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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This won a Printz honor -- not the usual stuff I would read, but it was compelling. I liked.
This book started out, honestly, a little terrible and very slow. But the writing ended up being very beautiful, and the emotions were complex. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone, but I'm glad I read it.
This is an inspiring story in the spirit of Speak and The Chosen One. Christopher does an amazing job portraying the good and evil in a single person as well as the conflicting emotions that can result because of them. I didn't think that the book could end in a way that would leave me feeling good at all, but it really did. Gemma is a one of a kind character who I grew to adore.
FYI-This book does contain some strong language.
FYI-This book does contain some strong language.
Book #18 for the year.
Teeters on 3.5-4 starts check my review here:
http://the-104.blogspot.com/2011/01/stolen-letter-to-my-captor.html
Teeters on 3.5-4 starts check my review here:
http://the-104.blogspot.com/2011/01/stolen-letter-to-my-captor.html
about 4 stars or just under (3.75)
The premise of this novel is right up my alley. It's about a girl being abducted, stalked, and suffering stockholm syndrome. This just felt so real. The plot could happen to anyone and it happened in such an open area. Like damn he took her from the airport. The characters also felt so realistic, Gemma describing everything was frightening. It felt like I was her or I was watching this happen on a screen. It was so intense, dark, and impactful. Now for Ty, despite his obviously worrisome actions, I sympathized with him. Oddly enough I understand Gemma and her situation and the terror. I also understand Ty and his urge for company and his horrible past.
Now I will say that this book doesn't not really pick up till about page 100. I was always like "hold up this young adult?". Not because the writing was so advanced or it was sexual explicit. For the reasons that it was so realistic and absolutely horrifying. Not so scary, that I'm going to have nightmares or anything but it just felt so real.
I think anyone and everyone should read this and/or books similar to this. It is so insightful and thought-provoking. Despite looks, race, gender, etc. people are not always what they seem. It's important to not live in fear but to be cautious.
Overall, such a successful story with a hard hitting ending. The setting of the desert was so interesting. Also lots of fiction ignore things actually people do like one, needing to use the bathroom and two, women having periods. This book mentioned them both making it seem all the more realistic. stockholm syndrome is something I do want to look more into and try and understand. I sympathized with Ty just as Gem does but I just want to look more into it. Like I understand from trauma and being with no one else but that person you have to rely on them. As you learn more about them and why they are doing what they are doing, you understand in a sense.
Again though, this was successful story I give a round of applause to the author. Who presented a real, terrifying, story of a kidnappers letter to her captor.
The premise of this novel is right up my alley. It's about a girl being abducted, stalked, and suffering stockholm syndrome. This just felt so real. The plot could happen to anyone and it happened in such an open area. Like damn he took her from the airport. The characters also felt so realistic, Gemma describing everything was frightening. It felt like I was her or I was watching this happen on a screen. It was so intense, dark, and impactful. Now for Ty, despite his obviously worrisome actions, I sympathized with him. Oddly enough I understand Gemma and her situation and the terror. I also understand Ty and his urge for company and his horrible past.
Now I will say that this book doesn't not really pick up till about page 100. I was always like "hold up this young adult?". Not because the writing was so advanced or it was sexual explicit. For the reasons that it was so realistic and absolutely horrifying. Not so scary, that I'm going to have nightmares or anything but it just felt so real.
I think anyone and everyone should read this and/or books similar to this. It is so insightful and thought-provoking. Despite looks, race, gender, etc. people are not always what they seem. It's important to not live in fear but to be cautious.
Overall, such a successful story with a hard hitting ending. The setting of the desert was so interesting. Also lots of fiction ignore things actually people do like one, needing to use the bathroom and two, women having periods. This book mentioned them both making it seem all the more realistic. stockholm syndrome is something I do want to look more into and try and understand. I sympathized with Ty just as Gem does but I just want to look more into it. Like I understand from trauma and being with no one else but that person you have to rely on them. As you learn more about them and why they are doing what they are doing, you understand in a sense.
Again though, this was successful story I give a round of applause to the author. Who presented a real, terrifying, story of a kidnappers letter to her captor.
It was all right, it didn't make me fall in love but I wish the book would have ended differently. I don't know, the ending felt rushed and I didn't connect the the female character as much as Ty.
Eh, it was all right. I expected to love it more but I just was left with an empty feeling.
A bit of a jolt for me after reading a fantasy series, but, once I got into the story and used to the writing style, this book was quite enjoyable.
Something I enjoyed about this book, is that it got to the meat of the story within the first few pages. No warning, no time to prepare. The summary does say it all, so there's no need to delay the process.
The style of the story, being written as a journal/journal entry, also made it much more personal, where the reader gets to dive into Gemma's life in captivity. It also gives a lot of insight into the mixed feelings she develops for her captor. The concept is very familiar, but the details in this book are really what kept me engaged.
Some very well-written sentences blew my mind. The descriptions and metaphors were beautifully done, even in such a somber story. So well done, and what an ending!
The style of the story, being written as a journal/journal entry, also made it much more personal, where the reader gets to dive into Gemma's life in captivity. It also gives a lot of insight into the mixed feelings she develops for her captor. The concept is very familiar, but the details in this book are really what kept me engaged.
Some very well-written sentences blew my mind. The descriptions and metaphors were beautifully done, even in such a somber story. So well done, and what an ending!
I was lucky enough to receive Stolen as a first-read thanks to Good Reads. Let me first say that the cover is gorgeous and very nicely done.
Unfortunately, that is basically the last positive thing that I can say. This book actually made me do something I have never done in 25 years of reading...I read about 1/3 of the book, got bored and flipped to the end. I'm not sure if it was the 2nd person style of writing but I just couldn't engage in this. While I understand it is a YA novel, I would never recommend this for a teenager. The subject matter is (clearly) creepy and not in an intriguing way, just an uncomfortable way. I wish I had better things to say about this book as I really was looking forward to reading it!
Unfortunately, that is basically the last positive thing that I can say. This book actually made me do something I have never done in 25 years of reading...I read about 1/3 of the book, got bored and flipped to the end. I'm not sure if it was the 2nd person style of writing but I just couldn't engage in this. While I understand it is a YA novel, I would never recommend this for a teenager. The subject matter is (clearly) creepy and not in an intriguing way, just an uncomfortable way. I wish I had better things to say about this book as I really was looking forward to reading it!