Christopher Guy Bedroom
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You had Stockholm syndrome. THAT'S why you wanted to cry.(less)
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Christopher is a smart woman. She realizes this power, that as an auth
When I was a teenager, I remember watching a movie with my family and the couple onscreen kissed for the first time and of course five seconds later were sleeping together. My dad, trying to keep the morality of four teenage girls intact, complained about movies always doing that, making you root for something you didn't believe in. I remember thinking "it's just a movie; you're supposed to want that," because I had wanted it.Christopher is a smart woman. She realizes this power, that as an author, she can direct you in what you're supposed to want, who you're supposed to like, and what ending you're supposed to root for. And she uses it to mess with your head. Ty and Gemma are basically the only characters in the book, so you want them to end up together. Ty is a kidnapper and has a temper, but he's a kind, likable kidnapper. From the beginning, you want Gemma to get over it and like Ty. He had a sad life and has such a vulnerable quality and if only Gemma would love him it would make him all better. You see what Christopher does? She makes you, the reader, experience Stockholm syndrome, so that by the end you're as conflicted as Gemma about the outcome and about your own feelings of Gemma's resistance and Ty's culpability. She makes you consider Stockholm syndrome from the inside. That's brilliant.
ETA: I have several friends who didn't like the book and it's made me think about why this works so well for some and not for others. It comes down to you. If you're the type of girl who'd want to protect a broken spirit then you'll fall right into the trap that is Ty's charm. If you like a man's man and have no patience for weak men, the book won't work for you. The book may have been more powerful had we fallen in love with a man who was a little bit rough, a little bit forceful, a little bit cruel and yet Gemma depended on him for her survival. But maybe not. It would have been more of a risk and may not have had the same longing for romance that this has. Either way, it still requires you the reader to pull off the full affect. It's a risk and sometimes it pays off. Sometimes it doesn't.
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But the people who live there seem to want everyone to think it's a lot like this:
Or this:
Or even this:
Gemma, just a regular 16 year old school girl, has been captured by a handsome and alluring young Australian man named Ty. Although Gemma seems to think so, it never feels like she's in any imminent danger, from Ty at least. From the environment - yes.
The stakes and suspense don't seem that high, as I fully
This book completely reaffirmed my fascination with the beautiful land that is Australia.But the people who live there seem to want everyone to think it's a lot like this:
Or this:
Or even this:
Gemma, just a regular 16 year old school girl, has been captured by a handsome and alluring young Australian man named Ty. Although Gemma seems to think so, it never feels like she's in any imminent danger, from Ty at least. From the environment - yes.
The stakes and suspense don't seem that high, as I fully believed that he never intended to hurt her. Regardless, the author managed to draw me in with every single word.
The story itself is incredible, as is the the writing and character development. I just worry that it's glorifying kidnapping. Cause really, how many child abductors are 20-something sexy Australian men with supermodel looks and a hot bod, who only want to be loved? If I was Gemma, I can't say I would mind.
I mean, I picture him looking a bit like this:
Whoopsie!! Not the right picture! That's from my secret stash... *blushes*
Here the
right one: 
But our girl is very stubborn and never seems to be giving up on getting away from him. She's resilient and strong and everything you expect the heroine of a young adult novel to be.
And whew! The male lead character Ty, our captor, is really hot. Come on, Gemma. The scene with the paint where he leans in and asks (referring to the paint of course) "Do you want some?" I couldn't help but think heeeeeeeeck yeah.
I imagine if any other girl in the world had been there, she'd be jumping up and down with her hand raised saying "I do, I do." 
Ty is extremely charming and a bit of a paradox. He is multiple layered character, who although seems unsocial and outdoorsy, is good with words and can completely make you swoon.
Though most of this is a result of brilliant writing, a lot it also comes from the talented narrator of the audio book.
I know the book alone is amazing,
but this one is really worth listening to on audio.It is the most well read book I have listened to in a long time, probably EVER. The voice of Ty isn't even noticeable as being read by a women. The narrator and the author are both on the exact same wavelength and both nail the complex nature of our male lead as well as the strong willed Gemma.
I do wish things had gone a little differently in the end. I'm not sure that what Gemma did is fully representative of what a normal 16 year old would do, but I guess that what happened is what HAD to happen for the story. The romantic in me just wanted things to be different. I also think I'm suffering from Stockholm Syndrome even more so than Gemma was.
I know that a lot of people won't sympathize with Ty at all. But I'm a sucker for a man with a hot bod and an Australian accent.
Definitely, this is another of my favorite books I've read lately. And my favorite audiobook so far!
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You shoved it onto my finger. It was roughly carved, shaped from a lump of something colourful and cold...a ring made entirely from a gemstone. It was beautiful. It glinted emerald greens and blood reds over my skin, and had tiny flecks of gold catching the light. I couldn't stop staring at it.
"Why?" I asked.
You didn't answer that. Instead you touched the ring gently and looked piercingly at me, unsaid questions in your eyes.
HOLY SHIT! I should not have
"I made it," you said, gruffly, "for you."You shoved it onto my finger. It was roughly carved, shaped from a lump of something colourful and cold...a ring made entirely from a gemstone. It was beautiful. It glinted emerald greens and blood reds over my skin, and had tiny flecks of gold catching the light. I couldn't stop staring at it.
"Why?" I asked.
You didn't answer that. Instead you touched the ring gently and looked piercingly at me, unsaid questions in your eyes.
HOLY SHIT! I should not have read this book! (Even though it's definitely going to be on top of my 'favorites' list.) I don't think I've ever cried so much while reading a book! But I loved it! It was perfect.
I wanted to read this book for so long, but couldn't get my hands on it. I was just very fascinated by the summary of the book, and who am I to deny that beautiful cover? Well, the story begins with "You saw me before I saw you." Sounds intriguing, right? Well, it's like that from start to end of the book. So, Ty, kidnaps Gemma from an airport--putting drugs in her coffee so she wouldn't struggle--and takes her to a desert in Australia, where no one could find them. He has a whole life planned out for them both, thinking that Gemma would fall in love with him eventually. Throughout the book, Gemma tries (in vain) to escape, and the unusual thing is that Ty lets her. But soon, Gemma finds out she can't get out of there unless Ty will come with her, since he knows the desert better. As the story progresses, Gemma struggles with her feelings for Ty, especially when she found out that he was as desperate as she was, when she learns of his background.
Ty was a very complex character. I never imagined to sympathize with a villain--if he could even be called a villain--much less one who kidnaps people, but Ty was such a sad, tragic character. There were times when I hated him for taking Gemma against her will, but when Gemma found out that she loved him, it was like I was falling for him right along with her. Seriously, it was like I was getting Stockholm Syndrome too! Lucy Christopher knows just how to mess with your mind.
It was all like this to me: ...I love Ty, he's amazing...wait, no he's not, he's a stalker and a kidnapper...but he's so sweet!...let go of Gemma you controlling creep...Oh my gawd he's so effin' hot!...
It's like having the devil and angel on your shoulder! So, yes, he kidnapped her. But he also loved her passionately. He knew he was going to go to prison, but he chose to stay by her side and save her. That's what I loved about him the most. The fact that he ran miles to save her life.
Ugh, I'm getting conflicted again.
Again, I can't really express my feelings about this book, but it was definitely the most intense book I've ever read. I couldn't put it down.
I want Lucy Christopher to write a sequel. She can't leave it like this! But, at the same time I don't really want her to. It's actually the ending--that tear-jerking, heart-wrenching ending--that made the book so unique and unforgettable. I don't want that to be ruined.
...I'm doing it again, aren't I? Dammit, I have to stop contracting myself. Makes me sound like a weirdo who has no idea what she's talking about.
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… that's it?
Well, that was a shit fucking letter, wasn't it? Can you even call that a letter? It's just a recollection of everything that happened between Gemma and Ty. As if someone would be able to remember every conversation that had happened on every day for a month. It's fine as a story, but I did not accept the letter concept. It reminds me of a certain Friends episode where Rachel and Ross are fighting and Rachel wrote him a letter.
Ross: "I fell asleep!"
Rachel: "You fell aslee
… that's it?
Well, that was a shit fucking letter, wasn't it? Can you even call that a letter? It's just a recollection of everything that happened between Gemma and Ty. As if someone would be able to remember every conversation that had happened on every day for a month. It's fine as a story, but I did not accept the letter concept. It reminds me of a certain Friends episode where Rachel and Ross are fighting and Rachel wrote him a letter.
Ross: "I fell asleep!"
Rachel: "You fell asleep?!"
Ross: "It was 5:30 in the morning, and you had rambled on for 18 pages. Front and back!"
I think it's safe to say that my expectations were way up high, because of all the skyrocketing ratings, and it all came crashing down into a million pieces. I thought this book was going to be fucked up, all kinds of twisted, but luckily for Gemma she met the world's most docile kidnapper in the history of time. Sure, he followed her for a couple years, but he actually took good care of her and didn't force her into anything. He had expected her to love his little place in the middle of nowhere. I mean, who wouldn't love living in a fucking desert, away from every type of civilisation, hunting camels and kangaroos and possibly being bitten by poisonous snakes? But when Gemma keeps whining, he promises that he'll take her back to the real world if she still doesn't love it after four months.
