A Stolen Life

A Memoir

By: Jaycee Dugard

Narrated by: Jaycee Dugard

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

"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 dont 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."

©2011 Jaycee Dugard (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Devastatingly real

It is devastating that what happened to Jaycee really happens. But it's good to hear her story in her own words, and encouraging to hear about her love for her daughters and hope for their lives going forward.

She is amazing

I was afraid to read her memoir because I knew the details would be horrendous. First of all, she does an amazing job reading her memoir to us, it nice to hear the voice of this innocent victim. She also shares very profound life lessons about how an abuser can control and exert power over another person. She also provides thought provoking insight on our social values, or lack thereof. JC was among us in broad daylight, shopping, at schools, at the beach. She was afraid to make eye contact because she was afraid someone would recognize her. Overtime she began to realize that it didn't matter, because nobody cared.

...as told by a real person

A few thoughts:

The delivery -
The language is jagged, like each sentence is broken into small, digestible pieces by the narrator (Jaycee). While it is not a Hollywood production, it is honest and completely "listenable". Other reviewers have stated that they had to turn it off because it was such poor delivery. I have to disagree. This girl/woman has been through living hell, and has now taken the courage to share her experiences with us, AND read it to us out loud. This is courage. And to do so with a 5th grade education and a total lack of any sort of a 'normal' life where she could learn to read aloud. If you have any heart at all, you'll overlook the 11 year old narration and listen to the human who is sharing, so that others may know how to cope.

The story-
The story is gritty and gut wrenching. I was listening with my wife, and I couldn't look at here during the 'abuse' parts. I wanted to turn it off. It wasn't excruciatingly graphic, but I assure you that nobody wants to listen to a person describe how she was raped as a child. Beyond that, you'll see how she was manipulated, not through her own descriptions specifically, but through an interpretation of why she responded to her situation in the ways that she did. It isn't so much a babbling brook of a story as a collection of what comprised her life over the years. It's not a "I ate breakfast, had a nap, read a book" story so much as "I did these things to keep myself sane, and they happened months apart" scenario. Don't expect Grisham here. Expect Dugard - Child, Mother, Victim, Hero.

My recommendation-
If you are looking for entertainment, don't get this book. It isn't entertaining. Rather, it is a face-first immersion into the icy reality that bad things do happen to good people. Go into this book with an intentional desire to try to learn what it means to be down-and-out, having lost all control of every aspect of your life. I believe we can learn at least two profoundly important lessons from what Jaycee has shared about her imprisoned life: be grateful for what you have, no matter how little and never give up hope, no matter how faint it may be.

Excellent narration

I disagree with the few reviews that criticized the narration, I thought it was perfect. It's Jaycee telling her own story that made this such a great audio book. You get a sense of what a good and sweet person she is, which when contrasted with the horrible nightmare she endured, makes the story all the more heart wrenching. Though she maintains a positive attitude, and a subtle strength and dignity that is truly endearing. I hope she can follow through with her desire to be an author and write another book with an update on her life ten years from now, and I hope she narrates that one as well.

Wow

What a truly inspiring story and amazing human. I have no other words than just wow.

Jaycee Dugard: a stolen life

This book really gave me insight of Jaycee’s story. I appreciate her openness in such a tragic situation she encountered. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Jaycee for writing this book. She’s my hero & inspiration.

Amazing strength

What did you like best about this story?

It was heartbreaking but Jaycee Dugard has such amazing strength for not only sharing this story but also narrating it herself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Jaycee is an inspiration to all women. I wish we could all have the strength to write our own story, no matter how painful, and share it with the world with such confidence.

SAD AND TOUCHING

Would you consider the audio edition of A Stolen Life to be better than the print version?

When I first started listening I felt a professional narrater would have been better. As the story continued I realized she was the only person right for the read. This lovely woman/child who had her youth destroyed has come through all those unimaginable horrors as a STRONG WOMAN. Everyone with children should read this.

What did you like best about this story?

The raw and unvarnished truth is stranger than fiction.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried in certain areas of her story.

Any additional comments?

Jaycee, I look for good things from you in the future!

Resilience

Loved this book. What a strong resilient woman. To live through this horrific experience and come out on top. my heart goes out to her and her family what an awesome role model ❤ 🙏 ♥

Gripping

It was amazing listening to the author in her own voice. I was absolutely gripped by her story. Her life. Jaycee is so inspirational and strong, after everything she has been through. It was written in a simple way, starting off almost like she was writing at the age of 11, and progressed similarly through the book. It made it even more emotional for me. I wish her and her girls a full and happy life ahead.