Christopher, Lucy - Stolen: A Letter to My Captor "Revisit"- Start Date November 8, 2014

[Danielle]

Questions and Comments for third section by Lisarenee

(view spoiler)[
1) She's sixteen? I thought she was older. I thought she was maybe 18. Were you surprised?

2) The whole drunk in the park? Creepy. This reminds me a little of a story about a well known actress. I think she was the pretty blonde in that sitcom Bosom Buddies. Where Tom Hanks and his friend dress up like woman so they can live in an all women's boarding house or apartment complex. Anyway, she told some guy he had good taste or some such thing because he had the same car as she did and he ended up stalking her. Sad when little things such as that can lead to some creepy person becoming obsessed with someone.

3) He was stalking her for 6 years. He knew her friends.*shudder* Sounds like he's giving himself kudos for not having feelings for her when she was younger????? Hello. If she's sixteen now, when did these feelings start because he had to be planning this for some time. Do you think her parents knew about him? Wasn't there something about Gemma's mother being a bit paranoid? Maybe it didn't all have to do with the miscarriages? Perhaps they'd noticed him before?

4) I think everyone has heard of Stockholm syndrome. Parts of me wonder if Gemma will end up falling victim to this. The guy is gorgeous, she says he looks like a supermodel, and he possibly saved her from being attacked. Do you find all this information about him a bit confusing?

5) Do you think he lied to her about her parents wanting to send her away and her friend not being comfortable with her because of her feelings about her boyfriend?

6) Gemma keeps taking jabs at him like naming the camel Stolen. Do you think it's wise? Do you think you could reason with someone like him?

7) With Ty having interfered with Josh, do you think someone, if they caught her on video with Ty, might think she knew him and went willingly? Could this complicate the search efforts?
(hide spoiler)]

My answers...
(view spoiler)[

1) She's sixteen? I thought she was older. I thought she was maybe 18. Were you surprised?
I don't feel like I was too surprised, I think they may have mentioned this in the beginning, am I wrong? or did I just assume correctly?

2) The whole drunk in the park? Creepy. This reminds me a little of a story about a well known actress. I think she was the pretty blonde in that sitcom Bosom Buddies. Where Tom Hanks and his friend dress up like woman so they can live in an all women's boarding house or apartment complex. Anyway, she told some guy he had good taste or some such thing because he had the same car as she did and he ended up stalking her. Sad when little things such as that can lead to some creepy person becoming obsessed with someone.
I think that Ty was totally creepy for being 'the drunk in the park'

3) He was stalking her for 6 years. He knew her friends.*shudder* Sounds like he's giving himself kudos for not having feelings for her when she was younger????? Hello. If she's sixteen now, when did these feelings start because he had to be planning this for some time. Do you think her parents knew about him? Wasn't there something about Gemma's mother being a bit paranoid? Maybe it didn't all have to do with the miscarriages? Perhaps they'd noticed him before?
This absolutely makes me want to shudder, too. And I find it also kind of creepy - unsure when his feelings started for her.. I guess it was that time at the park with Josh following her, but they do not really state how old she was at that point. I do not think her parents knew about him, if they did I feel like they'd have more hints on trying to find her, that's for sure.

4) I think everyone has heard of Stockholm syndrome. Parts of me wonder if Gemma will end up falling victim to this. The guy is gorgeous, she says he looks like a supermodel, and he possibly saved her from being attacked. Do you find all this information about him a bit confusing?
Sometimes it's so strange the way she describes/writes about him.... it can be kind of confusing.

5) Do you think he lied to her about her parents wanting to send her away and her friend not being comfortable with her because of her feelings about her boyfriend?
I am not sure he'd lie about that, but maybe he did.... I feel so bad that her parents wanted to send her away, though. I think he picked a very convienant time to tell her that bit of info, though.

6) Gemma keeps taking jabs at him like naming the camel Stolen. Do you think it's wise? Do you think you could reason with someone like him?
I love that she keeps doing that, and I'm sure it's fine, I think he deserves it to be honest... and I think that he loves her so much that he wouldn't do anything really to her in that sense. I would not be able to reason with someone like him. I hold a grudge, and a baddd grudge at that.

7) With Ty having interfered with Josh, do you think someone, if they caught her on video with Ty, might think she knew him and went willingly? Could this complicate the search efforts?
I think whether she went willingly or not they'd still be searching for her.

I do want to add in that I can't believe she DIDN'T try harder to jam him into the camel, or out of the car and just speed off when she had the chance. I wouldn't have even thought twice about it. (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

I read my 50 pages earlier but I don't get off work until 11:30 pm so I will be sharing my thoughts then! I will say that I liked this section a lot more than the first two

[RachelvlehcaR]

I couldn't help myself. I finished it.

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "Yeah, its scary definitely... I know whenever I'm in the dark I get nervous about going to my car, etc.. not that I've ever been abducted or anything, but just the thought of it... *cringes*

I was..."

