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A Stolen Life

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 34,684 ratings · 4,629 reviews

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I surv...more

Hardcover, 273 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Simon & Schuster (first published July 1st 2011)

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Sep 16, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, non-fiction, read-2011, icky-subjects, 2011-publication

This is a monumental book in many ways. It's one of the few times that a victim of prolonged sexual imprisonment has come forth to tell her story, and the importance of having a record of this first-hand account cannot be discounted. Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at the age of 11 and held captive for 18 years while a man repeatedly raped her and had her bear two of his children. She was miraculously freed at the age of 29 and, two years later, seems to be overall pretty well-adjusted and happy.

I'v...more This is a monumental book in many ways. It's one of the few times that a victim of prolonged sexual imprisonment has come forth to tell her story, and the importance of having a record of this first-hand account cannot be discounted. Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at the age of 11 and held captive for 18 years while a man repeatedly raped her and had her bear two of his children. She was miraculously freed at the age of 29 and, two years later, seems to be overall pretty well-adjusted and happy.

I've read a fair amount on this subject, but it's still very painful to read about Jaycee's story. One of the awful things about her situation is that her captor was "nice" to her when he wasn't assaulting her, sobbing and apologizing profusely, and telling her she was "helping him" with his problem. The confusion of dealing with that must do untold amounts of damage, since if someone is always monstrous, it's much easier to look upon him as the enemy. While it's natural to wonder about these things, it has always troubled me when I hear strongly worded questions about why victims in these situations don't try harder to escape. I think it's very difficult to imagine the amount of physical and psychological fear and confusion that these individuals undergo, as well as the coping mechanisms that they must use in order to simply survive. Through Jaycee's words, it's possible to come closer to understanding how someone in a devastating situation is relentlessly conditioned into doing a dominant person's bidding--and how her reality changed so much that she began to look upon being separated from her captor with crippling fear of the unknown.

While I am glad that readers have a chance to read Jaycee's story, it does worry me that it comes so soon after her release in 2009. Elizabeth Smart has similarly just signed on to be a commentator for ABC News, and it makes you wonder if Elisabeth Fritzl can be too far behind. I cannot even begin to imagine the kind of damage this kind of violence and depravity does to someone, let alone a child whose character hadn't even been fully formed at the time of her kidnapping. It troubles me to think that in our insistent need for information and our need for heroic stories in this modern age, we may unintentionally be harming these poor women with the pressure to present a pulled-together, picture-perfect image for our benefit.

But perhaps I don't give enough credit to their strength. While there is a great deal of pain in reading Jaycee's story as you relive her suffering, it is also impossible not to be moved by the resiliency of the human spirit. The joy she took in the pets that came and went over the years; her attempts to stay positive, chronicled through journal entries; her pleasure in the birth of her "beautiful baby girls." One of the things that touched me the most was the notion that a child of 17--with a fifth grade education--was determined to provide some sort of education and future for her two children by downloading daily lesson plans and teaching them herself. It speaks to an extraordinary spirit, as well as to the extraordinary capacity of the human heart.

The fact that these kinds of violent acts happen in the world are incredibly shameful and tragic. In sharing her story, however, Jaycee Dugard has helped many readers to see that human beings can and do survive impossible situations...and that it's important to appreciate the many precious freedoms that we so often take for granted.

A note about the book: This is an incredible piece of testimony to a shocking perpetuation of violence against a human being. I am glad that the publishers chose to keep Jaycee's young voice, which sounds unspoiled and unguarded in a surprising and touching way. There were some editorial missteps, however, that I felt detracted from the book quite a bit, including leaving in inconsistent tenses, confusing timelines, and switching back and forth perhaps a little too often between past and present for a fairly short book. Addressing these issues would have streamlined the book immensely, and it's puzzling that more efforts weren't made to provide a better framework for the story.

Additional Reading:
Readers who are interested in exploring other books with similar topics might consider Living Dead Girl, which is the best fictionalized story about kidnapping and imprisonment that I've read to date. I was NOT a huge fan of the much more lauded Room or the more recent Circle 9, however.(less)

132 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2011 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this in one sitting. I would be concerned about anyone who could read this book without difficulty. I had to pause frequently and just breathe to compose myself, and still feel sick to my stomach when I think of what she endured. It is a horrific story and yet beautifully written. Jaycee Lee Dugard is an extraordinary young woman and courageous in the extreme, not only because she survived her ordeal with compassion for herself as a victim and hope for the future, but because she tells he...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Hard to read, hard to review. Please know that the two-star rating is no reflection on Ms. Dugard or my abject horror at what she experienced. But I certainly didn't really "like" it and I'm not sure I'd actually recommend it to anyone. The diction and syntax are somewhat simple, but that rang true, since her formal education stopped at 5th grade. Parts were very repetitive, the graphic details made my stomach turn, and it skipped over the time period I was most curious about.

