....It is touching and moving and very, very eye opening. There is lots to be learned by reading this heartbreaking story.
September 23, 2011
another one where you know the ending...it's a heartbreaking book to read from her mother's perspective. you get caught up in all the leads and they sound so promising but you have to keep reminding yourself that the outcome is still unsolved.
November 8, 2012
Great story but a little confusing at times due to natalees mother being the one who wrote this As she tried to remember things that happened she sometimes, I feel, may have mentioned things in no particular order at times! ... Still highly recommend this book!
January 1, 2013
I am 40 miles from Natalee's home town, the book is real and this could happen to your child, while reading the book, I have been to the places and they are describe exactly, I am a better person since reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews