Song of Survival: Women Interned

by Helen Colijn

Describes life for Dutch, English, and Australian women in Japanese camps in Sumatra during World War II

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Holocaust, World War II, Memoir, War

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book of my mother’s on my bookshelf and knew it was time to read it. It is a memoir of a Dutch woman and her experiences as a prisoner of war for three and a half years in Sumatra. Her family was living in what was then the Dutch East Indies, and when war was declared, her parents and her three sisters were all interred. It is unimaginable, what people have to go through to survive in these circumstances. We must never forget, and history teaches us so much. Glad I finally read this one!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by the film version "Paradise Road," starring Glenn Close. Well, Ms. Colijn's book has nothing in common with the film other than the circumstances of being held prisoner by the Japanese in Southeast Asia during World War II.

Don't think even the film title was referenced in the book. Another surprise for me was that despite being a writer for Sunset magazine Ms. Colijn's writing was dry and unimaginative. The story also had lots of holes in it, a lack of background information. Agnes Newton Keith's memoir "Three Came Home," (set in Borneo during WWII) was far superior.

Loved the movie though!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was made into a 1997 movie Paradise Road, starring Glenn Close. I believe I had first bought the book after seeing the movie. I have just now gotten around to reading it.

Helen, her two sisters, and their father departed on a ship from Tarakan (Borneo) for Australia, because the Japanese had invaded Borneo in 1942, and the rumors were that the Japanese were imprisoning all non-Asians. Their ship was bombed by Japanese pilots, and they were forced to jump into the life boats, before the ship sank. They made their way on shore, but Japanese captured them, and kept them in concentration camps for over 3 years.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Japanese divided their prison camps between camps for the males and camps for the women and children. In virtually all cases the camps were excessively primitive, food was in short supply, medicines were rare, the camp soldiers were nasty and their commandant was excessively nasty and the prisoners died in great numbers from abuse, malnutrition and diseases, among other things.

This book is about a woman named Helen Colijn who was in Sumatra when the war began. The area was quickly overrun by Japanese and few people had a chance to get away. She, with many others, tried to escape via boat but Japanese pilots bombed the boat and strafed the passengers. The Japanese had never signed the Geneva Convention so they pretty much did what they wanted to as far as people fleeing, as far as killing women and children and as far as using torture against both men and women.

She was in a lifeboat with others for a week and not even all of them lived until they landed. It was not long before they were captured by the Japanese and ended up, eventually, in a camp. I won't go into detail there since all the camp books are about the same in just how bad the Japanese treated these women and children who had never really suffered anything that bad in their lives. It's a good book but also as upsetting as the rest to see how these totally innocent women and children were treated.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first as I started reading I found the writing fairly simple and was somewhat bored by the account of their life in the Dutch East Indies (formerly Indonesia). As I started to read more though, it became more and more interesting. I wouldn't say it was something I couldn't put down, but it definitely was something I was eager to pick up again.

The story follows a family of 3 sisters as the Dutch East Indies are attacked by the Japanese, their subsequent escape attempt and ultimate capture. The tales of the 3 separate camps they were in were fascinating and moving. I thought that though they didn't expound on the value of the music in their imprisonment at first that it did highlight how special it was, especially as it was coming from someone who did not participate in the musical activities but only observed them. Obviously the music was something extra they worked on to add some humanity to their situation and give them hope. There were so many other things they did for survival sake, this was the one thing they did for sanity sake.

Overall a good book, and for someone that doesn't often foray into historical accounts a pleasurable read.

[Jennifer Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that we must all read, not to inform ourselves of what horrible beings most of us could become, given the chance, but to remind ourselves what challenges we could overcome, survive, and eventually thrive.

Having read about the Japanese treatment of the civilians (Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang, another must read, but not particularly well-written, also beware of gruesome details and pictures), POW's and captured freedom fighters of occupied lands, the treatment of the women and children weren't surprising. What will stick with me is the resilience of the human spirit.

Rape of Nanking and Song of Survival are important books in understanding WWII. I would recommend Song of Survival to everyone. I would only recommend Rape of Nanking to those who could stomach the graphic details. I think this is a very important book, but I would never read it again.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story of women interned in Sumatra during WWII.
Most interesting is the story of Margaret Dryburgh's fantastic musical memory. She remembered many classical music pieces, wrote them down, including harmonies, to be sung by women's voices. She and Norah Chambers formed a women's choir and surprised the other inmates with a spectacular concert. Even the Japanese guards, who were to forbid any gatherings, relented and stayed to listen. The choir existed even as members had to sit due to frail health, and others died. Margaret Dryburgh did not survive the internment.
The book a tribute to human resilience and ability to triumph over horrible situations. More completely, it is about the healing power of music.
The women's choir of Palo Alto California has a recording of the singing which miraculously survived.

[SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so sad to read about the suffering of these people during World War II, especially knowing that they were just one group of many groups of people who went through horrific things during the war. It was powerful that the author is one of the survivors of the camp.

My only criticism is that I wish the passage of time was conveyed a little more clearly—maybe with markers for the date or number of months to years in the camp at the beginning of each chapter? Colijn also makes a few references to her camp being much larger compared to others, and I wonder how large it was exactly.