That sure is convenient. But hey, we are supposed to like Ty, right? He's given these bright blue eyes and a tight body so we'll swoon over him, and a dramatic back-story and a guilty conscience so we can feel sorry for him. He loves Gemma, in his own twisted way. He means well; all he wants is company, never mind the fact that his company is there against her will. But hey, he's actually a pretty nice guy, so he doesn't force his company on Gemma, which results in one of the most boring books I have ever read. Nothing happens. They just live alongside each other and have awkward conversations. Hell, if I want awkward conversations I'll talk to someone. While you guys are swooning over Ty, can you still remember that he actually kidnapped a girl and once fenced her in like cattle? Because he didn't give a rat's ass about Gemma when he took her away "for ever". I'm just saying 'cause Gemma seemed to be forgetting all that as we got nearer to the ending, even falling asleep in his arms and wanting to kiss him. At the end, he's just another pretty boy. But a weird little fucker at that – he paints his penis. Do I need to say more?
Then comes the ending and because of a snake bite Gemma ends up being rescued. Ty decides to take her back to the real world to save her life, knowing that he'll end up in prison. Once again, thank fuck for Gemma being abducted by such a gentleman. She even kisses him on the cheek in the end and thanks him for showing her some beautiful landscape. Are you fucking kidding me with this? "Yes, you may have kidnapped me and I hate you, but I love you too and it sure was beautiful over there." Girl, you need help. I understand Stockholm Syndrome and it really fascinates me, but this just wasn't done well. Gemma's writing was boring and detached and it left me feeling completely empty of any feelings other than anger.
Because I am angry. I am sorely disappointed and, well, fuck this book. Snape is not amused.
and i loved every second of it.
i know this book isnt everyones cup of tea, but no matter how many times i read this, i am always captivated by the story, the characters, the setting. it never fails to steal and break my heart.
↠ 5 stars
1) crazy guy
2) camels
3) strong heroine
4) poisonous snakes! (did you know that Australia is the only continent where species of poisonous snakes outnumbers non-poisonous ones?)
5) hallucinating
6
1) crazy guy
2) camels
3) strong heroine
4) poisonous snakes! (did you know that Australia is the only continent where species of poisonous snakes outnumbers non-poisonous ones?)
5) hallucinating
6) kangaroos
7) psychological terror and thrillingness!
8) vehicular chases
9) did I mention crazy guy?
10) a supporting cast of chickens
It's got a great sense of place and the character development is just fantastic (I love me some trauma), but the thing I liked best was that as Gemma, the main character, spends more time in the presence of her kidnapper, the author very, very, very skillfully messes with our brains just like Gemma's brain is getting messed with. It makes for a very complex read with no easy answers, just like I like 'em. I loved how all of the motivations were thoroughly grounded in past history; we get a profile of the kidnapper as a human, not just as a stick figure. As a teen, I would have adored this book even more. My only complaint? It reads a little long in places, but I think that may have been my deadlines speaking more than the book's shortfall. I know there will be many that say that this isn't how most kidnappings go down and tell you to go read LIVING DEAD GIRL instead, but I don't believe that books need to tell the most common story -- just the one most interesting to the author. Highly recommended!
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Gemma is a sixteen year old English girl kidnapped by Ty and taken into the Western Australian outback where she is held prisoner.
I had to give this book five stars for several reasons. One of the reasons is because it was so fantastically well written. Beautiful, touching, heart breaking and real. Christopher doesn't spare on the details both good and bad. Never before have I felt a book to be so real,
Stolen is such a singular reading experience that its difficult to decide how I feel about it.Gemma is a sixteen year old English girl kidnapped by Ty and taken into the Western Australian outback where she is held prisoner.
I had to give this book five stars for several reasons. One of the reasons is because it was so fantastically well written. Beautiful, touching, heart breaking and real. Christopher doesn't spare on the details both good and bad. Never before have I felt a book to be so real, so gritty and tangible.
This book is a journey into the world of Stockholm Syndrome and the craft of Christopher's skill left even me, feeling the effects of this baffling psychological problem.
The characters of Ty and Gemma are fantastic. At first I was frustrated with Gemma. I was so used to reading kick-ass female protagonists who could do anything that it was aggravating to be stuck with a sixteen year old who was incapable and terror stricken. Yet she gets to you. Her pain, her struggles. She's a real sixteen year old. This isn't some fantasy character that can do everything. Yet she has a sense of will and spirit. Perhaps her defining characteristic is the truth that she is willing to tell herself - completely and honestly.
Ty is also amazing as a character. He is equal parts scary, confused, angry, hostile, delusional. He is also beautiful, gentle, capable, intense and loving. He is such a mixed bag of all these things.
If you're looking for action and suspense in this book - you won't find it. Yet I personally found the strength of the characters and the outback itself was strong enough to carry this story without needing a great deal of edge-of-your-seat intensity. The mental intensity was enough for me.
Others may find this story boring but I found it touching and amazing. I highly recommend it.
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----------------HYPERVENTILATING------------------
-------------------AUGUST 2013 UPDATE--------------
Look what I just saw on Lucy's FB:
Lucy Christopher
If I tell you I'm about to fly to San Diego to work on the screenplay of Stolen .... would you be excited?
Me gusta · · Compartir · 83 · Hace 3 minutos ·
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE CAN I BUY MY TICKETS????!!!! NEED THAT FILM LIKE YESTERDAY!!!!
P.S. Sorry for updating an old review but this was soooooo good for me that I had to do it!
------------
----------------HYPERVENTILATING------------------
-------------------AUGUST 2013 UPDATE--------------
Look what I just saw on Lucy's FB:
Lucy Christopher
If I tell you I'm about to fly to San Diego to work on the screenplay of Stolen .... would you be excited?
Me gusta · · Compartir · 83 · Hace 3 minutos ·
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE CAN I BUY MY TICKETS????!!!! NEED THAT FILM LIKE YESTERDAY!!!!
P.S. Sorry for updating an old review but this was soooooo good for me that I had to do it!
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***FULL REVIEW NOW UP***
FIVE BEAUTIFUL & HEARTBREAKING AUSTRALIAN STARS
Could I have loved this book anymore? NO
Would I change anything about their story? Hell NO
Do I need a sequel even if I know I won't probably get it? Yes, please with sugar on top!
I bought this book AGES ago but I didn't want to read it because I knew how it ended. And I didn't mind (view spoiler)[ this didn't have a HEA (hide spoiler)], I just lost the interest because I know what would happen. Anyway, Basuhi read it last week and she loved it so I thought it was time to give it a try, even if YA is not a genre I read a lot lately.
This is the story of Gemma & Ty. Gemma is a 16 years old girl from London who is traveling with her parents. She is in Bangkok airport waiting for her flight and she meets Ty, a 25 years old guy who has coffee with her.
When I read the blurb of this book I always thought about KISS ME by Ed Sheeran but now that I have finished the book I can say this song is just for them:
I've fallen for your eyes
But they don't know me yetAnd the feeling I forget
I'm in love nowKiss me like you wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
The thing is Gemma is having coffee with this beautiful guy one minute and the next one someone has drugged her. She just doesn't know where she is and she doesn't know what happened but she wakes up in the middle of nowhere... (I would say the middle of paradise, but I understand she doesn't see it that way).
I was scared this was going to be boring, I mean, I almost knew (view spoiler)[ they didn't even kiss (hide spoiler)] but boy, I was waaaaaaaaay wrong, I didn't even need it.
I know, a lot of my GR buddies cannot like a story about a kidnapper (yes, I am thinking about you Baba) but this is one is way different and I know most of my buddies don't read YA anyway but I just wanted to say that Ty is not the typical kidnapper. He NEVER put a hand on Gemma, EVER forced her to do anything. He obviously had a problem, I understand and accept that what he did was WRONG but he always respected her even if he didn't respect her freedom.
"How long will you keep me?"
"For ever, of course"
At the beginning, I couldn't help it, I thought he was freaking insane but I ended up understanding some things about him and I really think he was in love with her and he just wanted her to love that land as much as he did. He did it the wrong way which is a shame.
But I also agreed with him sometimes, even if the way he did things was NOT correct.
"I like cities"
"No one's real in a city. Nothing's real"
Gemma hates him, she just wants to escape, she doesn't have any kind of feelings for him at all during a good part of the book. And that is what I also loved. If I imagine myself in a situation like that I cannot believe I could be able to have feelings for my kidnapper the next day I have been kidnapped, that is NOT real. Gemma was very real, there was not even one second that she didn't try to scape from him but at the same time she was curious about him, about his life, about why he was so fucked up so she gave in and started talking to him.
When the author starts telling us more about Ty you can't help it and you feel sorry for him because he didn't have an easy life. I am not saying I think he did the right thing but I can understand why he was so fucked up.
"They just wanted recognition, they wanted to fit in... it's what most people want"
"Excepts freaks like you"
"I want freedom"
Ty explains Gemma how he met her, why she was the perfect person to go with him to that land and even though, I repeat that he did the wrong thing, he had his reasons. Ok, he kidnapped her but he also saved her (view spoiler)[ from Josh, years before (hide spoiler)].
