A Stolen Life: A Memoir [NOOK Book]

Wow

Be prepared that this is sad and graphic. Traumatic to read but soo addicting. Couldnt put it down!

128 out of 132 people found this review helpful.

Amazing Woman

I read this book in one day. I couldn't put it down. I was surprised how much detail (in the beginning of the book) that Jaycee gave about what happened to her but I am glad she did. People need to know what kind of things men like Phillip Garido are capable of. My mind had never even thought up those kind of evils. Prison is not a harsh enough punishment for this man. Or his wife for that matter. How dare she not do something!!!! EGH! My hear aches as I read this book. Jaycee and I are 2 years apart and all I could think was how alike we were as kids. How if we lived by each other as kids we would have been best friends. I am amazed at how strong she is. I am SO angry for her! She chooses not to waste her time on anger. That the Garidos have stolen enough and she will give them no more. I wish I had her outlook on life. Her book shows that no mate her bleak your situation there is always something to be thankful for. A pet, a beautiful day, freedom. She is amazing and so is her real family. Bless her moms heart! Jaycee's story gives hope in a book that I wasn't looking for it. Truly Amazing.

39 out of 41 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing

I knew this would be an emotionally difficult read, so I prepared myself for that. I don't need 300 pages of the lurid details of such a harrowing life, but I was frankly expecting more. She's processing some heavy emotions and clearly has a gifted therapist. However, the book is under 200 pages in length and a great deal of it focuses on reminiscing about dead cats and caged birds. The author could have benefited immensely by employing a ghost writer, but I understand she wanted the purely authentic experience. In the end, I am glad to contribute $12 to her life and encourage her tangibly to tell her story. This is the kind of story that needs to be told, but I wouldn't push anyone to go read it.

31 out of 74 people found this review helpful.

Soul Wrenching but a must read

One of my worst fears since become a mother has been the fear of having some monster take my children away from me. I wasn't sure how or if I could read this book. I read it in a day and a half! She admits in the beginning that she is not a professional writer and that the story is in her words so it may be confusing at times for someone else reading it but it is how she remembers everything. There were a few times I was slightly confused and felt she repeated things many times. For me, this made the book more real. I knew it was HER story. It made my stomach turn to read about (graphically) the things he did to her and made her do! The part about her being reunited with her mother for some reason just really got to me. I was bawling! This is a "read with a tissue box at hand" book! Jaycee is an UNBELIEVABLE woman and survivor of some unspeakable things! It amazes me how she went through all of that for 18 YEARS and just seems so "normal". She seems like a person I would want to know. Not because she is "famous" for what happened to her but because she is such a real person. A beautiful person. A strong person. A wonderful mother. Many times reading this book I had thoughts about the things that I "struggle" with and said to myself, "If Jaycee can be so strong through all of that then I can certainly deal with the things in my life that aren't anywhere near as harrowing." Buy the book! She is a true inspiration! Jaycee Dugard, I hope you have a life with nothing but the best of the best and happiness overflowing! Wish I could give you a great big hug. Thank you for sharing your difficult story with us.

30 out of 32 people found this review helpful.

Amazing Jaycee

I saw Jaycee being interviewed by Diane Sawyer.... now I MUST read her book!!! She is an amazing woman with more class and more strength than anyone I have seen after all she has been through! I cant wait to read this and check out the JAYC foundation.

25 out of 74 people found this review helpful.

Sad sorry but hopefully will help stop this type of crime

1st review i have ever posted. This is a story told by a survior of unspeakable acts of abuse. She makes it very clear that this is her account of the past 18 yrs. She explains in detail using journal entries from her imprisonment, that she wanted to be free and hated what he did to her. She was 11 years old when she was abducted and until her release was functioning with the mind of an 11 year old child. Her abductor did everything he could to control her physically and mentally. She wasnt allowed the simple freedom to choice when she could eat or sleep or use a toilet. She was denied safe human contact for years. He scared her to death and threatened her with "it could be worse". This is an account of the most horrible way for an 11 year old girl to live. This story needs to be told, people like her abductors need to be exposed. And laws need to change. No child, no woman, no person should have to endure being abused. Thank you for sharing your story. Good luck in the future. Enjoy the eqine world. May the media leave you alone. Shame on the legal system that failed you and your family, may they learn from their mistakes. Shame on your selffish, cowardly abductors, hell is too nice of a place for them.

18 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

It was decent....

If you watched the Diane Sawyer interview you don't need to read this book. It is almost word for word EXACTLY the same as the interview. I skimmed most of the book because I got bored having JUST heard the same stuff a few nights earlier. There were some new details that were pretty interesting but like I said, if you saw the interview you heard everything you'll be reading.