I agree with you (view spoiler)[I felt so bad for the camel. I was worried that Ty was going to kill it, and it upset me. (hide spoiler)]

[Danielle]

Karla wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Yeah, its scary definitely... I know whenever I'm in the dark I get nervous about going to my car, etc.. not that I've ever been abducted or anything, but just the thought of it......"

I know, right? (view spoiler)[ That made me so upset, too. So nervous for the poor baby camel. (notice how he picked the youngest female, too....*raises eyebrow*) (hide spoiler)]

[Danielle]

Ducky - I am working on my next 50 pages in a little bit, going to be ending at page 200 tonight! woo!

Rachel - already finished it again for the second time? WOW! :)

[Karla]

I've read up to page 216. (view spoiler)[Gemma is kind of stupid, the way she took off in the car. She wasn't prepared for the heat. And then, when she stripped off all of her clothes while she was walking. What was she thinking! She should have waited, got the camel to trust her, packed away some fruit and water, and then escaped riding the camel. (hide spoiler)]

[Danielle]

I am telling myself *do not click spoiler, do not click spoiler!* because I am sooo tempted but am not that far yet.

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "I am telling myself *do not click spoiler, do not click spoiler!* because I am sooo tempted but am not that far yet."

Lol. My comment has to do with what happened up to page 189. I went back and checked.

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "Karla wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Yeah, its scary definitely... I know whenever I'm in the dark I get nervous about going to my car, etc.. not that I've ever been abducted or anything, but just the th..."

Yeah, (view spoiler)[easier to control/break (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

Okay I feel like I am so behind but I WILL finish tonight

[Danielle]

I am not finishing the book tonight, but reading up to page 200 like we're supposed to lol

[Beth]

Random thoughts:

(view spoiler)[I guess we are supposed to be swoony after Ty says that he kidnapped Gemma because of Josh and everything else, but like... he could have contacted police or told her parents or SOMETHING. He had no right to STEAL HER FROM HER LIFE and take her to middle of fucking nowhere. So I just don't ever think I could support them and I have a hard time thinking he's even a good person even though he has taken care of her. He's still an abusive kidnapper and weirds me out. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Karla wrote: "I've read up to page 216. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know, very stupid. Then again she is only 16 and some 16 year olds are a bit more immature than others. I was like wow, okay. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Also he is like 9 years older than her. He is an adult when he first sees her and an adult when he kidnaps her. The interesting part to me is you see the Stockholm Syndrome happening as we are reading a lot. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Danielle wrote: "Ducky - I am working on my next 50 pages in a little bit, going to be ending at page 200 tonight! woo!

Rachel - already finished it again for the second time? WOW! :)"

LOL, I know. I was curious to see how I'd feel reading this again for the second time. I ended up writing another review, the first time I've read it and the second reading.

[Beth]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[And irl, I will fully support every person that has Stockholm Syndrome. I will be there for them whenever they need me, but just because they "love" their abuser, that does not mean that I have to approve of their relationship. And that's how I feel about this book. It's not love if he kidnaps her. I could go on a long rant about this haha. (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoying.

[Beth]

Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoying."

I just don't connect with them at all

[Karla]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "I've read up to page 216. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"
True

[Karla]

Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoying."

I just don't connect with them at all"

(view spoiler)[ I don't think Ty is an adult, mentally. I think living on his own as a child has stunted his growth, so I don't think he understands what he did was wrong. I think he should be locked up in an asylum. (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoying."

I just don't connect ..."

What constitutes him being (view spoiler)[ locked up in an asylum. I'm not sure if that's always the answer. That doesn't help everyone. Most people that go in don't ever come out. What makes you think that he should be in an asylum instead of prison? There are plenty of people in prison that don't believe that they did anything wrong. Should these people be in an asylum as well? What are your merits for thinking that he should be in an asylum? (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoying."

I just ..."

I have read up to page 234, so you might want to wait to read this, (view spoiler)[Being alone for years does something to a person, especially a child. I don't think he is mentally an adult. I think his mind was stunted from being alone all that time and almost dying. I think he truly believes he saved Gemma from her life. He has not tried to rape her, or really touch her. He took care of her after her last escape attempt. I just don't think he is an evil person. I think he is damaged from years of neglect. If he does what he promised and actually takes Gemma back, I think he can be saved, so putting him in prison wouldn't be the right choice. If he goes into a mental hospital (which, I guess, might be different from an asylum), he might get the help that he needs.

Had Ty not been neglected in anyway, I would say lock him up! If he had (or does) rape her, or hurt her physically in anyway, my opinion would be different.

I just think you need to take into account someone's history before condemning them.

Oh, I think most people in prison who think they did nothing wrong are sociopaths and should be locked up forever. There is a difference between a man in his 40s that kidnaps a teen/child/anyone really, and holds them forever raping/starving/beating daily, and an immature, mentally stunted "man" in his 20s who thinks he has "rescued" someone, never touches them, and then lets them go(I'm guessing on this part). (hide spoiler)] but I actually gave an answer to your question under my first spoiler.