Ms. Dugard's experi...more Hard to read, hard to review. Please know that the two-star rating is no reflection on Ms. Dugard or my abject horror at what she experienced. But I certainly didn't really "like" it and I'm not sure I'd actually recommend it to anyone. The diction and syntax are somewhat simple, but that rang true, since her formal education stopped at 5th grade. Parts were very repetitive, the graphic details made my stomach turn, and it skipped over the time period I was most curious about.

Ms. Dugard's experiences are horrific, especially the graphic descriptions of rape and Phillip's drug-fueled "runs." No 11-year-old, or anyone, should ever have to experience those things. It's beyond bizarre to me that after years of sexual abuse and rape, including two pregnancies, a weird kind of "normalcy" and "family" developed. Ms. Dugard barely skimmed over the last decade or so of her captivity and that's what I was most curious about. How did she raise her daughters in that environment (yes, I know they were told she was their sister, but still...)? How did they turn out to be so well-adjusted and how did they handle the shock to their system that "real life" must have been? How did she maintain her sense of self and sanity? Why didn't she reach out for help during an outing or online or when his parole officer came over to the house? I know there are true, deep-seated psychological explanations, but I wanted to hear it from her.

Ms. Dugard truly is remarkable. With only a 5th grade education and essentially on her own, she survived 18 years of abuse, oppression, brainwashing, and boredom, to become, by all accounts, a fairly well-adjusted, courageous, thoughtful woman. With, I'm sure, the help of many caring and competent professionals, Ms. Dugard is taking control of her life, which was denied to her for so long, and refusing to be bitter about the past. Good for her.

Ms. Dugard's story and similar ones (Elizabeth Smart, Elisabeth Fritzl) make me so paranoid. How many other missing children are being held captive, practically in plain sight, and we just aren't seeing them? And how many thousands of other children around the world are experiencing similar atrocities right now? Ms. Dugard was able to escape after 18 years, but so many children haven't and won't. It makes me want to curl up in a ball in bed and sob all day long.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Readingmomma rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am definately going to hug my children a little tighter and make sure I remember the promises I make to them after reading this book. I remember seeing Jaycee's face on missing posters and praying for her when I was a teenager. I also remember the day I was watching the news and heard the news of incredible discovery. While I was reading this book I could not stop thinking about when I was eleven years old. Jaycee does a wonderful job of showing exactly how her life was stolen. I guess because...more I am definately going to hug my children a little tighter and make sure I remember the promises I make to them after reading this book. I remember seeing Jaycee's face on missing posters and praying for her when I was a teenager. I also remember the day I was watching the news and heard the news of incredible discovery. While I was reading this book I could not stop thinking about when I was eleven years old. Jaycee does a wonderful job of showing exactly how her life was stolen. I guess because I am only few years older than Jaycee I can't help but think of all that has happened in my life during the last 18 years. This book although it was a quick read was by no means an easy read. Jaycee is an amazing young women. At one point in the book she describes herself as a coward but in my oppinion she is anything but. She is one bravest women I can think of. After reading her story I was able to see just how much of a psycological hold her abducters had over her. Thier is so much I want to say about this book but I just can't wrap my mind around it all at this time so I will be writting more as I sort through everything.

O.k it's been a couple days since I have read this one and I have had some time to digest things. I'm so angry at the system for failing her. I can't help but feel like not only was she victimized by her captors but by the system who was put in place to protect her (all of us really). I can understand missing her on one or even two of the visits but over eighteen years is just ridiculous. Probation officers came to that house over sixty times during her captivity why in all those times did'nt they just one check the backyard. The neighbor even called the cops to report that children where living in tents in the backyard. When the sherrif came to ivestigate he never bothered to go into the backyard, once again I am left wondering WHY.