18 out of 46 people found this review helpful.

A lady of Grace!

I will never sweat the small stuff again. Could not put it down. Cant wait to see what her next book will be like. Im inspired by herstrength...her mommas too.

12 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Memoir!

This is Jaycee's story, in her words, as she recounts the moments leading up to her abduction and the 18 years she was held captive. Her story is raw with intimate details about the sexual and psychological abuse she endured by the two people who kidnapped her. I won't say who they are because they don't deserve any recognition for the pain and suffering Jaycee experienced. In her memoir, Jaycee includes journal entries she kept regarding her cat, Eclipse, and her own personal entries about her dreams, her goals, and her longing to see her mother again.

Jaycee Dugard has slowly worked on rebuilding her life and transitioning into society with her daughters. While she wants to keep her children's names and pictures out of the public life, she does write about her pregnancies with them and her relationship with them as mom and later as sister (which her captors wanted her to be regarded as). Her story was very difficult to read as she describes her first days being handcuffed and sequestered to a small room with locks. When she was found, she had been living in a tent and using a hole she made to pee. With a 5th grade education, she homeschooled her daughters, who are her saving grace. Despite the fact that her captor is their father, she loves them without any boundaries. She loves them freely and has the same dreams for them that she has for herself: to be free.

Jaycee's strength and hope shines through despite everything she has experienced. I highly recommend this book and encourage you to also visit The JAYC Foundation, Inc. or on Facebook. In her memoir, she describes the significance to pine cones and monies received for her jewelry goes to her foundation to help children and families impacted by abduction.

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Sad book wonderfully written.

Jaycee writes beautifully. This is truly a sad book. I don't know what else to say but what a strong and courageous woman she has become. I was sexually abused when I was little & while I remember it happened I can't remember any details which is good & bad. I think if I could remember something it might help me heal more. I hope this book helped her heal.

11 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Book

What an incredible woman to endure the abuse for 18 years, and then write so eloquently about her ordeal. I couldn't put the book down!!!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Jaycee you are a hero! Hope all your dreams come ture. Thanks for sharing your story.

7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Wow.

Jaycee is an amazing woman. While I definitely cried, this book is very uplifting. Jaycee shares her horrific story, but shares with it the ultimate belief in hope and humanity.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

To very dissapointed on 8/8/2011

I feel that this book gave out just enough information on what went on in Jaycee's life. I mean she was raped multiple times. How sick of a person are you to want to know more details. As it was i had to put the book down on more than one occaion because I couldn't emagin the things she went through. In MY opinoin Jaycee is a very brave and smart girl she did whatever it took to survive. I loved this book.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

This book hit home for me. I was the aroud the same age when Jaycee was taken from her family, and only lived about and hour away. I spent so much time in Tahoe and had friends that lived there. I never forgot about Jaycee. When she was found I was so happy! I went to Tahoe this weekend and decided this was the right place and time to read Jacyee's book. I read it in less then a day. What an AMAZING woman Jacyee is! With all she went thourgh she still holds her head high. People who have gone through less can't say that about them selves. So glad your home Jaycee!!!! Much love to you and your family!!!!!

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

UPLIFTING REMINDER that we control our own lives no matter the circumstance

OMG If Jaycee can come out of this without hate and still find more reasons to smile and laugh and love, then all things ARE possible for the rest of us. This woman, stolen, raped, raised by her tormentor is an inspiration for us all to look deeper to find our own peace. Her situation was 1000 times worse than most of us find ourselves in and yet she survived and did not shatter. God bless you Jaycee! And thank you for sharing your incredible journey through hell and back. Thank you for your wisdom cruely earned that others may find hope with whatever situation their lives are enduring.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Poorly written

Although, I sympathize with Jaycee's situation and her ordeal, I was not able to finish the book because it is so poorly written. I understand she only has a fifth grade education, she should have gotten help writing the book. Poor grammar, lack of continuity, rambling and repeating the same thought over and over made it very difficult to keep interested in.

4 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

You won't put this book down!

I read this book in two days because I couldn't put it down. It is heartwrenching. Jaycee did a good job writing the story and I'm glad that someone else didn't write it for her. You can feel her emotions. Jaycee has amazing strength and did exactly what she needed to do to survive. It makes my heart so sad that she had to endure the unthinkable. God Bless you, Jaycee. You've already proved that you are a survivor.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Gets less tragic

The first few chapters are hard to get through but then she tells the rest of her very odd yet compelling story. She was a very strong little girl and mother dispite what happened.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Good read, tough to read about the attrocities she suffered

Sick to my stomach from reading the attrocities she suffered with thise bastards...brave woman and mother to share her struggles

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.