[Danielle]

Karla wrote: "I've read up to page 216. [spoilers removed]"

I want to comment on this... (view spoiler)[ of course being prepared to actually escape is a better idea then just going for it, but for her I think when she got the opportunity she just ran for it and took it, and I'm not sure I blame her at all. If she was preparing for the escape then I feel like he would've known & definitely wouldn't have allowed it to happen, and also would've taken the opportunity away from her.

Also, he should DEF. be going to prison - NO one kidnaps someone and sees how she is completely afraid/sad/terrified and thinks he didn't do anything wrong. He knows what he did is wrong, he just is seeing it in a weird way like he 'rescued/saved' her.... (hide spoiler)]

[Cathie]

I finished it. I'm so glad I decided to re-read this book with you all. There were parts I had forgotten about. It was as great the 2nd time around as it was the first ☺

Here is my mainly pictorial review of the book. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[RachelvlehcaR]

Karla wrote: "Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoyin..."

I liked what you wrote and just placed my reply in a spoiler. It doesn't give away the ending.

(view spoiler)[It find it interesting that we are able to break it down and actually able to sympathize for Ty. What he did is wrong and he knew it. There is no denying that. Joi, I think you were able to see he wasn't right in his head. His childhood really affected him in some bad ways and I think you broke that down to really think about it. That's why I rated the book so high. This is a book that makes you really think about things, especially the end. Even if you didn't enjoy the book or it creeped you out. If it makes you stop and think about it I think it's a really worthy book. I've read books and was disgusted by it then found myself thinking about it for days. I reflected back to it and was like wow, even thought I didn't like this book, it's a great book because it made my feelings stronger or made me think about this or that. (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she i..."

I finished the book, so the spoiler gives away the ending...

It was me who (view spoiler)[Pointed out that Ty wasn't mentally there. I seem to be in the minority who thinks Ty can be saved/fixed with help. He didn't have to save Gemma, he didn't have to turn himself in. Going to prison will just make another life-time criminal. I am not saying Ty shouldn't be held accountable for his actions, I just think things should be taken into consideration when sentencing him (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "Karla wrote: "I've read up to page 216. [spoilers removed]"

I want to comment on this... of course being prepared to actually escape is a better idea then just going for it, but for her I think w..."

I understand that (view spoiler)[Gemma took the opportunity to escape. I'm just saying she was stupid to take off all of her clothes. But, I guess she had heatstroke by then and wasn't in her right mind. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Karla wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems ..."

I totally agree with you Karla.

[Karla]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Karla wrote: "Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. H..."

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not all alone in thinking that.

[Joi]

I finished this book. It wasn't great by any means. It only got 3 stars from me. (Closer to 2.5 but the writing style tipped it to 3).

[Joi]

Karla wrote: "Joi wrote: "Karla wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Joi wrote: "Beth (Ducky) wrote: "Random thoughts:

[spoilers removed]"

I feel the same exact way. He still seems like a creep and she is just annoyin..."

Once I read the part about (view spoiler)[him waking up screaming and Gemma coming in and holding him (hide spoiler)] I got what you were saying. I'm still not convinced on the asylum thing though. It's hard for me to truly believe that asylums are true punishment. Maybe you can enlighten me. I do think that Ty needs help...but is that help not available in jail/prison? And if it isn't ... why not?

[Danielle]

I'm trying not to read any of the spoilers. I am at the end of this book & am eager to finish but am stuck at work. *ho hum* but right when I get home I will be picking it up to finish the last few pages.. and then I'll be back here to let everyone know how I officially feel/think about it... if I can wrap my thoughts about it lol

[Karla]

Joi wrote: I got what you were saying. I'm still not convinced on the asylum thing though. It's hard for me to truly believe that asylums are true punishment. Maybe you can enlighten me. I do think that Ty needs help...but is that help not available in jail/prison? And if it isn't ... why not? "

I don't know anything about the Australian prison system, so my opinion is based on what I've heard about the American prison system. I just don't think prisons are really set up to "help" people. There are riots, and prisoners beat up/rape/kill other prisoners. There are also prison guards who beat up/rape/kill prisoners. People come out of it more damaged than they were when they went in. Because of Ty's personality and his past (view spoiler)[his nightmares (hide spoiler)] I think he would end up the victim of one of the other prisoners. And if that were to happen, I think he would be lost. If he could be kept away from other prisoners and receive counseling, than I wouldn't be against him going to prison, but I don't think that happens. In a hospital, he would get the help that he needs and wouldn't (most likely) get raped or abused in anyway. But, he would also be locked away. He wouldn't be allowed to leave until he served his time. There are some hospitals that are connected to the prison system. I would think they treat their criminal patients differently than those who are not criminals.

[Danielle]

Wow....

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "Wow...."

what?

[Danielle]

Karla wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Wow...."

what?"

Just how I felt about the book, haha.. I was a bit bummed that they didn't really tell us what happened, as far as his sentencing, etc..

[Karla]

Danielle wrote: "Karla wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Wow...."

what?"

Just how I felt about the book, haha.. I was a bit bummed that they didn't really tell us what happened, as far as his sentencing, etc.."

Yeah, I felt that way too.