Jaycee's story has definately made me loose faith in the so called system. I look at my three little girls and feel all the more need to protect them. I'm so proud of Jaycee for surviving not only physically but mentally to. I really liked the part about the reunification process. I honestly was very naive about what reuniting her with her family would entail. I think of all she lost during those eighteen years and its mindblowing. I want to thank her therapist for doing such a wonderful job with helping her. I do wish she would have talked a little more about how her daughters felt when they found out everything but I do understand her need to protect them. I can't wait to see her build her foundation and rebuild her life.(less)

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Aug 17, 2011 NerdGirlBlogger rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jaycee Dugard's memoir, A Stolen Life, needs to be read by the entire world, because it is that powerful. I have never been more sad, disgusted, furious, and eventually happy and proud while reading a memoir, or in fact, any book in the history of my reading life. I beg you to go out and buy a copy--even if you'll never be brave enough to read her story. In 2006, Jaycee had made a list and one of her dreams was to become a best-selling author. After everything she has been through, don't we owe...more Jaycee Dugard's memoir, A Stolen Life, needs to be read by the entire world, because it is that powerful. I have never been more sad, disgusted, furious, and eventually happy and proud while reading a memoir, or in fact, any book in the history of my reading life. I beg you to go out and buy a copy--even if you'll never be brave enough to read her story. In 2006, Jaycee had made a list and one of her dreams was to become a best-selling author. After everything she has been through, don't we owe her that much?

I was visibly shaking at physical therapy today in reaction to reading this book, which worried my therapist, and eventually lead to a large discussion with several other patients and staff about Jaycee's life and the criminal justice system that failed her. I was dreading finishing the book, but then I came home and decided I had to finish it, because I felt I owed Jaycee my full attention, no matter how upset I was going to become.

Her story is even more horrifying than I anticipated--reading little things like a reproduction of her journal just about killed me, in addition to finding out all the weird and horrific things she went through during 18 years of torture and captivity. But there were some very happy moments as well, like when the police officers who had her and her daughters in protective custody managed to sneak in something very meaningful into the hotel they were staying in. As much as my heart breaks for Jaycee, her daughters, her sister, aunt and her mother, I am blown away by Jaycee's ability to actually talk about what happened to her so quickly, and I am amazed at her ability to have built friendly and lasting relationships with some of the officers and FBI agents who helped her during her integration back into society.

Even if you've followed Jaycee Dugard's story from the beginning, read every tabloid and news story, and watched her special that aired last month, you will still find out plenty of new (and, sadly, more horrific) details of her life in the backyard. So many people don't realize what it means to truly suffer, and for those who do, Jaycee's honest story and her subsequent counseling should give us all hope that with help, we can try to move past the things that have tortured us in our lives. We all could use a little bit more compassion, and if you are going through tough times in your own life, this story will put your own problems into perspective.

Read my full review of A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard. The hardest, most heartbreaking memoir I've ever, or will ever, read.

http://thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress...(less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Kris Marasca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the hardest books I've ever read because of the subject matter. Dugard has been through hell and back. Her story is an inspiration to all who face some sort of adversity and want to give up. For 18 years, this woman was held captive, mentally & physically abused (the rape descriptions were the hardest parts to read), & impregnated twice. While she had moments of despair (who wouldn't?), she always held out hope that some day her life would improve. Even post-captivity, Dugard has...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

The five stars are not for the literary value of this book, but for the honest telling of what these 18 stolen years were like for Jaycee Dugard. I am glad she allowed us to read this story in her own words, and not some smooth, glossy version of her story written by a ghost writer. The simple language enhanced this book in my opinion. You really felt the presence of that young girl reliving her story.

This is a remarkable young lady with more strength than I can imagine ever having. I feel we e...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Jae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

When Jaycee Dugard was first found, my fascination with her case originally grew out of a desire to better understand another famous kidnapping victim who had been in a somewhat similar situation: Elisabeth Fritzl. But I have stayed interested for one major reason: Ms. Dugard has been incredibly adept at keeping control over her own story and maintaining her agency at all times. This book can be seen as the culmination of those efforts, since Ms. Dugard has written her own book about her own exp...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Becca rated it 2 of 5 stars

What Jaycee Dugard experienced for 18 years is, beyond question, horrendous. And it is an achievement that her book keeps the sensationalism to a minimum, focusing rather on the more basic lines of thought of her young self. She is a clear writer, if overly simplistic.

However, as a memoir, if we are to take her unparalleled story aside, A Stolen Life does not amaze. Truly amazing memoirs are not made by the occurrences of the life it follows, but rather by the ability of the memoirist to transce...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some time ago I stumbled upon the Wikipedia page for the Fritzl case (a tragic situation that occurred in Austria, very similar to this case) which eventually led me to the page on the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard. When this book came out, I was very eager to read it. Now that I have, I almost wish I didn’t and not because it was awful but because it was so terrifyingly eye opening and surprisingly heartfelt.

