The novel ‘A Stolen Life’ written by Jaycee Dugard is a true story about how Jaycee, at age 11, got kidnapped by two adults called Phil and Nancy. Jaycee was missing for 18 years. During those years a lot of things happened to Jaycee. She was abused, raped and had two children at a very early age. Phil and Nancy's treatment had made Jaycee grow up very fast; she had to do whatever to survive. I found this book really interesting, especially how Jaycee is telling us her story for the many others who have been held against their will out there so they know they are not alone. She also has her own organisation called the J A Y C foundation. One thing I think that connects me to this book is the relationship between the mother and the daughter.
Even though it's years that Jaycee and her mother are separated they never give up on hope that they will see each other again. One example from the text “I remember this one time, I was in the small room and was trying to go to sleep but I couldn’t. And I could see some light from outside coming in so, I moved the towel that was on the window and saw a full moon. It made me think of my mother and how we use to sit on the porch talking about what moon was best, half or full” This here shows how Jaycee constantly thought of her mother while she was in the kidnapped situation. She even kept this tiny ring her mother had gotten her as the last little tie she had with her. This makes me think of my mother and I because we have a strong bond and I wouldn't have accomplished any of my achievements without her. Also, I think this can relate to any mother and daughter relationships, which at times can be difficult but for most of us are based on love and wanting the best for each other. I can relate to how her mother didn't give up on Jaycee. The way I can relate to this is when I had moved out of my house and had been living with my auntie. My mother held on to hope, hoping that I would come back home to her. She would do whatever she could to convince me to return. I think this is brave and shows commitment. Something that I admire about Jaycees mother is that she never lost hope that her daughter would return to her. I think it also gives hope to other mothers who have lost children to kidnapping. The J A Y C E Foundation has helped not only families who’ve lost a loved one but also the survivors who escaped from their kidnappers. The foundation gives them support so they know they are not alone. For example, “ The J A Y C Foundation evolved from a deep need to give back all that I was given. A pinecone is the last thing I touched before I was kidnapped so that is now what symbolises life and freedom”This proves that Jaycee wants to help others into getting better and to realise that once they escape they are free and don't have to help the kidnappers. They can stop trying to protect them because they are not worth protecting. The novel “A Stolen Life” written by Jaycee Dugard, is a non fiction book and tells the true story of how a 11 year old girl was kidnapped for eighteen years and what had happened in those years. This book is quite graphic and gruesome but I did find how she escaped quite interesting.
One of the women from the book, Carolyn Ann Davis, was convicted for Larceny by embezzlement. While reading the book she tells the awful tale of her childhood. Carolyn grew up poor which caused problems for her family, by not being able to pay bills and many other
Evaluation: I thought the book was very exciting and suspenseful like her other books. The book had very good detail and an interesting plot. I liked the twist when Juan and the girl’s father came upon Glenn walking down the road. I also liked how the author described the action in great detail. It made me feel like I was right there seeing it all happen firsthand. I don’t think that the author could’ve made this book any better than she did already.
After reading the story, I found I had mixed emotions about it. To explain, when we were getting into detail and finally finding out what really happened the day of June 28th, I found myself completely interested and glued to the book. I also enjoyed the way the incident was explained because I felt like I was there watching it all happen from the great detail. I enjoyed Phillips style of writing because through his writing, he really came off as an intelligent person who is very familiar with the legal system. The book is an easy read, and I liked the non-pretentious style of writing. I did not find myself struggling with reading the book at all, which made the overall experience that much more enjoyable.
...was outstanding. She gives great insight to the horrors and the suffering and allows the reader to be placed into the same place with a large understanding of the emotions that took place. The only thing to complain about is the prolonging amount of detail on the dates and statistics. It’s hard to follow and difficult for one to pay attention and that’s where it became mundane. I can definitely confirm that it was worth the purchase and the time spent into the read. I could honestly say that I’ve already recommended it to others, and I will continue to do so. The people I’d recommend it to though is people interested in the subject and overly eager to learn about new things as opposed to my buddies.
After reading the book I have gained a new understanding of what inmates think about in prison. Working in an institution, I have a certain cynical attitude at times with inmates and their requests. Working in a reception facility, this is a facility where inmates are brought in from the county jails to the state intake facility, we deal with a lot of requests and questions. At times, with the phone ringing off the hook from family members and inmates with their prison request forms, you get a little cynical and tired of answering the same questions over and over. As I read the book I begin to understand some of the reason for the questions. Inmate(s) now realize that the officers and administrative personnel are in control of their lives. They dictate with to get up in the morning, take showers, eat meals, go to classes, the need see people for different reason, when to exercise and when to go to bed. The lost of control over their lives is a new experience for some and they would like to be able to adjust to this new lost of freedom. Upon understanding this and in reading the book, I am not as cynical as I have been and try to be more patient in answering questions. So in a way I have changed some of my thinking and understanding more of prison life.
