by Lucy Christopher
Publication date: May, 2009
Source: Bought
Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.
My Review :
Favourite Quote: "Lets face it, you did steal me. But you saved my life too. And somewhere in the middle, you showed me a place so different and beautiful, I can never get it out of my mind. And I can't get you out of there either. You're stuck in my brain like my own blood vessels."
Stolen is one huge emotional rollercoaster ride. It had my stomach all tied up in knots and made my heart ache but it was AMAZING. Truly, a stunning and thought provoking read.
Lucy Christopher is a brilliant writer. She really get you thinking about what is right and wrong and the place in between. The plot was intense and captivating just like the characters. Stolen is a story that you get emotionally invested in. And the way Christopher vividly describes how stunningly gorgeous the land really is and how deadly it can be, makes it feel like it is another important character in this tale.
When I think of Gemma the first word that comes to mind is brave. To be put in that situation at 16 I don't know if I could have handled it with as much strength as she did. She never gave up hope for escape even when her feelings towards Ty began to change.
Ty, wow, what a damaged yet frighteningly beautiful soul. Even though it is written from Gemma's POV, I felt we got Ty story as well. He is a character that haunts your thoughts. I was so confused about how I felt about him. I know what he did was wrong and I should be disgusted by him but I liked him. You could see why he thought what he did was right in his head. Just thinking about him breaks my heart.
The ending it made me cry like a baby and it hurt. I know some people will disagree with me but I really wish it could have ended another way. Yet I see that it would have been impossible.
Stolen, is an unforgettable and breathtaking story that I highly recommend. Just make sure you are ready for a few tears.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
For more info: Visit Lucy's Christopher's website.
For more rave reviews: Visit Inkcrush and My Girl Friday
This is an Australian title that is available internationally. Great book for the Aussie YA Reading Challenge 2011.
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34 comments:
I really liked this book too. It was SO well written!
I would have liked the ending to be different too but I think it had to be that way otherwise the wrong message would have been conveyed. I don't think saying that spoils anything but if you disagree please feel free to delete my comment.
Also, Lucy Christopher's other book, Flyaway, is very different but is a really beautiful read.
http://www.thetalescompendium.com/2010/04/flyaway-by-lucy-christopher.html
Awwwhh, I'm so glad you loved it! I completely know what you mean by not really sure how to feel about Ty, but while I didn't end up liking him much I can totally see why others do. And I don't really think it could have ended any other way, despite this feeling that Lucy might've pulled something out of thin air :p. Anyways, great review!
Oh you summed up my thoughts about this book perfectly! I really enjoyed it as well.
Wow what an amazing review, your passion for this book translates with every word. I have not read this one yet, but I now have a strong need to rush out and buy it now.
Great review Nic! I've definitely added this to my TBR list after this review.
Btw, thanks for your well wishes on my blog. My family and I don't live near Christchurch, thank goodness, and all our friends up there are safe. Thanks for thinking of me :)
Brilliant Nic
I agree with you on the ending ~ and I agree (sadly) with Jess's comment. I think it was the right ending but it KILLED me. It still KILLS me!
Have an awesome weekend!
I love Stolen! It was one of my favourite books of 2010. I cried at the ending too. So sad!
I seem to be one of the only people who didnt' fall in love with this book. Maybe I should re-read it sometime.
Loved your review! :)
I have heard loads about this book and have been wanting to pick this up. But it seems every time I go in the bookstore its never in stock! Nice review :)
When I opened up this review I was wondering if I should read thi book or not...I guess I should! :) Great review!
Uh Oh, I both love and hate the sound of this one! Love that it's so emotional and that even though Ty does something horrible, you still care for him and he still finds his way under your skin. I do not love the sound of the ending, it makes me nervous! Beautiful review as usual Nic, I'll have to give this one some serious thought:)
I agree, I loved how the author described the landscape. Beautiful, yet dangerous. A bit like Ty, maybe? ;) Really great review, Nic! :)
Sounds an amazing read, thanks for the review.
The psychological aspect of a book like this is more than disturbing. Even if I could sympathize with the Ty, I could never bring myself to accept or understand. Of course I'm talking out of my arse because I haven't read Stolen yet, but as of now, I can't find anything appealing about him, even after reading your description of him.
My mind just automatically goes to a place where it wants to rant. What if he had the same damaged yet frighteningly beautiful soul but was out of shape and not attractive? Would he still someone we could see was doing the right thing in his head? Does the physical beauty of someone make us more able to forgive them?
Regardless, I now really want to read this book, Nic. I love books that inspire discussion, book nerd that I am. And this one sounds like it would.
Fabulous, thought provoking review. Thank you!
I so want to read this book. I love it when an author isn't afraid to tackle a controversial or psychological issue...and they do it well. Fabulous review of a book I'm dying to read :)
you know: stolen is the book i pick up everytime i'm in a bookstore. the blurb had me scared though: it could so easily cross over into bad daytime television...
but you have said all of these wonderful things about it... i'm just gonna have to pick it up and take it all the way to the counter next time.
lovely review!
Thanks for all the comments. I really appreciate them and glad this review inspired some of you to want to pick up Stolen.
@ Missie, loved your comment! If you pick up Stolen we will definitely have a discussion! I think that you are right about Ty being good looking and young helps us like him more. But no matter what he look likes I think he still would have a damaged yet frighteningly beautiful soul :)
@ Jess, Audrey & Nomes - I know you are both right about the ending but just a tiny bit of me wanting something else.
@ Rachel - I am so glad to hear you are okay. My thoughts are with all of you over there in NZ.
@ Misha - The ending broke my heart :(
@ Nicole - I can't believe you haven't read it! It is nothing like daytime TV lol :)
I definitely want to check this one out. I'm wondering how it ends! I like books like these even though sometimes they are hard to read. One of my fave names is Gemma. Great review :)
You're on!
I ordered the book earlier today, after reading yours and Nomes reviews.
I'll soon need to take out a second mortgage because of your book recs. ;)
This story sounds amazing! I love books that deal with psychological issues since I'm a psych major :) Great review, Nic!
Thanks for this review! l have this on my shelf, going to read it soon after seeing this review =)
I've heard such great things about this book. I recently read another books with kidnapping and was a little disappointed by so by your review I'm hoping I will love Stolen as much as you.
Powerful review...I really want to read this one..I think I need to be in the right frame of mind first, ready to take on the dark stuff.
I LOVED this book. I get what you mean about the ending, though!! I didn't want it to end the way it did, but I think that is the ending that was the best, no matter how sad it made me! :(
I cannot wait to read this one! It's been sitting on my shelf for a while, but I just haven't had the chance to get to it yet. Beautiful review, Nic - can't wait to pick this one up now and I love the quotes you picked out.
Stolen made my favourite read list in 2010. Totally agree with you about Christopher's writing ... breathtaking! Wonderful review Nic!
You have to know I'm happy that I picked up this rec from you. I had my mind set to hate Ty no matter what and that probably wasn't a fair way to approach the story.
I'm flawed... what can I say. LOL
LOL Missie! I don't think you are the only one who didn't like Ty but I am a softy (do you even use the word is the States?). I think he is one of those characters you love or hate. No in between :D
I love this book probably the best book i EVER read! :)
I loved the book Stolen by Lucy Christopher. At the start of the book you want to hate Ty, but by the end you're crying because you don't want him to end up how he does! (I won't spoil the ending for any readers) It is a truly memorable story that stays with you forever.
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