I feel like I should not rate this book, because there is no way a number of stars co...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Eva Leger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: autos-bios-memoirs, b-non-fiction, missing-people

I, along with the rest of the world, waited for this book. And I have to say I'm disappointed. According to the info I found on line Dugard did indeed have "help" writing this book. What kind of help I don't know because it's obvious most of us couldn't tell when reading A Stolen Life. Apparently, a Rebecca Bailey, who is a "post-trauma family reunification specialist" is who helped with this book. I couldn't tell.
I tried not to be too hard on the writing while reading because of who the author...more I, along with the rest of the world, waited for this book. And I have to say I'm disappointed. According to the info I found on line Dugard did indeed have "help" writing this book. What kind of help I don't know because it's obvious most of us couldn't tell when reading A Stolen Life. Apparently, a Rebecca Bailey, who is a "post-trauma family reunification specialist" is who helped with this book. I couldn't tell.
I tried not to be too hard on the writing while reading because of who the author is and what she went through. She didn't go to school like she would have had she not been kidnapped, etc. But the fact remains that I just can't believe Simon & Schuster deemed this fit for publishing.
The story isn't lacking. The story is what happened to Dugard. That can't be "lacking" if it's the truth. I believe it is. But the writing is severely lacking and there's only so much 'looking past' one can do.
The failed chances to rescue Dugard? There were some. But some of the "chances" the police "had" weren't really chances. For instance, the police were supposed to search Garrido's home on the basis that Dugard was kidnapped in the same city/town as another woman in 1976? I'm willing to bet women were murdered and kidnapped in that town also, does that mean it was Garrido or that he should have been searched? No. That's not a missing "chance".
The police going to Garrido's and not inspecting his yard? Yes, missing chance. Garrido slipping through the cracks of probation and parole? Yes, missing chance.
But just because there are *some* missing chances doesn't mean we can make any and everything into a failed "chance" IMO.
Believe me, I blame the police for their failures in this and everything else they fail at. I believe in blame being squarely placed. But I can't believe in that and then place blame where it doesn't belong.
One very large missed chance is when a neighbor of Garrido's actually called 911 to report children living in tents in Garrido's backyard. The police deputy who reported apparently talked to Garrido at the front door and left without checking the backyard. That, my friends, is a missed chance and that alone is absolutely horrendous. That alone shows how much society wants to protect the criminal and not the victim(s).
But oh, the police "apologized". That's classic. "Uh, hey, listen Jaycee, I'm REALLY sorry you were held throughout so much of your childhood, all of your teens and a good portion of adulthood. I'm sorry that you were raped, abused, impregnated, withheld from your family, friends, life in general and that we 'missed the chance' to protect you and save you. I'm, uh, really sorry about that."
Fuck you. I hope she said that to the bastards. FUCK YOU.
In 2002 paramedics responded to Garrido's because of a child with a shoulder injury from a swimming accident. Nevermind that Garrido shouldn't have had children on his property. Probation and Parole was never notified.
Nevermind that his probation and parole officer SAW children IN his home. Oh, those were his brothers kids! Duh! Well, alrighty then. Who the HELL CARES. It ain't me in trouble.
Another note I made while reading:
This is just a note to parents and caregivers who tend to think stuff like this doesn't happen. Dugard relates in here how Garrido and his wife would drive to school playgrounds and parks and videotape little girls. The wife would even talk to them at times, get them to do splits and to sit with their legs apart so Garrido could get "good" shots. She even had a whole cut out of one of her purses for a video camera. Beware. That shit is REAL scary. None of these little girls were "hurt" in the usual sense but I know I don't want some pervert taking advantage of my daughters innocence to get her to sit with her legs open and then use that recorded video for his own disgusting, perverted pleasure.
Basically, the story here is a unique one but it's told in a way that's sort of aggravating, most likely because of her lack of early education.
I do hope this was cathartic for her and I hope she lives a wonderful life, her and her entire family.
I hope Garrido, his disgusting p.o.s. wife, and all of the police who actively failed Dugard burn in hell.(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Sheena at Hot Eats and Cool Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, nook, abuse, non-fiction, memoir-auto-bio

Phillip Garrido is a monster. What is wrong with people?? The things he put Jaycee Dugard through are unimaginable to any normal, sane person. It makes you want to never let your children out of sight. Jaycee is a survivor, and she is one of the few who actually got lucky and got to go home, even if it was 18 years later. This is not a easy book to read as far as how heart breaking it is. Me being the sappy Mom I am, shed tears a couple times, thinking how horrible it was for her Mom and Jaycee....more

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Aug 07, 2011 Meg ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, z-2011-reads

This is a heart breaking memoir in which the author, Jaycee, spares no details. She tells a story, and while you read her writing it almost feels as if a child wrote it. That's probably a side effect of being locked up, and never allowed an education. It's absolutely horrible what happened to her, and I'm glad that jerk finally got what was coming to him in the end. This book is very graphic and disturbing, yet she is very brave for telling it and moving on with her life.