Every single part of the landscape and every single animal was a character of this book. The story with the Camel was maybe the kind of story that Ty was expecting to have with Gemma. His "baby steps" worked with the Camel…
"We're getting there. Baby steps"
But you know what? Those baby steps (view spoiler)[ also worked with Gemma, even if she was stubborn (hide spoiler)]
"Pain means it's healing"
Gemma knows he is not that bad but she stills can't trust him. She just wants to escape, at all costs and he only wants her there, even for a few months because he is convinced that she will end up loving that place as much as he does.
"It's just… to survive this land, you need to love it. And that takes time. Right now, you need me"
"I know"
But she cannot help it either and she starts caring for him, she tries to understand or help him, even if she knows he is doing the wrong thing.
"People love what they're used to, I guess"
"No. PEOPLE SHOULD LOVE WHAT NEEDS LOVING. That way they can save it"
Wow, this was one of my favourite quotes of the book. So true!
I loved the way Ty showed her his love for that land, for his paints. The way he respected the oldfellas. Ty is seriously like a perfect guy. I know he had issues but he was PURE, he was a good person.
And finally Gemma started enjoying his company, she stopped running away from him, ignoring him.
You smiled, your eyes crinkling at the corners. I looked away quickly, wanting to hold your gaze but knowing I shouldn't.
Right at that moment it was as if we were the only two people left in the whole world.
"And how long will we sit here like this? Just another moment, or the rest of our lives? You know which one I'd prefer
******SPOILERS AHEAD******
And yeah, shit got real as usual. But you know what? Ty proved he was a good person once again because he never hesitated, he decided to save her life, NO MATTER WHAT.
"Why?"
You didn't answer that. Instead you touched the ring gently and looked piercingly at me, unsaid questions in your eyes.
(view spoiler)[ When Gem is safe in the hospital she misses Ty, she misses their moments together. (hide spoiler)]
It's hard to hate someone once you understand themBut I hated you for something else too. Right then, and at every moment (view spoiler)[ since you'd left me (hide spoiler)] in that apartment . I wanted your arms around me, your face close to mine. I wanted your smell. And I knew (view spoiler)[ I couldn't (hide spoiler)] - shouldn't – have it. That's what I hated most. The uncertainty of you. You'd kidnapped me, put my life in danger… but I (view spoiler)[ loved you too. Or thought I did (hide spoiler)]. None of it made sense.
And Gemma finally accepts she did love that land, she did appreciate those days, she did (view spoiler)[ love Ty (hide spoiler)]
And let's face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful, I can never get it out of my mind. And I can't get you out of there either. You're stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels
I loved Gemma, because she always knew and understood what was wrong and what was right. Because she wasn't selfish, because she defended the truth, because she was sensible.
You told me once of the plants that lie dormant through the drought; that wait, half dead, deep in the earth. The plants that wait for the rain. You said they'd wait for years, if they had to; that they'd almost kill themselves before they grew again. But as soon as those first drops of water fall, those plants begin to stretch and spread their roots. They travel up through the soil and sand to reach the surface. There's a chance for them again
I love how the author ends her acknowledgments:
As Ty says, this is a land that needs love and 'needs saving'
Is that love or Stockholm Syndrome? I want to believe this was a love story…
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I really don't know how to feel right now.
I feel so sad, but that isn't the right word to explain how I feel about this book.
It's so complicated. I hated some of the moments in this book- could not even begin to imagine myself feeling even the slightest bit of empathy for certain characters. Yet, something about this book pulls you in and flips you over. Before you know it, you're viewing this book in an entirely different light than when you started it. Suddenly, your eyes have op
I really don't know how to feel right now.
I feel so sad, but that isn't the right word to explain how I feel about this book.
It's so complicated. I hated some of the moments in this book- could not even begin to imagine myself feeling even the slightest bit of empathy for certain characters. Yet, something about this book pulls you in and flips you over. Before you know it, you're viewing this book in an entirely different light than when you started it. Suddenly, your eyes have opened to the true heart of this book, and you understand. You understand the message it carries, and the weight of it all.
It's confusing how this book makes you feel so much compassion for something so terribly wrong. That's the entire point though.
The problem is, by the time you've grasped it all, it's too late. The story ends, and like Gemma, you find your heart aching for everything you finally understand.
Yes, this book is complicated. And confusing. And a storm of emotions.
It's also beautiful. And captivating. And so, so breathtakingly real.
This is the kind of story that will stick with you.
While I found the premise to be extremely interesting and pretty much
It is with sadness I am giving Stolen an "it was ok" 2-star rating. I expected to love this book. What's not to love? The premise was right up my alley - a psychological thriller, an exploration of Stockholm Syndrome, a story about a kidnapped person who finds herself emotionally attached to her captor. It's a treasure for a reader like me, fascinated by crazy and sick. But somehow Stolen didn't move me in any significant way.While I found the premise to be extremely interesting and pretty much a genius idea on Lucy Christopher's part, I thought the execution of this idea was lacking.
A book which centers on intricacies of human psychology ought to have realistic characters. Neither Gemma nor Ty ever came alive for me and therefore the entire journey of Gemma's to form an attachment to her kidnapper never worked IMO. Neither did I have any feelings for Ty and his sad-sad life stories. I saw how the author tried to make him somewhat attractive and worthy of compassion, but for me Ty remained a creep from the beginning till the very end.
I also found that the letter format (which I love) of the novel didn't quite work. Normally letters tend to give me an upclose understanding of the characters who write them, but in this case Gemma stayed anonymous and distant throughout the story. Endless "I"s and "you"s drove me nuts too.
I still think Stolen is a great discussion book. Penny brought up a particularly interesting topic in her review about a disturbing trend in YA literature to portray unhealthy relationships as romantic. For me personally the book was spoiled by poor characterization, overwhelming telling instead of showing, and boring pacing. It will sound harsh, but I don't think Lucy Christopher is a good writer and I don't think she knows human nature enough to undertake such topic.
My opinion is in a minority however, so maybe you should pick up the book and judge it for yourself.
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This review will very likely be brief and will very likely be a hot mess, because . . . I just can't believe how gorgeous this single piece of literature is. I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I'll definitely say it was worth the wait, though.
It's been a while since I've read something that touched me this deeply. How this book is written just gutted me and left me breathless at times. Gemma was relatable because she was a real teenage girl. I would'
I'm still crying as I type this.This review will very likely be brief and will very likely be a hot mess, because . . . I just can't believe how gorgeous this single piece of literature is. I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I'll definitely say it was worth the wait, though.
It's been a while since I've read something that touched me this deeply. How this book is written just gutted me and left me breathless at times. Gemma was relatable because she was a real teenage girl. I would've done some of the things she did if I were in her position, and I would've thought of things the same way she did. She was always wary, always looking for chances of escape, even though it was pretty much hopeless.
And then there's Ty.
I wasn't expecting to be so in love with him. I wasn't expecting this at all. But even less than 100 pages in, I had already warmed up to him. He is not evil or cruel in any way. He is broken and lonely and fuck I have tears landing on the backs of my hands.
The last parts were really the parts that hit me. Deep. I loved how this book ended. I loved everything about this book and oh my god forget about all those books that I've said are the best books I've ever read because this one tops every fucking list. I'm not kidding.
Okay, I don't know what else to type anymore, I'm sorry. I just . . . god, you guys, this book. This fucking book.
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I expected this to be a "Captive" Romance, where the Hero takes the heroine and treats her like he owns her, she is attracted to him from the start so she falls in love with him and they eventually live happily ever after. Those books may are pretty popular though pretty messed up, but as long as the heroine is attracted to the Hero and doesn't actual fight him off it can all end up ok (in a romance novel).
However this book was so different th
Very different from what I expected and much better!
I expected this to be a "Captive" Romance, where the Hero takes the heroine and treats her like he owns her, she is attracted to him from the start so she falls in love with him and they eventually live happily ever after. Those books may are pretty popular though pretty messed up, but as long as the heroine is attracted to the Hero and doesn't actual fight him off it can all end up ok (in a romance novel).
However this book was so different than anything I ever expected, and so much better. It almost reads like a true story of a kidnapping. The the book is written from the POV of the heroine Gemma as a letter to Ty, the man that took her. It is in chronological order from right before she is kidnapped from the Bangkok airport as she is traveling with her parents and has an argument with them while they wait near the gate for their plane.
Gemma goes to an airport coffee shop to cool down and since it is full, she ends up sitting with a hands on guy after he pays for her drink when she doesn't have any Bangkok currency. The man is Ty and he drugs her coffee and takes her outside behind some bushes and helps her change clothes and then smuggles her onto a different flight claiming she had too much to drink.
I don't want to give away any more than that other than to say that Gemma hates Ty, but then eventually comes to understand and need him, possibly even have feelings for him. Ty is an odd character who is both a gentleman and a captor at times. Though he does want Gemma to want to be with him. So he gives her a separate bedroom and sometimes lets her have her way, but in the end it is only to teach her a lesson when she doesn't believe the things he tells her and how dangerous it can be.
I was in tears at some points, because of Gemma's struggles and the fact that I genuinely liked Ty and felt bad for him when she would say certain things that would hurt his feelings. He really just loves Gemma and wants her to see the beauty of the land and to love him back. I really ended up hoping for that to happen. Really crazy considering he was a stranger who kidnapped her from an airport.
