A Stolen Life by: Jaycee Dugard Synopsis: 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 survived an impossible situation. On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived. A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it. |
Wow. This story. I can't even put into words what Im feeling. I saw her memoir at a local garage sale yesterday and I IMMEDIATELY knew I needed to read it. I brought it home and finished it in one sitting. Jaycee Dugard was abducted almost 10 years before I was born so obviously I do not remember any of the news stories when it happened. I do remember when she was found though. I was only 8 or 9 years old at the time and even at such a young age, It was so clear that everything I was hearing on tv was so wrong and disturbing. I remember watching the news when they aired the actual videos that Phillip and his wife Nancy filmed at parks and playgrounds of little girls playing. For some reason, that has been ingrained in my head for years. I remember watching it see clearly. I remember being so disgusted.
Reading Jaycee's memoir broke my heart. There is no possible way to even begin comprehending what she went through or how that has affected and will effect her for the rest of her and her children's lives. I have so much respect for this woman because of her strength, courage and the undying amount of love she has of her children. I have no idea how she survived the sexual, physical and physiological abuse that she went through. It blows my mind. This book, while disturbing and unfathomable, was so interesting and to an extent, motivational. I wish Miss. Dugard the best during her continuous recovery and I wish her and her kids, happiness.
One of the (many) things that bothered me a lot through her story though was the media and how to this day, they won't leave the poor woman alone. She writes about not being able to go to her children sports events etc, in fear of being recognized and having people make the connection to her children. I makes me so angry that after everything she went through, people still won't leave her alone. In addition, the law enforcement system infuriated me through out Jaycee's entire ordeal. I can't believe that no one would notice anything. Here you have this man who was previously charged with the raping a different young woman and who is clearly not okay in the head and NO ONE even comments on the children that are living in his house or anything FOR 18 YEARS!? Jaycee says that a few times the parole officers came over, her and her daughters were in the house and even TALKED to the officers under the guise that they were just some neighbours who came to live with them? It just seems extremely fishy to me and makes me so angry and disappointed in the people who are specifically given the job to serve and protect.
This story was so powerful and heart breaking. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who remembers Jaycee and her daughter's story.
Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective on this memoir!