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Aug 08, 2011 Hinch rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Stolen Life: A Memoir, by Jaycee Dugard, is a disturbing, yet heartwarming personal narrative of the author's abduction, at age 11, and her subsequent 18 year captivity in the backyard of Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

I listened to the audio version of the book, which was read by Jaycee. The prose is simple and direct, yet surprisingly eloquent, and her personal narration adds further emotion to an already poignant story.

The book does not attempt to provide an objective or journalistic account of...more A Stolen Life: A Memoir, by Jaycee Dugard, is a disturbing, yet heartwarming personal narrative of the author's abduction, at age 11, and her subsequent 18 year captivity in the backyard of Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

I listened to the audio version of the book, which was read by Jaycee. The prose is simple and direct, yet surprisingly eloquent, and her personal narration adds further emotion to an already poignant story.

The book does not attempt to provide an objective or journalistic account of the events surrounding the captivity. This is a personal story, and the focus is primarily on Jaycee's remembered experience. There is scant information regarding the physicality of her environment, or even the logistics of her day to day experience; the writing instead reflects the journey of a young girl who was forced to withdraw from the world. It is possible that this inward and subjective focus has affected the accuracy of recollected detail. For example, in the book we are told that during the early years of her captivity, Phillip was returned to federal prison for approximately 1 month for parole violation, when in actuality, it was closer to 5 months.

It should come as no surprise that Jaycee was subjected to extensive emotional and psychological disturbance. The book is clearly the work of a person who, through therapy, is slowly finding the freedom, and the strength, to reassert herself. In fact, I suspect the writing of the book formed a significant role in the recovery process - and it is probable that the composition of the narrative has been decidedly influenced by an attempt to make sense of past experiences.

The book is a fascinating account, not just for what is explicitly revealed, but also for what is implied, and omitted. For example, Jaycee's journal entries identifying top 10 "wishes" and "favourites" almost exclusively list experiences involving animals and open spaces, no doubt signifying her diminished human contact, and her desire to escape the claustrophobia of her captivity. In a similar vain, large tracts of the book focus on the many pets she kept over the years. On the surface, some readers may find these passages boring and mundane - and to a degree, they are - but such thinking also misses the point, for these passages offer a unique glimpse at how Jaycee strived to keep her sanity and identity in a world where her mind and body were totally dominated.

The story unfolds in three rather distinct phases. The first, covering her abduction, and the initial 6-7 years of captivity, is the most explicitly disturbing. At only age 11, we learn of the deep psychological wounds inflicted on Jaycee - separated from her family, handcuffed and isolated in a shed, and repeatedly raped by Phillip during drug-fuelled "runs" that would sometimes last for days on end.

The second phase, which commences with the birth of her second child, covers the remainder of her captivity. It is during this period that Phillip and Nancy partially assimilate Jaycee and her children into their pseudo family. Jaycee begins to work as a graphic designer for Phillip's printing business, and she is occasionally permitted to leave the house to go thrift store shopping with Nancy. There is no mention of continued sexual abuse, but Jaycee is still the victim of Phillip's psychological domination, deteriorating mental condition, and the target of his delusional religious notions. If you put the first half of the book and obvious oddities aside - such as Jaycee living in a tent in the backyard, and using a bucket for a toilet - you could almost be forgiven for thinking that sections of this second phase were not penned by an abused captive, but rather the stereotypical teenager - annoyed that she cannot drive, frustrated that she is under appreciated, angry that her "dad" is lazy, and resentful of her lack of freedom. Again, the fact that Jaycee elects to express this side of her experience is in itself informative, not to mention that this teenage angst was expressed whilst Jaycee was actually in her twenties.

The third phase of the book focuses on Jaycee's post-release therapy and recovery, and her transition back into society. The text is steep in self-help language, and flush with affirmations of growing confidence. This phase of the story provides Jaycee with an opportunity to mark out her own aspirations and to sketch her own identity apart from the psychological control of her past.