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How can you recover from a book that rips your heart out, destroys it, that it doesn't even feel like it ever belonged there in the first place? How can you recover from a book that makes your heart feel wrong and heavy?
Well, you don't.
Stolen made me realize I had one of those things all those other humans have. A heart
What I loved about this book was Ty. Yes I know what he did was wrong, but the way the auth
BR with my girl Pragya!How can you recover from a book that rips your heart out, destroys it, that it doesn't even feel like it ever belonged there in the first place? How can you recover from a book that makes your heart feel wrong and heavy?
Well, you don't.
Stolen made me realize I had one of those things all those other humans have. A heart
What I loved about this book was Ty. Yes I know what he did was wrong, but the way the author wrote his character, makes your heart hurt for him. Our brains just don't point out the fact that he
kidnapped a living, breathing human being, and kept her in a place against her will. Instead we feel for Ty, sympathize him for what he went through and find ourselves thinking how everything would be better if Gemma just gave him the love he wanted.
Ty isn't like our typical kidnapper who kidnaps girls, threatens her parents, enjoys raping her and torturing her. He just thought that she would be much happier with him in that place. He thought that if they loved each other and if they stay together in the middle of nowhere they would be happy. He didn't want to hurt Gemma, he didn't want to touch her and torture her, but he kidnapped her and kept her in the middle of nowhere with him and that's definitely not okay.
Still, as you read about him, he's nothing but a broken human being in need of love and care and god damn did he make my eyes sweat. No matter what he did, I felt pity and hurt for him. And how many times did I wish Gemma just loved him and made everything better.
Sorry this wasn't much of a great review, but honestly I just don't know what to write for this book.
Take all the stars Ty. All of 'em.
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Reaction to finishing this:
So like, I finished this.
And it feels like someone squeezed my fucking heart and then poked it with needles then put a fucking boulder on my heart and it fucking hurts.
I don't know if I'll be able to write a review for this because I'm just not okay.
And the cause is
fucking Ty. Yes my heart hurts for him and I loved him the most.
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Okay... I just finished this book and I need to take some deep breaths and calm down a little- alright, here it goes!
Sixteen year old Gemma is at an airport coffee shop in Bangkok when she sees him. Ty is in his mid twenties. He looks familiar to her, something about his beautiful blue eyes, but she can't place him. He buys her a coffee, they chat, then she starts to feel funny. She has been drugged. She is being kidnapped.
Now, meet Ty and Gemma:
When Gemma comes to, she is surprise
Okay... I just finished this book and I need to take some deep breaths and calm down a little- alright, here it goes!
Sixteen year old Gemma is at an airport coffee shop in Bangkok when she sees him. Ty is in his mid twenties. He looks familiar to her, something about his beautiful blue eyes, but she can't place him. He buys her a coffee, they chat, then she starts to feel funny. She has been drugged. She is being kidnapped.
Now, meet Ty and Gemma:
When Gemma comes to, she is surprised. She isn't tied up, the doors aren't locked. She is just in a bed in a house in the middle of nowhere. There is desert and sand everywhere, but nothing else.
She tries to escape, but Ty explains to her that there is nothing close, they are hundreds of miles away from any kind of civilization. She has so many questions: Why her? What does Ty want from her, how long is he planning on keeping her here?
Gemma soon realizes that Ty is not the guy she thought he was. Ty actually first met Gemma when she was 10. He loves Gemma, he wants her, and only her, forever. Gemma has a hard time dealing with this. It takes her a long time to understand and trust Ty. She wants her freedom, she wants to leave, and many times- she tries to escape.
The desert is a beautiful but scary place, trying to escape this secluded place can be more dangerous than staying. Its very hot during the day, and very cold in the evening. But Gemma is strong. She is determined, and I loved her for that. But eventually, Ty started to wear her down. She saw that Ty wasn't a monster. He was just a lonely guy with some issues who truly did love her. He also does something not many kidnappers would ever do... (view spoiler)[Because he loves her and wants her to be happy, he gives her a promise. Stay with him for 4 more months, and he will let her go if she really wants to. Deep down, I believe if they would have made it to the 4 month mark, and she still would have wanted to go- he would have let her. No matter how much he loved her and wanted her to stay. (hide spoiler)]And she started to have feelings for him as well, towards the end.
And you expected me to love you. And that's the hardest bit. Because I did, or at least, I loved something out there.
I'm going to just put it out there that I LOVE TY! Yes, I know he is a kidnapper, but he is not a bad guy. Ty's history/background made him the person he is. I sympathized with him. He is sweet, kind, beautiful, and its really hard not to like him- in his head everything he did was for Gemma, because he loves her. You can't fault him for that. My favorite reason TY IS AMAZING (view spoiler)[At the end, he chose to SAVE GEMMA and stayed with her when he could have just left her at the clinic and got away. She wanted him to stay, so he did. BECAUSE HE LOVED HER. He risked his life, going to prison, all of it- just to be by her side. (hide spoiler)] Amazing.
But I hated you too. I can't forget that
Right around the time Gemma realizes she has some kind of feelings for Ty, something bad happens (view spoiler)[She gets bit by a poisonous snake and Ty has to take her for help. (hide spoiler)]
The ending... oh boy that ending. I just didn't want it to end there. I NEED MORE!!! Yes I was crying, crying like a little baby... (view spoiler)[ After the kiss Gemma and Ty shared, I really had hope she would try to get him out of this, but the ending didn't show that happening. :( (hide spoiler)]
All I could think about was you. I wanted you in the apartment. I wanted your arms around me, your face close to mine. I wanted your smell. And I knew I couldn't - shouldn't - have it. That's what I hated most. The uncertainty of you. You'd kidnapped me, put my life in danger . . . but I loved you, too.
I don't even know how to conclude this review... Honestly, I probably should have waited a few days to write this one because my head is all over the place and I am so full of emotion, but I just wanted to put it out there. I loved this book, I loved Ty, and I want a sequel. If you haven't read this one, you should. It is unlike any other kidnapping/captured book I have ever read. It's one of those I know will stay with me. I also thought the way it was written was interesting, all from Gemma's pov as a letter to Ty. A 5 star book for me I would HIGHLY recommend!
"How long will you keep me?" I asked.
You shrugged. "Forever, of course."
ATTENTION PLEASE!!!
This book is FANTASTIC.
WHY? because it's UNIQUE, and it's not usual KIDNAPPING STORY. It's something else entirely, and it's WORTHY OF YOUR TIME.
Stolen is also quite REALISTIC, CREEPY and EXCELLENT STORY.
And, the one thing that made me love it is THE UNIQUE WAY OF WRITING. This is a letter... a LETTER TO HER CAPTOR - LITERALLY. And it's ENDING was what i loved the
Final rating: 5/5 stars"How long will you keep me?" I asked.
You shrugged. "Forever, of course."
ATTENTION PLEASE!!!
This book is FANTASTIC.
WHY? because it's UNIQUE, and it's not usual KIDNAPPING STORY. It's something else entirely, and it's WORTHY OF YOUR TIME.
Stolen is also quite REALISTIC, CREEPY and EXCELLENT STORY.
And, the one thing that made me love it is THE UNIQUE WAY OF WRITING. This is a letter... a LETTER TO HER CAPTOR - LITERALLY. And it's ENDING was what i loved the most. This story also has *serious spoiler* (view spoiler)[ no HEA which is why it's so realistic.... (hide spoiler)].
The characters were fabulous and you understand both Ty and Gemma completely and utterly. The less you know of story, the better, which is why i won't write any synopsis for it :)
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CHARACTERS :
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♦ Gemma :
"It was like I existed in a kind of parallel universe, thinking thoughts and feelings that no one else understood."
Gemma..sweet Gemma... Gemma who made a mistake... She is the type of the girl which is persistent, not a quitter and still hopeful... I have to applaud her for being one of the strongest heroines ever, even when she herself never felt that way. She was full of courage and she never stopped fighting... She was scared, and i was scared with her.
♦ Ty :
"People love what they're used to, I guess."
"No." You shook your head. "People should love what needs loving. That way they can save it."
I hated him in the beginning, to me he was just too insane... until i understood him, just like Gemma. I cannot even begin to describe how i felt about him... And even when i learned of his past...his actions still weren't right...and i cannot forgive him for that. Which leads to simple fact that he never understood right from wrong...
And it made it easier for him to plan all of this (and it took (view spoiler)[ 6 years...Were were talking about his sanity right? (hide spoiler)]).
But, i have to say that in the end, i did like him, because of one thing: He never made her do something against her will, except to stay with him.
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OVERALL :
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I just loved it. And i will love it always, because its the most unique story i have read for a while, and there were so many feelings involved which is why this story deserves no less than five stars.
I highly recommend it!!!!
"I mean, that star over there is blinking at me madly now, but for how long? An hour or two, or for the next million years? And how long will we sit here like this? Just another moment, or the rest of our lives? You know which one I'd prefer..."
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
So as you can read from the blurb, this book is written
You saw me before I saw you. In the airport, that day in August, you had that look in your eyes, as though you wanted something from me, as though you'd wanted it for a long time. No one had ever looked at me like that before, with that kind of intensity. It unsettled me, surprised me, I guess. Those blue, blue eyes, icy blue, looking back at me as if I could warm them up. They're pretty powerful, you know, those eyes, pretty beautiful too.