The book was very inspiring and I think it covered a lot of great information. Something that Joanne Crutchfield managed to do very well was paint vivid pictures with her words. Everything was so detailed and descriptive, I was really drawn in by that. The use of imagery made the topics more relatable in a sense. I also liked how the book touched on the topic of mental health. Mental health issues affect everyone however, in the black community those health issues go unnoticed or unattended to. The Author shared her story of depression and how she dealt with it. I thought that aspect of the memoir was great, I think that it was wonderful that she shed a light on mental health. On the other hand the book was a little difficult to follow with the way the chapters were set up. Other than that I thought the book was good and I really
Many things that happen in this world are scary and totally out of our control. Child abduction is a horrifying and life changing event that has terrified many children, parents and love ones. Child abduction is every parent's worst nightmare. It could happen in the grocery store, yard or even your child's school. The horrifying truth is that child abduction could happen almost anywhere in the world. However, the most crucial part about their whole experience can be once they’re rescued and brought back to their loved ones. Many survivors tend to feel unsafe and in most cases, and just can’t be the same person.
The prologue starts with the description about a girl who likes swimming, SpongeBob, Mexican food, writing poetry and getting her nails painted. To a normal person this sounds like a normal description for a little girl but normal is not the adjective to describe this girl because this little girl has been trafficked (or prostituted) by her 29 year old pimp on Craiglist to adult men. When I read this I automatically felt like someone took a pin and pricked to my chest because I remember being eleven and enjoying getting my nails painted and Mexican food. I was a normal, happy little girl but that same could not said for the girl mentioned above.
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard is an autobiography recounting the chilling memories that make up the author’s past. She abducted when she was eleven years old by a man named Phillip Garrido with the help of his wife Nancy. “I was kept in a backyard and not allowed to say my own name,” (Dugard ix). She began her life relatively normally. She had a wonderful loving mother, a beautiful baby sister,, and some really good friends at school. Her outlook on life was bright until June 10th, 1991, the day of her abduction. The story was published a little while after her liberation from the backyard nightmare. She attended multiple therapy sessions to help her cope before she had the courage to share her amazing story. For example she says, “My growth has not been an overnight phenomenon…it has slowly and surely come about,” (D 261). She finally began to put the pieces of her life back together and decided to go a leap further and reach out to other families in similar situations. She has founded the J A Y C Foundation or Just Ask Yourself to Care. One of her goals was, amazingly, to ensure that other families have the help that they need. Another motive for writing the book may have also been to become a concrete form of closure for Miss Dugard and her family. It shows her amazing recovery while also retelling of all of the hardships she had to endure and overcome. She also writes the memoir in a very powerful and curious way. She writes with very simple language and sentence structures. This becomes a constant reminder for the reader that she was a very young girl when she was taken. She was stripped of the knowledge many people take for granted. She writes for her last level of education. She also describes all of the even...
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Leaving Atlanta is a story of child disappearance. Tayari Jones, the author of Leaving Atlanta, grew up in this horrible time. She wrote about her experience growing up during this time, and also talked with us about it while visiting Peace College. By hearing her speak about these horrible events, it made me want to read the book even more. She also gave you a feeling as if you were there with her and experiencing the same thing. The book along with her speech gives better detail into this great mystery.
Some may consider this book bias, but I consider this book to be a true well written story of a woman who struggled and who never gave up. A story that actually used her diary entry that was implemented into the chapters. The author gave the reader the opportunity to see how hard her life was and how she withstood all that came at her, in a way this book an inspiration not only for women but rather to all of us.
The book was a little hard to read and understand. For me, I had to read it several times to completely understand it. Did you like the book or not? Is this book one that you will keep and recommend to others, especially those going through
In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, beauty and brutality is seen in many of the characters. Rudy, Liesel, and Rosa display examples of beauty and brutality often without realizing what exactly they are doing, because it is a part of their human nature. Zusak not only uses his characters, but also the setting of the novel in Nazi Germany to allude to his theme of the beauty and brutality of human nature. The time in which the novel is set, during World War II, displays great examples of beauty and brutality, such as the mistreatment of the Jews. As a result of this time period, the characters have to go through troubling times, which reveals their beautiful and brutal nature in certain circumstances. Zusak uses his characters and their experiences to demonstrate the theme of the beauty and brutality of human nature in the novel.
This was a great book, but took me a lot longer to finish then most, simply because of how upsetting some of the things talked about are. If you’re look for a book that will make you think, and bring tears to you’re eyes, and teach you a thing or two a highly recommend this book, and might actually read it again myself. Hopeful my eyes can stay dry this time.