I am giving this book 4 stars out of 5. There are those that will undoubtedly see this as a slight against Jaycee, and a disrespect for the injustice she experienced. However, I do not consider past trauma or personal suffering as guarantors of perfect writing. Jaycee declares in the introduction that her account may seem confusing, or disordered, and while I do not consider it such, she does jump from memory to memory, at the expense of providing an well edited and balanced account. We learn little of the Garrido's, and less of the children; the environment in which they live is barely explored. Even short news articles from the period offer revelations that rival those presented in the book. For example I've read of a witness who saw Jaycee at a gas station, only a couple of years after her disappearance, standing motionless, staring at a "missing persons" picture of herself - presumably just one of the many significant moments omitted from the book. Though in many way, we should not be surprised: the torment began at such a young age, and continued for so many years, it's almost like the goal posts of normality never had a chance to stand, and as such, Jaycee lacked the reference points against which to provide a balanced account of her experience. I guess this is just another of the many rights that were so inhumanely stolen from her life the day she was taken away.(less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Amber J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-from-03-2012-to-03-2013

Out of all the books I have read I can honestly say that I have never had one I could honestly say changed my life, until now.

I have heard and seen many stories of child abuse, so this story hits close to home. I can't get over how well written it was, considering the fact that Jaycee has only had a fifth grade education and did not have the help of a ghost writer as most memoirs do. Jaycee's message is one that should be heard by all.

At the age of eleven Philip and Nancy Garrido robbed Jaycee o...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Kerry Connelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-a-copy, abduction-captivity-survival

Iv'e been looking forward to reading this book and was glad when it arrived in my mail box today.
I have just finnished it and although you can't really "rate" a book of this nature - a book based on someones truamatic experiences, i was ever so slightly dissapointed with it.

Jaycee Dugard I think is an amazing lady, all interviews i have seen her in she is bright and intelligent with a remakably bright spirit and confidence about her, a beautiful lady with a wide smile.

(*GOOD INTERVIEW to watch...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Leanna Henderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book in a day and a half, which probably would have been a day if I didn't have a family. :) I actually bought this hardback, which is something i never do. It's certainly a fascinating story, and a insightful look at how the mind of a manipulator and his captive work. We must remember that Jaycee was just a little girl when this monster took her from her family. She knew what he did was terribly evil and wrong, yet after years of abuse and what amounts to brainwashing, she came...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Doug Bradshaw rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having followed the Elizabeth Smart abduction, trial and consequences here in SLC, when I heard about what had happened to Jaycee Dugard, my heart went out to her big time and I've been fascinated to hear more about her story and to find out as much as possible about the case. As I finished up her book and take of her own life, I was amazed at how well she seems to have come out of it all and how well adjusted and loving she seems to be.

The book is pretty simple and straight forward. If you don'...more Having followed the Elizabeth Smart abduction, trial and consequences here in SLC, when I heard about what had happened to Jaycee Dugard, my heart went out to her big time and I've been fascinated to hear more about her story and to find out as much as possible about the case. As I finished up her book and take of her own life, I was amazed at how well she seems to have come out of it all and how well adjusted and loving she seems to be.

The book is pretty simple and straight forward. If you don't already know, she was kidnapped when she was 11 years old by a convicted rapist and pedophile and then kept in his compound for 18 years, undetected by his parole officers. During that time she was used as a sex slave and bore two daughters that she raised at the compound. It is clear that he was a manipulative, drugged out, selfish creep who totally controlled young submissive Jaycee in every way. He was married and it's also clear that his wife Nancy was also under his manipulative and controlling spell, because she did nothing to set Jaycee free or to stop the abuse.

So Jaycee lived through 18 years of living in a tent or other areas of the compound without a toilet or shower, raising two young children, being fed when Philip and or Nancy where in the mood to feed her and then, while she was still young enough to be sexually attractive to him, he would have a meth "run" and use her sometimes for several days in a row to perform various sexual acts, etc., after-which he would apologize and promise her it would be the last time.

She is such a sweet and innocent person. It almost seems as if she were still eleven years old when she wrote the story. She was genuinely worried whether her mother would accept her back because she had the two children. She was still confused at some of her feelings for Philip and still believed in much of the garbage he had fed her in his attempt to justify his behavior.

I'm glad it was written from this naive perspective. In the meantime, just as in the case with Elizabeth Smart, I personally feel that capital punishment would be called for and probably too nice. He deserves cruel and unusual punishment.

Reading the story brought out a bunch of thoughts: from the amazing resilience of the human spirit, to comparing her life to the lives of so many children who are and have been abused by their own parents, to what we as a society should do differently to get these animals off the streets. How many children out there are going through similar lives right now?

There's also a direct correlation to the horrible recent case of Warren Jeffs and how he controlled multiple wives, young girls God told him to marry and then the descriptions of his sexual exploits of these children all while his other wives watched on all naked, etc. Brother. Why are we so worried about the Taliban when similar folks are living close by?

I'm happy Jaycee made it through all of this. She is a miracle. I hope she will let us take part in her life in the future. I have my fingers crossed that all will go well for her.