So as you can read from the blurb, this book is written like a letter from Gemma to her captor. It mostly just tells the whole story.
This book brought out quite a few feels from me. Here is this hot guy that steals Gemma away from the airport and her family. NOT GOOD!
Here is a hot guy that takes her to Australia.
Here is a hot guy that DOESN'T rape her.
Here is a hot guy with a lot of issues from LIFE.
Here is a hot guy that has been watching Gemma for many years.
Here is the same hot guy that saved Gemma from being raped, but she didn't know it until he took her.
"How long have you been planning it?"
You shrugged. "Awhile, two or three years. But I'd been watching you for longer than that."
"How long?"
"About six years."
"Since I was ten? You've been watching me since then?"
You nodded. "On and off."
"I don't believe you," I said. But something inside me was telling me to think about it. There was something there, at the back of my mind that, if I thought about it a little more, might make sense of all this.
Over time, Ty tells Gemma about when they first met and how and it was really sad and sweet. I don't want to tell you about that. Ty also tells Gemma when he decided he wanted her in his life forever. Of course taking her against her will and making her live with him isn't the right way to go!
Ty was crazy, so many of us are and he had some weird ways, but those ways were just who he was, how he expressed himself. Now I'm just talking about Ty the person, not the guy that stole a girl to live and love forever. He was expressive in beautiful ways, he could see the good in nature and little things, he was always kind to Gemma even when she was trying to run away or when she would attack him. He just wanted to live alone on his land with her and try to have a life together. He was making things up really well considering. I mean living off the grid and all.
He just needed to get his head on right and maybe over the years tried to have talked to her and not steal her away. Oh well, then we would have a different book.
Ty asked Gemma if she would just stay there for 6 months and see how she felt after that. Gemma said she would for four months. He would then let her go if she didn't love where they lived and didn't want to stay there. But then something stupid happens and he has to get her to a hospital. And that was it. That is the one thing that irritated me about the book. I wanted to see what all would happen in the four months. But Ty risked being taken to jail in order to save Gemma's life and at the end there, Gemma started to like Ty when she started to just listen to him and they talked.
No matter what would have happened, there would always be that thought. . . well I have fallen in love with you now, but you stole me you arse! How would you even work with that? I guess the one good thing is that she got stolen by a nice guy and not someone who raped and tortured her to death!
And in the end, it doesn't really matter what I think or what you think. We just love books and we don't all love or understand the same books! And I could care less as long as we are all happy with something!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
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♥ 5 CAPTIVATINGLY BEAUTIFUL STARS. ♥
"You saw me before I saw you..."
Where to even begin with a review on a story like this...
Let me start off by saying that this was not an easy story to read. From the moment I started reading it, I felt like there were dark clouds looming over me and something bad was going to happen any minute. And I pretty much felt that way throughout the entire book, which explains exactly why I was so hesitant to start it at first. But in the end, I'm really gl
♥ 5 CAPTIVATINGLY BEAUTIFUL STARS. ♥
"You saw me before I saw you..."
Where to even begin with a review on a story like this...
Let me start off by saying that this was not an easy story to read. From the moment I started reading it, I felt like there were dark clouds looming over me and something bad was going to happen any minute. And I pretty much felt that way throughout the entire book, which explains exactly why I was so hesitant to start it at first. But in the end, I'm really glad I finally did give this fascinating story a try because I ended up loving it and I've definitely found myself a new author to put on my favorite authors list.
Stolen is written as a letter from the kidnapped young girl, Gemma, to the man who took her from her family and the life she knew, Ty. The way the author has written it, the story seems much more realistic than many other captivity stories I've read so far.
When sixteen year old is on vacation with her parents, she meets the charming and trustworthy looking twenty-five year old Ty in a coffee shop at Bangkok Airport.
"It's funny, but I always thought I could trust blue eyes. I thought they were safe somehow. All the good guys have baby blues. The dark eyes are for the villains...the Grim Reaper, the Joker, zombies. All dark."
But not Ty...his eyes were the perfect blue, the kind of blue that sucks you in and pulls you under its spell before you realize it's too late.
♢ He makes her trust him.
♢ He deceives her.
♢ He steals her.
♢ And he takes her.
♢ Far, far away.
He takes her to the Sandy desert in Australia.
A place so isolated, so devoid of any human existence that there's no way for Gemma to reach to anyone for help...
Gemma is not an easy victime. She's a strong, admirable heroine and she tries to fight Ty every chance she's got. (view spoiler)[At times, I even thought she was a bit too harsh towards him, but then I of course remembered what he did in the first place... (hide spoiler)] Although, Gemma hates her new living conditions at first, she does start to appreciate the wonders of nature a bit more every day. She even starts to get attached to tha camel Ty has caught and decided to keep around as a mode of transportation.
And Gemma certainly hates her captor too. She makes it perfectly clear to him too. But along the way she also starts to understand where he's coming from more and more...
"You were stupid and evil and mentally ill. That was all. When you started talking, you started changing."
When Ty begins to open up to Gemma about his past, she starts to see him in a different light. He becomes more than just her kidnapper. Becomes of everything they go through together, she starts to get attached to him in a way too, but I wouldn't call it Stockholm Syndrom exactly. I think it's normal for anyone to start to form a connection to the person you're in such close proximity with for such a long time and who essentially treats you with kindness and respect most of the time too.
"That's what I hated most. The uncertainty of you. You kidnapped me, put my life in danger...but I loved you too. Or thought I did. None of it made sense."
This is not only a story about kidnapping or dispair or being forced to live in the harsh surroundings of the Australian desert. It is also a story about hope, love and forgiveness. It's a story about being forced to readapt, to start over a whole new life a,D being able to make it work out for the best. It's also a story about the power of nature and of finding beauty in living of the land that nature gave us, with not much luxury to accompany it.
Although the story ends with sort of an open ending, it still made me really *really* sad in a way. (view spoiler)[I just couldn't help but feel sorry for Ty. What he did was terribly wrong and there's no excuse for the way he handled things. But I do think it's sad that someone like him, who wanted nothing more than to be one with nature, was reduced to spending his days in a small cell. The fact that he gave up on his dream to live out in the wild in order to accompany Gemma to the hospital show just how much he really did love her and was prepared to give up his freedom for her. That makes his actions a bit more redeemable, in my opinion. And I really hoped the judge would give him a punishment accordingly, instead of looking him up in a windowless room. (hide spoiler)] I would have loved for there to be a sequel or maybe a short novella about (view spoiler)[how the process would have ended (hide spoiler)], but like I said, I'm more than okay with it being an open ending as well.
All I have left to say is that this story will, with absolute certainty, stay with me for a very long time. Even now, days after finishing it, I still often think about it. Stolen is a unique novel with a very powerful message that I would highly recommend everyone to read and hopefully end up loving just as much as I did!
Okay, in all seriousness, if anyone wants a test for how much "crazy" they have, this book is it. All you have to do is find a piece of paper and something to write with and start making strike marks for every scene in which Gemma should attempt to KILL Ty. I think I got up to 27 or so, with each murder bec
This book. I read it. And it gave me feels. Sometimes the narrative. Drove me crazy. Sometimes The Ty. Drove me crazy. Sometimes The Gemma. Drove me crazy. Sometimes The Camel. Made me laugh.Okay, in all seriousness, if anyone wants a test for how much "crazy" they have, this book is it. All you have to do is find a piece of paper and something to write with and start making strike marks for every scene in which Gemma should attempt to KILL Ty. I think I got up to 27 or so, with each murder becoming more devious and creative than the last. Concerning, I know. I'm thinking about seeking professional help.
Speaking of the man Gemma should have MURDERED, he remained a creepy, unstable bastard for me from the first page to the last. Every time I found myself starting to think that being trapped in the middle of nowhere with a rugged Aussie that, for the most part, fell somewhere in the tolerable side of the crazy/hot scale didn't sound so bad, he'd do something truly disturbing like admit that the first time he felt attracted to her was when she had a near miss with sexual assault. Or admit that she looks like his mom.
Christian? Is that you??? NOT AGAIN!
I had a lot of issues with Gemma too but they really weren't her fault. She was your average city dwelling teenage girl with ZERO survival skills. She convinces herself that writing HELP in the desert sand won't do any good, doesn't think that the steel of the knife she hides is greater than the muscle of Ty and deludes herself when he starts telling her how long he's been watching her. Why? He's obviously batshit cray-cray, HE KIDNAPPED YOU! Let the man tell you about how fucked up he is so you won't feel so bad when you finally cave to my demands and MURDER HIM.
Also, her attempted escapes were laughable. You have all this free time and you can't come up with anything better than running into an endless desert with no supplies or stealing a car?
Here's a thought, your captor admitted to having enough food stockpiled to last YEARS. Choose one of the 27 ways I suggested for you to kill him, KILL HIM, find the keys to the car, the spare gas, food and water and drive your ass out of the desert. Or just KILL HIM and chillax for a bit. Either way…KILL HIM.
Regardless of my personal level of crazy, I was captivated by this book. I found myself constantly wondering how it would all play out, how it would end. And as much as I wanted to see that ending I wish it hadn't come so soon. I wish the "Stockholm Syndrome" went further than it did. I feel that it really could have been explored to a greater depth. So in the end…meh. Not as good as I thought it would be but still an intriguing enough premise to warrant two stars.
