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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Kelly's review of "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher

Title: Stolen: A Letter to My Captor
Author: Lucy Christopher
Published: Chicken House Ltd, 2009

Summary from goodreads:


"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."



This small and slight summary, along with the title, is what drew me into reading Stolen. The idea and concept is so intriguing and quite haunting.  Gemma is on vacation with her family in Vietnam when she is abducted from the airport by Ty. This strange, yet seemingly gentle, man brings her to his remote home deep within the vast desert of Australia. He has set up this home with the idea that he and Gemma will live her together for many years with no outside communication. Gemma is now secluded with no hopes of seeing her family again, returning home to London, or having a life of her own. We also learn that Ty has been watching /stalking/creeping on Gemma for many years, simply waiting an biding his time.


However...despite all of this, Ty is still a quite charming and sympathetic character. I never identified him as creepy or the pedophile type. I did sympathize and understand him. You never find yourself hoping he will get caught of something bad will happen to him. He is simply too sweet and caring. This is something VERY weird to be writing about a kidnapper, but it's true. This causes great conflict for both the reader and Gemma. She finds it hard to completely hate this man that took her life away from her. Ty is written as such a great, complex character.


What I really enjoyed about this book was the environment. Ty and Gemma are deep in the Australian desert, yet have everything they need and more. I loved the descriptions and interactions with the landscape and wildlife. Especially interesting was the camel chase. The vast, lifeless desert scene really added to Gemma's hopelessness and desperation. 


4 stars.





14 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard of this one before, but it sounds really interesting. A story like that could be potentially sticky, but it sounds like the author handled it well. Thanks for the review!

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  2. Wow, this sounds beautiful. It's hard to know what you mean about the kidnapper, it's so hard to imagine sympathizing with him. Definitely something I have to read. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention!

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  3. I've been seeing this around and I'm glad you liked it. The premise is really intriguing. And I love when there are conflicts like a kidnapper who is hard to hate. I love when a book can be written in a way that challenges our assumptions.

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  4. This was one of my first summer reads. I'm glad you liked it! I definitely never thought I would feel the way about Ty that I ended up feeling! The whole book was very well-written, but his character especially threw me off - this kidnapper/stalker that I should for all intents and purposes DESPISE, and I can't help but like him and even pity him. Great review. :)

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  5. This sounds REALLY interesting. I honestly didn't know what to think after reading the summary, but your review convinced me it'd be worth reading.

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  6. I pick this up but never read it. I might read it now. great review!

    Lisa @ Shatterbooks

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  7. This sounds like a fascinating book - I love the concept! Great review. I'm tempted to pick it up now.

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  8. I wasn't going to read this one, but I think I might now. I like when the villain makes you like them. Like in Shatter Me with Warren. Thanks for sharing.
    -Melissa @Harley Bear Book Blog

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  9. Wow! This book sounds so interesting. I'm definitely going to have to get a copy.

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  10. I've seen this one around and on a few lists here and there but I've never really known what it was about. I mean, I obviously figured it was about an abduction but I've never really read reviews about it. Totally getting this one from the library!

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  11. This is one of my favorite books ever! Glad you enjoyed it, you've voiced pretty much everything I feel about this book. It really is hard to hate Ty, yet everything Gemma writes about him seems right as well. Completely compelling, and utterly confusing!

    Jess
    www.booksforadreamingteen.blogspot.com

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  12. Awesome review! Here's mine if you don't mind: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/12/stolen-by-lucy-christopher.html

    Thanks and have a nice day! :)

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  13. You posted this review on my birthday! i loved this book, and wanted to see what you thought of it. I know what you mean about Ty. I used this book as a basis for my research paper. It was on Stockhom Syndrome. I really enjoy kidnapping stories and the emotional side effects. Ill check out your new blog too(:

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  14. I have read this book, and its breathe taking. I could not get enough of it! I highly recommend this book!

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