I also have loved watching Elizabeth Smart blossom into one sharp, wonderful, human being. Amazing. (less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Mallory Macdonald rated it 3 of 5 stars

"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is a mind blowing book because it is a memoir of a girl who was kidnapped at age eleven and was held against her will and forced into a new family for eighteen years. She writes exactly what she remembers from the experience and her thoughts at the time and her reflection looking back on it. She was kidnapped from Lake Tahoe when she was only a young age of eleven and wasn't rescued in till she was twenty nine. Her new "family" kept her hidden in a spare room in...more "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is a mind blowing book because it is a memoir of a girl who was kidnapped at age eleven and was held against her will and forced into a new family for eighteen years. She writes exactly what she remembers from the experience and her thoughts at the time and her reflection looking back on it. She was kidnapped from Lake Tahoe when she was only a young age of eleven and wasn't rescued in till she was twenty nine. Her new "family" kept her hidden in a spare room in their backyard. Jaycee endured abuse of all kinds but especially sexual abuse and was forced to become a mother at age fourteen. By the time she was found she had two children, and neither Jaycee or her children had any type of proper education. No one ever noticed the beyond suspicious behavior of this so called "family".

Jaycee Dugard uses a lot of stylistic devices in her book such as normal chapters for her telling us what happened, and then after each chapter she writes a reflection about what she feels about that particular situation now. She also includes the few pictures she has from growing up, which helps us better understand her brief childhood. She also includes journal entries that she actually wrote while she was still in the hands of her "family" and they are her direct thoughts from that exact moment in time. It's really interesting to see how well that little girl handles this whole situation and how she puts up for it for so long. She also uses some good imagery and some selective diction that relates back to what happened to her. Jaycee reveals the theme of this intense memoir to be, enjoy every moment of the time you have with your family because you never know what will happen. One day she was with her real mom and next she was forced into being one and not even remembering her real family members faces. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a realistic yet sad, and dark toned story line with a amazing outcome. I would not advise younger children to read this because there is a lot of drug and sexual references. This book really makes you thankful for what you have and how there is a way out of even the most impossible situations. (less)

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Aug 12, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW. I was hesitant to read this book, having heard that the writing wasn't very good and that it tells the same story we've all heard in news articles, etc. I broke down and bought it yesterday and then stayed up until 3 am reading it. The writing, to me, is what made it worthwhile. I love that Jaycee wrote it herself. She has only a 5th grade education and always dreamed of being an author. The writing style is a constant reminder that her life was, indeed, stolen. Given her education level, t...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Natalia Sulca rated it 2 of 5 stars

I agree with everything Ashley Horning said here.
"Let's be honest- this was more of a therapeutic assignment rather than anything else.

Initially I was interested in reading this because I wanted to know the 'complete' story. Unfortunately I felt that what I read I had read before in magazine articles. There was little new information. I felt like to go along with her recovery the author was given free range and told to most likely just 'writer her story'. While I can understand that it must ha...more

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May 18, 2013 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a mother of 2 and another on the way, I found this book to be a difficult read. You'd like to put on your rose colored glasses and forget about all the bad in the world but that's just not realistic. I rated this 5 stars because of Jaycee's honesty in her memoir. It must have been extremely hard writing this not only because she had to relive it but is sharing what happened to her with complete strangers all over the world. After 18 years of being held captive she is refusing to act bitter. W...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Horrific; that is the one word that sums up this book. The things I look for in a memoir are good writing and brutal honesty. Jaycee manages both as she tells about her life as a prisoner of a mentally deranged sex offender. At its heart it is the story of a little girl’s courage as she endures unending torture and still come out the other end capable of loving relationships.

What hit home the most for me is my own daughter is 11 years old right now and she constantly wants to hug me, like all th...more Horrific; that is the one word that sums up this book. The things I look for in a memoir are good writing and brutal honesty. Jaycee manages both as she tells about her life as a prisoner of a mentally deranged sex offender. At its heart it is the story of a little girl’s courage as she endures unending torture and still come out the other end capable of loving relationships.

What hit home the most for me is my own daughter is 11 years old right now and she constantly wants to hug me, like all the time. One of Jaycee’s last memories prior to being kidnapped was she had scolded her mother the night before for forgetting to kiss her goodbye in the morning. That morning her mom forgot once again. It is clear this action affected her deeply and I can only imagine what this has done to her mom over the years since. It makes me more mindful to hug my daughter when she wants to, because the extremely rare stranger abduction aside, there will come a day when she is a teenager when she won’t want to anymore.