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But before I tell you how I really felt, excuse me a moment, while I self-reflect...
Felt an emotional pull toward the captor? Check.
Believed that he deserved some semblance of happiness because of his past? Check.
Recognized moments where the captor s
But before I tell you how I really felt, excuse me a moment, while I self-reflect...
Felt an emotional pull toward the captor? Check.
Believed that he deserved some semblance of happiness because of his past? Check.
Recognized moments where the captor showed love and deep emotion toward the victim? Check.
Justified the captor's actions because he provided a safe haven for the victim and wanted him to have a HEA? Check.
Well sweet painful HALE I think I'm a prime candidate for Stockholm Syndrome. Gah!
Stolen brought to the surface justifications I never thought I'd consider and deep feelings for Ty despite his heinous act toward Gemma. What a crafty author to be able to tamper with my moral compass without my awareness and create a story and situation where I wanted the captor to get an ending he really didn't deserve.
In Stolen Gemma is kidnapped from her family in Bangkok Airport and taken to the Australian Outback by Ty, an emotionally disturbed young man. She fights despite futile efforts to get away, but after a series of close calls, she finds herself in a situation where she starts to see Ty through a different lens, one that includes sympathy, resolve, hidden beauty and love.
For me, I think my defenses toward Ty fell apart when he rescued Gemma from one of her escapes where she almost died in the desert. I started to wonder if there was some way these two could come to build a life together. Part of me carried some hope and the other part cringed. So much happened in this book and I think I internalized a ton of the emotion because I feel like I've been walking around in a daze since I started this story.
After all was said and done, I think the author ended the story appropriately (yes, there I go again with that word, but I think it fits here) because as much as I wanted Gemma to help free Ty and give him a second chance, I realized that sometimes you must pay the price for your crime before you get your reprieve.
This was definitely an angsty book that created conflicting emotions for me. Intense!!
Lastly… I hope someone went back to the shack and fed the chickens. I also worried about the camel. I hope she was able to find her herd. I know… I know.. I focus on the irrelevant details, but that's just me.
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This book has made my list of all-time favorite books!
The premise is so unlike any book that I've ever read and so original in its format: a letter written to the kidnapper by the 16 year old girl who was kidnapped.
The main character, Gemma, is a strong and capable girl who actually makes smart decisions after being kidnapped by Ty. This is so refreshing because, although she is terrified after being kidnapped by a man who My review and discussion is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgLru...
This book has made my list of all-time favorite books!
The premise is so unlike any book that I've ever read and so original in its format: a letter written to the kidnapper by the 16 year old girl who was kidnapped.
The main character, Gemma, is a strong and capable girl who actually makes smart decisions after being kidnapped by Ty. This is so refreshing because, although she is terrified after being kidnapped by a man who has been stalking her for six years, she still tries to survive.
I also loved how Stockholm syndrome came into play. Everyone, including the reader, believes that Gemma is suffering from this syndrome and that is what is causing her to sympathize and later fall in love with Ty. However, I still questioned whether there was a part of Gemma that actually had fallen for him. ...more
I do want to say, however, that Stolen was not what I expected. When I went into it, I was almost expecting an eventual romance, but there is none and I'm glad there isn't. Stolen is a novel of abduction, but it is also a novel of hope and faith and beauty. I only really fell in love with Stolen seven pages from the
I literally just put down Stolen and my brain...it can't think. I just need to let this book sit and saturate into me, every part of me because it can and it will and I will let it.I do want to say, however, that Stolen was not what I expected. When I went into it, I was almost expecting an eventual romance, but there is none and I'm glad there isn't. Stolen is a novel of abduction, but it is also a novel of hope and faith and beauty. I only really fell in love with Stolen seven pages from the end; until then, I was on the fence. I think, more than anything, I was confused while reading this, which is what you're supposed to feel... You see, this book is such a mind-fuck (excuse my language, but there is really no other better way to put it) because on one hand, you despise Ty for stealing Gemma, for taking her away from her home, for stalking her for so many years, for making her life miserable; but, at the same time, I despised Gemma whenever she destroyed Ty's art, when she hurt him with her words, when she mocked him and his love for his desert, when she failed to even try to understand him the way he so obviously understood her...
Stolen isn't a romance and for 90% of the novel, Gemma is constantly trying to run away from Ty, to escape her predicament. Yet, somewhere, she realizes that some of what Ty says is true; society is terrible and cruel and parents really don't understand their children and sometimes even friends don't and terrible things do happen. But, that gene that tells you in your brain that you have to accept the bad things and move on, that you can't save everyone, that maybe even you can't save yourself...it wasn't in Ty. Yes, Ty steals Gemma, but he steals her because he thinks he's doing the right thing. Unknowingly, Gemma saves him as a child and he wants to return the favor. It's so mind-boggling because Ty isn't a bad person; he's nice to Gemma, he never harms her or takes advantage of her in any way, he clothes her and feeds her and shows her the beauty of the desert; but he's wrong in his own right, too.
"I can't save you like that Ty.
What you did to me wasn't this brilliant thing, like you think it was. You took me away from everything - my parents, my friends, my life. You took me to the sand and the heat, the dirt and isolation. And you expected me to love you. And that's the hardest bit. Because I did, or at least, I loved something out there.
But I hated you too. I can't forget that."
Stolen, I felt, was a social commentary of sorts. It's difficult to understand and comprehend properly and it's painful because of that, because of the confusion we feel and the sudden desperation as we want to escape to a desert, see the sunset, and live alone, but happy, without the burdens of society and expectations of our parents and disappointments of our friends. In life, however, there are always two paths: the right one and the wrong one. From my experience, the wrong one is always the easiest, but leads to eventual downfall, just as the right one is full of hurdles, but ultimately leads to happiness. In Stolen, however, all the lines are blurred; just the way I like it in a truly fantastic novel.
I will warn you, reading this novel is a strange experience. I felt uncomfortable, not knowing where the plot was leading, not knowing what I wanted to happen, but I feel better now that it's over. In some ways, I feel like this novel is better for a re-read than anything else, an opportunity to understand what really happened and where Gemma started to feel something more than hatred for Ty. One of the things that did surprise me, however, was how un-original Ty's story wound up being. Now, I won't say that it isn't terrible and cruel and painful, but the path that Ty took seems so much more strange than most people in his situation. I think, however, that to become a stalker like Ty, to become obsessed with a person, to think that you're saving them...you don't need to go through a unique traumatic experience for that. Anything, even something as small as six-year-old Gemma talking to him, a stranger, can alter the mind in such a way; after all, who are we to know the depths and recesses of our brains and how events can affect you?
"It sounded weird to hear you talk so much; normally you only said a few words at a time. I'd never imagined that you'd have a story, too. Until that moment, you were just the kidnapper. You didn't have reasons for anything. You were stupid and evil and mentally ill. That was all. When you started talking, you started changing."
As for me, I don't know what to think. Yes, I do think Gemma suffered from a form of Stockholm Syndrome, I do think she makes the right decision, I do think Ty is slightly insane, I do think he is a good person, I do think his axis in life is just a little off...but I don't see Ty as a monster and neither do I see Gemma as a tortured abduction victim. If anything, there is too much of a silver lining to this tale. It's sad and depressing and unhappy, but it's also right and true and beautiful.
"And, let's face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life, too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful, I can never get it out of my mind. And I can't get you out of there, either. You're stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels."
Lucy Christopher, I will read anything you write. Anything. Especially if it's a sequel to Stolen that I hope you will eventually write onto paper instead of keeping locked up in your head. I do have to admit, however, that the ending to this is perfect and it doesn't need a sequel at all. I wouldn't mind if a sequel was written, but I don't need one either. Just this gem of a novel is enough...
I realize this is long, but it's also not much of a review, for which I apologize. It doesn't even begin to touch upon the complexity of Ty's character; his passion for the stark Australian desert, his talent with animals, his love of art, his intelligence and resourcefulness... It barely even grazes the vastness of the backdrop this book is set against, a landscape so harsh, yet lovely, that it was a deeply enigmatic character in its own right. But, all this isn't something I can just write about or explain or even begin to understand; it's something you just have to experience on your own.
Without a doubt, I am in love with this book. It is thoughtful, compelling, and mind-numbingly provocative. It is written in a beautiful and creeping manner, molding its way around your heart all while growing thorns. Best of all, however, it makes you think and question your own life and long for something inexplicable...and, really, isn't that the most we can ask of a book? For it to impart some of itself in us, for it to make us see an author's passion, and for it to make us attempt to define that which is undefinable?
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
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Well, I'll be damned.
(If only this were more realistic thriller than unrealistic romance.)
Did I...did I just experience secondhand Stockholm Syndrome through a book?Well, I'll be damned.
(If only this were more realistic thriller than unrealistic romance.)
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This was surprisingly boring.
I liked the idea of this book, but the execution was not my favorite. It felt pretty generic and nothing really special. It had some action, but it still didn't help it to be more interesting.
The main character and her capture weren't that interesting to read about, development didn't make them unique or captivating.
This wasn't bad, but defiantly not memorable.
★★ /5This was surprisingly boring.
