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Jaycee Dugard lived near Lake Tahoe with her mother, step father and her young step sister. She had just left home for school when she was taken by Phillip and Nancy Carrido. Lying on the ground before being carried into the car, she touched something hard – a pine cone. She left that and her life as she knew it behind. A three hour drive, handcuffs, loss of her own clothes and blanket on the floor of a sound proof room saw to that.
Jaycee Dugard shares her captivity ordeal in her book A Stolen Life. In the audible version she also reads it. I could have listened to the whole book in a day, but it was a little too much, so I took three days over it. Just finished it this morning.
At eleven years of age, she had to adapt into a life with a sex offender. This man was her only human contact for some months before Nancy-wife became part of her ‘new family’. A family that included two daughters later.
Jaycee was very dependant on her captors, even though there was more freedom for her later. There was a strange bond. This can be explained by Stockholm syndrome (hostges forming a psychological alliance with their captors), Phillip’s strong and strange ideologies and her own wish to survive.
A Stolen Life is a book I recommend. There are many reasons for it. The story is not common and Jaycee tells it well. She includes reflections in it, as as a free, therapy-experienced adult she can see things differently now. Jaycee also wishes to promote overcoming difficulties and hardships. It is indeed good to see a positive outcome after this very depressive time for her. For those interested in psychology the book will be of interest too. Horse lovers will enjoy the benefits of horse therapy and cat lovers can identify in the comfort animals bring. And if can you admit to being a bit nosy – yes – satisfaction can be found in A Stolen Life!
STARS: 4/5
Jaycee was kept in a private home in Antioch, California. Below you can find an arial view of the property. There is no shed to be seen, so things have changed – presumably with new owners! 1554 Walnut street is located surprisingly in rather a built up area:
So what is my next book: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
graphicgrub 