I like how she tells the events in a straight forward manner and then reflects back on her feelings about those same events. I do not know the time frame between the two, but you can tell she has spent the time processing her thoughts and feelings. As she states in the introduction, the book would be different yet again if she were to write it ten years from now. I also would agree when reflecting on the abuse that she does not understand why anyone would do those things to another human being, let alone a little girl. It is such a simple statement but yet so powerful. It washes away all of her abusers justifications for his abhorrent actions.

The only unfortunate tone found in the book is she spends a lot of time indirectly making it clear how much control and influence her abuser had over her life. It is sad that she finds it necessary to express this as obviously she has been questions by unthinking people as to whether she had a part in her abuse over the 19 years. Stuff like Why didn’t you just run away? Those opinions are idiotic and people forget that she was just a little girl and has no part and no blame in anything that happened. The fact she is as resilient as she now seems is a testament to her personal strength.

This is a powerful book that will make you hug your children a little closer, and show you just how strong the spirit of one young girl can be in the face of complete evil. It shows that scenarios depicted in books like Room can unfortunately be real, and we need to speak up when we see the abuse of children in our lives.
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Aug 07, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jaycee Lee Durgard's life experience is unthinkable, almost surreal. Picture A little naive eleven year old girl taken by force with a Tazar gun and subjected to utmost horrors by an evil crazed man. She was able to survive by following her instincts, reading the danger signals, and finally having to play his dirty game. She was held in bondage and isolation in gorrido's back yard until her need to be with people began to make even him look like a friend. I have always had a concern when people...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-memoir, read-in-2012

This book was was at the same time, horrible and inspiring! What Jaycee Dugard had to endure from the time she was kidnapped at age 11 till she was rescued 18 years later is nothing short of disturbing! She tells her story so honestly, it breaks your heart. She goes back and forth from the voice of little Jaycee to the woman she is now, in her reflections back. This book is very well done!

What makes me really sad, though is the way she feels the need throughout the book, to explain why she didn...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Ashley Horning rated it 2 of 5 stars

Let's be honest- this was more of a therapeutic assignment rather than anything else.

Initially I was interested in reading this because I wanted to know the 'complete' story. Unfortunately I felt that what I read I had read before in magazine articles. There was little new information. I felt like to go along with her recovery the author was given free range and told to most likely just 'writer her story'. While I can understand that it must have been quite hard for her I do feel that someone c...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jul 12, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

I started the book after work today and just finished. It had to be done in one sitting, I had to read until she was OK.
I am so amazed at her courage, not only in surviving everything that was done to her but then to write this book. It had to have felt nearly impossible to have to relive some of these memories.
It's hard to review a story when it's not really a story. This was her life and it's told in very graphic detail at times. I read some chapters through tears and spent a huge part of the...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Bonita Caesar rated it 2 of 5 stars

I give much credit to Jaycee Dugard for her bravery in recounting her experience. It was interesting to be able to see, through her eyes, what disburbed people her captors were, what an unbelieveable nightmare her life became, and how her mind & spirit could be fragile, yet strong at the same time. And I think when you read it, that's how you have to approach it - as a personal recounting. It's a bit repetitive in places, and the focus is sometimes on things that were important or symbolic t...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-ebook

Oh my God Bless this child and God Bless this woman! What an awful thing to happen to this little girl but SHE turned into such an AMAZING woman and Mom. I honestly don't know how I woukd have survived an ordeal like this, not to mention have tge ability to love her children by this man! Jaycee Dugard....you inspire me to be a more forginving person. God bless you and your little girls and may God judge them harshlt for what they have done to you.

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Aug 25, 2011 Su Armitage rated it 4 of 5 stars

Poor Jaycee! Somehow she came out of that horrible, twisted 18 years somewhat intact. She had to learn new ways of thinking, planning, dig deep to find confidence and independence...all while helping her daughters grow too. How well other mistreated children (and adults) would fully come back into life if they had the resources that were given to Jaycee & her kids! This was an interesting book, although I can't say I was surprised at anything I read, or at her thoughts. I've read enough to u...more

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A Stolen Life	2	19	May 12, 2013 04:41pm
what do you think of the book?	35	124	May 08, 2013 08:46am
Speaker Geeks!: Kidnap Victims: Why didn't they run?	7	19	May 01, 2013 01:25pm
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About Jaycee Dugard

The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991, when she was 11 years old. Dugard was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated. She remained missing for more than 18 years.

On August 25, 2009, convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido visited the c...more

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Quotes from A Stolen Life

“I learned in therapy the word "No" is a complete sentence.” — 64 people liked it

“I don't believe in hate. To me it wastes too much time. People who hate waste so much of their life hating that they miss out on all the other stuff out here.” — 57 people liked it

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