I liked the idea of this book, but the execution was not my favorite. It felt pretty generic and nothing really special. It had some action, but it still didn't help it to be more interesting.
The main character and her capture weren't that interesting to read about, development didn't make them unique or captivating.
This wasn't bad, but defiantly not memorable.
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This book was just WOW!I fell in love with the characters but mostly with the writing style.To be more specific , this book is written like a letter,a letter to her captor, which means that she is refering to him.This is very beautiful because the reader takes part in the story and the book is alive.
Gemma never thought that a friendly stranger could harm her.The story begins when she is in a coffee shop at the airport.There she spots a familiar face b
You saw me before I saw you.[image error]
This book was just WOW!I fell in love with the characters but mostly with the writing style.To be more specific , this book is written like a letter,a letter to her captor, which means that she is refering to him.This is very beautiful because the reader takes part in the story and the book is alive.
Gemma never thought that a friendly stranger could harm her.The story begins when she is in a coffee shop at the airport.There she spots a familiar face but she cant remember whether she has seen him again or not.This beautiful blond guy with those mesmerizing eyes approaches her.He is gentle and he buys her a coffee.However things didnt turn in her favor.Obviously Ty had other plans , for both of them.
The one moment she is speaking to him , the next she wakes up in a deserted place.
She completely freaks out with what happened.She cant help but wondering if this guy will kill her,rape her or gods knows what.However,Ty is not that guy.He didnt bring her with him to torture her but because (view spoiler)[he loves her (hide spoiler)] and he needs company.Living in the middle of nowhere can be a little lonely sometimes.
"How long will you keep me?" I asked.
You shrugged. "Forever, of course."
No matter what Ty does for her , she only thinks of ways to escape but she always ends up hurting herself.
"Wherever I went, you'd only catch me.
I couldnt get away."
She is trapped and she feels dead.That place is not alive but Ty tries to make her see the beauty of his world and the beauty of nature.
Their relationship is not easy as she cant stop thinking whether she should kill him or wait for him to kill her.It doesnt take her long though to understand that he has no intention to harm her and they start getting closer.
Dont judge me but I think that he was sick.He didnt harm her or treated her bad but his perfectly organised capture didnt take him a few months.(view spoiler)[Hell, he was setting this up for 6 years!! (hide spoiler)]This kind of behaviour is not
sane.In this story Gemma after her pointless efforts of trying to escape she finally accepts what they both agreed to.She starts understanding him and enjoys,as much as she can, the life with him .
They say that you shouldnt plan your life bacause you never know what will happen.
Gemma's life changed a lot when Ty came.When I was reading this book I couldnt stop thinking that he would eventually (view spoiler)[hurt her (hide spoiler)] but I started trusting him , like Gem did.Ty is crazy and most of the times he doesnt make sense.He is fucked up and he needs someone to comfort him and ease his pain.Imagine how beautiful it would have been if he hadnt kidnapped her and they had met like a couple?He was deprived many things from life but the most important was love and that was what he was seeking.
The ending was (view spoiler)[so heart breaking (hide spoiler)].It was the right thing but still in this book it didnt feel right at all.
"And it's hard to hate someone once you understand them."
Was she suffering from the stockholm syndrome?
Was that real love?
I guess we will never know...
"Lets face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful, I can never get it out of my mind. And I can't get you out of there either. You're stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels."
"It happened like this.
I was stolen from an airport.
Taken from everything I knew,
everything I was used to.
Taken to sand and heat, dirt
and danger. And he expected
me to love him. This is my story.
A letter from nowhere."
I must confess, I'm still in the middle of the book and I'm already at the verge of giving up. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor annoys me so much.
At first I thought I'd like this story, because I'm deeply interested with Stockholm Syndrome and the conflicts between kidnapped victim and the kidnapper...and not to mention I had also tried my hand on writing yaoi fanfic with similar themes. But so far the author had failed to get the job done. If Ms. Lucy Christopher didn't redeem her creat
Pre-review:I must confess, I'm still in the middle of the book and I'm already at the verge of giving up. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor annoys me so much.
At first I thought I'd like this story, because I'm deeply interested with Stockholm Syndrome and the conflicts between kidnapped victim and the kidnapper...and not to mention I had also tried my hand on writing yaoi fanfic with similar themes. But so far the author had failed to get the job done. If Ms. Lucy Christopher didn't redeem her creation before the ending, I would write an Angry Letter to both
If you are looking for some worthy drama between kidnapper and his captive, I suggest you to read The Collector instead.
And here's my reaction to Tyler MacFarlane
Need I say more?
When the review arrives, please be prepared for a lot of cursing and swearing. I can't help myself, I am too angry to settle for using half-heartened curses such as "freaking" and the like this time.
And you know what? I had dealt with YA creepers such as Edward Cullen and YA douchebags such as Jace Lightwood/Wayland/whatever before, but none of them had ever driven me so mad...
the actual review: penned after I'd finished the book
Rating: 2.5 stars for this book.
Let me tell you once more that at the beginning, I had expected myself to like this book, the writing is quite good even though I have my doubt about the subject matter: "What? That dude kidnaps this girl and he expects her to love him? And it's supposed to be a Young Adult book?!"
To be honest, the plot of Stolen sounds more like those online erotica which I can easily found on many different NC-17 websites.
So, how does the story actually turn out?
In fact this is a difficult book to rant,I like the opening of the story, and Gemma, the kidnapped victim's struggle to grip onto her sanity and how she made her final decision. I also like the author's description of wildness of the Australian Outback. These are the bright-spots of the book. Plus I appreciate the author for NOT sugarcoating Ty, the kidnapper into some dreamboat or attractive bad boy, in fact she had made it quite clear that what the kidnapper did was wrong.
However, I'm pissed off that in the middle of the story, the author had made a handful of clumsy attempts to draw readers' sympathy to Ty by giving him one big fat sorry-ass backstory. I'M VERY SORRY, BUT YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY KIDNAPPING AND STALKING WITH A BAD, FUCKED UP CHILDHOOD,PERIOD. I REFUSE TO BUY THIS GUILT TRAP, MS. CHRISTOPHER!
I'm equally pissed off by how unrealistic many of the details and setting are in the book. The author, Ms. Christopher had made Gemma's kidnapping in Bangkok airport and she being spirited away to the Australian Outback sound ways too easy. Plus I can't believe Ty, an orphan who had been fending for himself ever since he was 19 years old could somehow manage to buy a farmhouse and stored whatever food and supplies he needed in it. Not only buying the farm, Ty, a homeless teenager, somehow also managed to afford staying in British for years and stalking Gemma in his spare time, AND he also managed to afford buying plane tickets, fake ID, fake passport and a truck for his kidnapping plan. Wow, none of these seem to be realistic to me.
Gemma and Ty's characters also do nothing to redeem this story for me. Although I appreciate Gemma for not giving up and actually fighting back, still from start to end I don't have a grip on her personality and for many times she comes off as a bit of a whinny. She seems to be unhappy with her life, her parents and friends but she never clearly explains what her problem with them is, SO WHAT IS SHE COMPLAINING ABOUT ANYWAY!?
On the other hand, Ty makes me so mad that I want to knock his skull in while screaming "DIE! FUCKER, DIE!" for being such a totally selfish and creepy kidnapper. WHO ARE YOU? WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO KIDNAP A GIRL SO YOU CAN *SAVE* HER FROM HER FAKE, PATHETIC LIFE!!!???? I don't care if a kidnapper cried in his sleep, I don't care whether he is emotionally vulnerable or not, I only care about him lying to a girl and telling her that her parents are selfish and don't love her enough to come looking for her; I only care about him being arrogant enough to think he can steal a girl and CHANGE her for the better. And because he is such an irredeemable fucker, I find it unacceptable for Gemma to moon over Ty, his well built body and the supposed "wonders" he had showed her. She really disgusted me at this point.
I also can't stand Ty's cornering Gemma by surrounding the farm with chicken's fences like he is trapping some animal. Goodness, this fucker makes me sick. Therefore you can imagine how much shock I was in when I saw on discussion board that some readers actually blame Gemma for being "heartless" toward Ty. OMG! WHAT ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE ARE YOU FOLKS LIVING IN!?
Aside from Ty's unacceptable behaviors, I also don't think Ty's character is well built, and as a kidnapper he isn't even realistic. It looks like the author couldn't decide what to do with him, therefore sometime he becomes this lonely lost boy who only wants Gemma's company, sometime the author seems to want us to feel bad for Ty even though his actions (lying to Gemma about her parents, stalking her, forcing her to do things she doesn't want to, etc) show that he clearly has the making of a cold blooded criminal. Damn, that's so messed up.
Last but not least, Stolen is supposed to be a long letter written by Gemma to Ty, but this "letter format" writing doesn't work. Gemma's voice sounds too cool, level-headed and distant, which doesn't look convening given how much the girl had gone through.
Once again, I suggest you to read The Collector instead. It's a much worthy read.
PSS: A wonderful article by a fellow Goodreads friend: http://openmindedskeptic.blogspot.hk/...