Also, it’s so cool how Margaret Dryburgh transcribed all of those musical scores—that must’ve taken a lot of concentration and attention to detail.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Song of Survival was a wonderful book. I didn't know a lot about women Interned during the 2nd world war. Helen's book was filled with so many feeling and challenges, it's hard to believe anyone could walk out of their alive. The ladies in the camp showed so much strength and determination to survive.
I loved the fact that through music they bonded with each other and also showed defiance to their captors.
My heart ached for all the people in the camps. Helen showed us just how much will is in a person to keep on going day after day, even when you believe there is no hope.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving and personal story of experiences of European women imprisoned by the Japanese during WWII, in Indonesia. The movie Paradise Road was based on this story. Some of the women in the camp created an orchestra of voices and performed classical pieces transcribed for voices. The choir eventually couldn't perform any more because they were too weak and sick, but for a time they kept up the hopes of everyone in the camp.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true account of Helen Colign and her two sisters forced to stay in an internment camp held by Japanese soldiers during WWII. The sisters were imprisoned for 2 years and used music as a way to lift spirits and distract them from the sickness and emaciation. A very historical and interesting story of survival (lived through a ship being gunned down) family, and overcoming bitterness. The book flows very well and in enjoyable to read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I am in a Vocal Arts Ensemble right now and we are singing some of the pieces these women sang. It made the music that much more meaningful to me. I also liked that this was not a story I had heard before. I have read/heard a lot about Nazi Germany during World War II, but nothing about the internment of the Dutch on behalf of the Japanese. Good read.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This interesting memoir describes the ways women survived while in captivity during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). Groups formed based mainly on nationality, partly due to language differences. As they were moved from camp to camp groupings changed. But groups came together to perform songs to lighten the pain of internment.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read for me. I have read accounts of WWII and learned about it in school, but for some reason never realized about the Japanese internment of so many women and children. I was grateful for all of her descriptions. I know this is just one account of many, but it was eye-opening.

[Barb Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, her 2 sisters and her father, an executive with a Dutch company, were on a ship fleeing the Japanese during WW2 when their ship was sunk by Japanese bombers. They all survived only to be captured and interned by the Japanese for about 3.5 years.
It’s such an interesting story about a subject that many American haven’t heard about—Japanese internment camps in Asia during WW2.

[Caroline Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done! Very few WWII narratives can be told with so much hope, and pride for surviving. This book pulled it off incredibly well. Coljin is an eternal optimist, and paints an incredible picture of one complex situation after another. A very pleasurable read. Great narrative.

[Trish Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this as a first account of what life was like for ordinary people who are thrust into war, how resilient they can be, and how war can bring out the best (and the worst) in people. I enjoyed the matter-of-fact way it was told without attempting to embelish or dramatize the events.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that illustrates the indomitable spirit of women in Japanese prionser of war camps during WWII.

[Parker Ryu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I wouldn't have picked up if it wasn't for a book club I'm participating in. I found it hard to get into in the beginning, especially because my brain could not get over the irony of the 'whites' (as she refers to herself in the book) complaining about being colonized while they were the colonizers of the islands they were claiming ownership over in the first place. But the book became more interesting and unique as it became more about the actual internment & and their lives in these camps.
It's crazy, the duress that the human body can go through, and the ways music can provide a lifeline in the hardest of times. The music portion, and the life it gave to the memories of these women beyond the war, definitely brought the book to another level that I became much more invested in.
I will definitely check out the documentary, and the actual music written about in the book now.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the callous treatment handed out to male POW's, these ladies got off lightly (relatively speaking). However four years living under the Japanese was no walk in the park and their survival and return to civilian life is testament to the resilience of these extraordinary women.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Colijn is not a writer, but she is a survivor. Once I got over her writing style, the events swept me along. The book is about the internment of Dutch, British and Australian women and children, by the Japanese during WW2. Very interesting and informative.

[Sally Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about a part of history that many people are probably unaware of - the internment of Dutch, British and Australian women and children in Indonesia by the Japanese during WWII.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but ultimately forgettable.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat een boek!! Indrukwekkend, emotioneel en interessant. Ik vond het bijzonder moeilijk om weg te leggen. Prachtig!

[Liz V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction books I've read previously about internment in Japanese camps have been written by United States citizens: Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II; We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese; and Belly of the Beast: POW's Inspiring True Story Faith Courage Survival Aboard Infamous WWII Japanese. I was, therefore, interested in the perspective of a young Dutch civilian.

Song of Survival tells much the same story but with a disturbing lack of affect--much as if the author was still in her self described zoombie state of survival. It is only the last few chapters and a few, earlier pages of personal stories that lift the book out of a recitation of bare facts.

[Alissa Faust · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the story was interesting. The descriptions of war in this kinds of books always helps those of us who have never been in war situations understand a little bit better. I was however thrown off by the title and the summary of the book. I thought that it would include more details about how the music helped them which is why I was drawn to the book. There were not many details on the music. There would probably be more information or more of a story on the music if it was written by one of the sisters of the author who was in the choir instead of the author who herself wasn't able to sing. Still and interesting read.

[Lataun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I liked the beginning and I liked the prisoner of war camp story from the Japanese side. But still the prisoner of war stories are the same no matter whose prisoners you were. Conditions were harsh, food was scarce, and life was miserable and somehow these women lived through it and their stories are inspirational and give us reasons to be uplifted and remind us that it could always be worse.

[Kathleen]

This is an excellent first-hand account of the lives of a group of women and children caught up in the Pacific side of WWII. It is not a piece of fine literature, but the author presents an unflinching picture of daily life and the toll on physical emotional and spiritual health of the internees. It makes an excellent companion to the documentary of the same name, which brings to life the people and circumstances very beautifully.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only bought this book because I'm now living in Indonesia. That said, it was a pretty interesting and true story about what Dutch colonialists went through during WWII and how they survived life in Japanese camps. Not something that I knew much about before reading this book.

[DDog · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in middle school my children's choir organized a concert around Helen Colijn and her fellow internees' choral work and experiences. It's pretty powerful stuff.