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Gemma had been traveling with her parents when they had a stop in the Bangkok Airport. Of course as with most sixteen ye
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher is a young adult contemporary novel. This one is, as the subtitle alludes to, written in the form of one long letter. Sixteen year old Gemma is basically telling her entire kidnapping experience afterwards and as one might guess the story is one that deals with Stockholm Syndrome, or the development of feelings for one's captor.Gemma had been traveling with her parents when they had a stop in the Bangkok Airport. Of course as with most sixteen year olds Gemma wanted a few minutes off on her own so she asks to go get a coffee, what could possibly happen right? Well, as Gemma is in line for the coffee Ty makes his move and the older "cute" guy of course catches her attention. This leads to Gemma being drugged and smuggled out of Bangkok to a remote area in Australia.
As dark as the subject matter of a young girl being drugged and kidnapped may be the story in here is actually a rather clean one, no worries about steamy content. Of course we start off with a scared and determined to get away Gemma but as it goes on her feelings change. This was actually quite compelling to read and even as a reader I began to feel sorry for Ty making Gemma's feelings all the more realistic. I wouldn't call this a romance though, it's still very much what it was in someone being held hostage but it's a good fictional look at how Stockholm Syndrome could come about.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
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Stolen is one huge emotional rollercoaster ride. It had my stomach all tied up in knots and made my heart ache but it was AMAZING. Truly, a stunning and thought provoking read.
Lucy Christopher is a brilliant writer.
Favourite Quote: "Lets face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful, I can never get it out of my mind. And I can't get you out of there either. You're stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels."Stolen is one huge emotional rollercoaster ride. It had my stomach all tied up in knots and made my heart ache but it was AMAZING. Truly, a stunning and thought provoking read.
Lucy Christopher is a brilliant writer. She really get you thinking about what is right and wrong and the place in between. The plot was intense and captivating just like the characters. Stolen is a story that you get emotionally invested in. And the way Christopher vividly describes how stunningly gorgeous the land really is and how deadly it can be, makes it feel like it is another important character in this tale.
When I think of Gemma the first word that comes to mind is brave. To be put in that situation at 16 I don't know if I could have handled it with as much strength as she did. She never gave up hope for escape even when her feelings towards Ty began to change.
Ty, wow, what a damaged yet frighteningly beautiful soul. Even though it is written from Gemma's POV, I felt we got Ty story as well. He is a character that haunts your thoughts. I was so confused about how I felt about him. I know what he did was wrong and I should be disgusted by him but I liked him. You could see why he thought what he did was right in his head. Just thinking about him breaks my heart.
The ending it made me cry like a baby and it hurt. I know some people will disagree with me but I really wish it could have ended another way. Yet I see that it would have been impossible.
Stolen, is an unforgettable and breathtaking story that I highly recommend. Just make sure you are ready for a few tears.
Bookers Challenge #3 - thanks to Stefanie
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I hate deserts. I winced when Christopher described about the heat and the rawness of the desert. Why are we even talking about deserts?
Why?
Because in reality it's actually beautiful. It shows the vastness of the world, the rawness, the emptiness and the loneliness.
I read this short story called the Tears of the Desert by Paulo Coelho. It's a story about this man who listens everyday to the sobbing of the desert and a missionary
I hate deserts. I winced when Christopher described about the heat and the rawness of the desert. Why are we even talking about deserts?
Why?
Because in reality it's actually beautiful. It shows the vastness of the world, the rawness, the emptiness and the loneliness.
I read this short story called the Tears of the Desert by Paulo Coelho. It's a story about this man who listens everyday to the sobbing of the desert and a missionary who confronts the man about its sobbing. The man said that the desert cries everyday because it dreams of being useful to people and the missionary replies:
"Well, tell the desert that even though we human beings have a much shorter lifespan, we also spend much of our time thinking we are useless. We rarely discover our true destiny, and feel that God has been unjust to us. When the moment finally comes, and something happens that reveals to us the reason we were born, we think it's too late to change our life and continue to suffer, and, like the desert, blame ourselves for the time we have wasted."
And the next day, the place where the man used to sit and listen to the sobbing of the desert seemed wet because a small spring started bubbling there. Soon the inhabitants built a well there and called the place 'The tears of the Desert'
I know this is completely irrelevant to the review but this story floated into my mind while I was reading Stolen.
Christopher has beautifully described the desert. A very difficult topic to describe because many of us do not understand the beauty of the desert.
You saw me before I saw you.
Gemma is our lovely lead who writes a letter to Ty, her kidnapper. A moving letter about how she was kidnapped by him and her life in the desert with him.
I would have honestly cried if I was in Ty's place if the letter was addressed to me.
Ty, her kidnapper was lovely too. I cannot dislike him because he kidnapped her. Wait - I cannot say 'I cannot dislike him' because I don't know how I feel about him. I like him, I love him and yet I still dislike him.
He is a baffling specimen who is truly lonely at heart and is in a desperate need of company. I believe he wanted to be accepted by Gemma, he had known her for a long time. And unfortunately he found that to be accepted by the girl he likes - the only way is, is to kidnap her. How sad. How I wish he didn't do that and went out with her instead; like a normal boy would.
But then, if this had happened the desert wouldn't be a part of this story, would it? The beauty of it shall ever be baffling and confusing to everyone who haven't been in a desert before.
Stolen moved me, it blew me and in the end it killed me. Whenever I think about this book there is this slight pull of my heartstrings. It is not heartbreaking, I honestly don't know. It's not tragic romance. I don't know what this book conveyed but it surely did change my perspectives of various things.
A beautifully written novel. I still cannot imagine how Christopher managed to write so beautifully about deserts and abduction.
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The proud Aussie chick inside me was majorly pissed off with this book.
An English friend of mine (who thinks he's fecking hilarious BTW) recently developed his own slogan for Australian tourism:
"Snakes. Spiders. Jellyfish. Weather.
Australia - countless ways to get assfucked by nature"
- D. Crowley
So you see, we're having a hard enough time AS IT IS to entice the world to visit us without Lucy Christopher raining on our awesome parade.
Further thoughts on the actual story to follow shortly...
The proud Aussie chick inside me was majorly pissed off with this book.
An English friend of mine (who thinks he's fecking hilarious BTW) recently developed his own slogan for Australian tourism:
"Snakes. Spiders. Jellyfish. Weather.
Australia - countless ways to get assfucked by nature"
- D. Crowley
So you see, we're having a hard enough time AS IT IS to entice the world to visit us without Lucy Christopher raining on our awesome parade.
Further thoughts on the actual story to follow shortly...
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I fell in love with Ty, the kidnapper. He was so kind, considerate and almost harmless really (Hello, Stockholm!). He'd saved Gemma's life so many times and eventually sacrificed his freedom for her. How can anyone not love him a little for that?
I understood his motivations. He was lonely and had been badly tre
Beautiful. Evil, but beautiful. Evil because I now have Stockholm Syndrome. Beautiful because I didn't realise it was happening, the writing was so subtle yet engrossing and real. Gritty.I fell in love with Ty, the kidnapper. He was so kind, considerate and almost harmless really (Hello, Stockholm!). He'd saved Gemma's life so many times and eventually sacrificed his freedom for her. How can anyone not love him a little for that?
I understood his motivations. He was lonely and had been badly treated all his life. At first I had all kinds of ideas of what he was: paedophile, rapist, killer etc. He was none of those things. He just wanted to escape civilisation and when he spotted Gemma, who he believed was being neglected by her parents just as he was, he wanted to rescue her.
I can't understand why people compare this to Living Dead Girl. Ray, the kidnapper is all of the things I mentioned above. He was not kind, he raped, he's a paedophile and he murdered. I did not fall in love with him. It's not a fair comparison. They're completely different.
Although at times Ty seemed scary, he was vulnerable and fragile too. He cried. He suffered from nightmares. In some ways he's like a child himself, with his love of the land, his painting and his folk stories. His sense of fun can be a little strange but there are some funny moments. It's not all fear and confusion. Catching the camel was hilarious. She (the camel) had my heart from then on.
As you can tell I loved Ty but I also cared about Gemma. At first I just wanted her to accept her situation, to stop looking for trouble. The number of times she said "You're lying!" or "I don't believe you!" got on my nerves because she said it in relation to the simplest of plausible statements but when she calmed down she was so starkly honest with herself even when she wanted to go into denial. She was strong. Both characters were to have survived their traumas.
You may think I'm as loopy as Ty but I wished for a happy ending. Gemma and Ty together. Maybe not out in the desert forever but living on the edge of a small town. Happily ever after. I can dream, right?
Stolen. Everything in this book is stolen, including Ty. Nothing belongs to anyone. Not even themselves. There's only the land and the sky. And survival. Beautiful.
...moreLucy's debut novel, Stolen, was written as part for her PhD degree. Stolen
Lucy Christopher was born in Wales but grew up in Australia. She obtained an Undergraduate degree at Melbourne University. She moved to the UK to earn a distinction in a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. The novel she wrote for this class, The Long Flight, was picked up by a publisher under a new name of FLYAWAY.Lucy's debut novel, Stolen, was written as part for her PhD degree. Stolen explores her thoughts on the Australian desert through the story about a teenage girl who is kidnapped and taken there.
Lucy is working on another teen novel. When she is not writing, Lucy spends her time daydreaming, emailing friends and horseback riding a mare named Topaz as well as helping to run a kid's wildlife group at Newport Wetlands.
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Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6408862-stolen
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