For a while I’ve been wanting to read Stolen. I can’t remember where I first learned about it, but I know it was another book blog. I read the description, then went to Amazon and saw it had a few glowing reviews and decided I needed to read it. But, it wasn’t due out in the US for a few months.
By some miracle I received an ARC for the US release (due this month) and started reading it straight away. From the first few pages I had high hopes it would be a smooth read. Right now I’m at the end of page 84 and all I can think is, Man this is a painfully slow read. (It took me hours to get that far.)
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because the writing or story are bad, but there’s just something about the unfolding of it all that’s stalling my reading. In other words, it’s not holding my attention in the least.
The story so far is about a girl named Gemma who, while is on a layover in Bangkok with her parents, meets and has coffee with a random strange man, and then she wakes up in the middle of nowhere Australia. Basically, she’s kidnapped and is trying to piece together what happened.
Indeed, the subject matter is rather disturbing, but I do love a good psychological study. For whatever reason, though, I’m just not feeling Gemma’s emotional distress. Sure, I can envision what she’s going through, the descriptions are clear and all, but it’s all so scattered it almost feels disingenuous. Maybe someone who’s read the book could clue me into what I’m missing.
I hate to say it, but I need to set this book aside and read something else. (This is the second time I’ve had to do this while reading this book.) There are a few books that have May publication dates, so I’ll probably start on one of those, but I’ll eventually come back to Stolen. I just hope it begins to pick up.
Update July 29, 2010: I’ve finally finished reading the book and have posted my review.
# Lenore wrote on May 14, 2010 at 1:36 pm:
I found it pretty slow too, especially the middle. Which was bad, since I read it during the read-a-thon! But I’m glad I finished it.
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Book Review: Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani =-.
# Ann-Kat wrote on May 14, 2010 at 10:05 pm:
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who finds this book to be a slow read. I was beginning to think something was wrong with me after I’d read all those glowing reviews, but your comment gives me hope that it will pay off in the end.
# DenaLee wrote on May 28, 2010 at 10:07 pm:
Trust me, it will pay off. lol It’s slow at first, but once you discover more about Ty and his past, the book intensifies and gets better from then on. I was thinking the EXACT same thing at first. Just trudge your way through the slow part, and it’ll definitely be worth while.
# Ann-Kat wrote on May 30, 2010 at 8:43 am:
Thank you for the pep talk DenaLee. You’ve given me some hope.
# BLOOM wrote on July 29, 2010 at 11:04 am:
at first i thought it was boring but as i read more it became really interesting. but in the end i was really disappointed. why doesnt it have a happy ending for them both? Gemma could have lied to save him, she knew she loved him
# Ann-Kat wrote on July 31, 2010 at 6:56 pm:
Hi Bloom,
At first and in the middle and at the end I thought the book was boring.
I’ll give you that the camel section and the events following were interesting. I’m not sure how I feel about the end, though. On one hand I’m glad it ended like it did because, seriously, Ty was whacked and just because he wasn’t violent doesn’t make him any less whacked. Then again, he did save her life and that’s gotta count for something.
# Antoinette Ronquillo wrote on September 2, 2010 at 8:24 pm:
This book was pretty good Im not a big reader but this book grasped my attention.
During the middle of the book I agree it was pretty slow and I stopped reading it for 2 weeks but then I continued again for my school book report. The ending of the book was probably the most interesting part in my opinion but how the author ended the story was awful. I think that she could have done something different with it.
# De'Ja wrote on January 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm:
Bloom! you’re totally and utterly right! i sent Lucy and intensified write about the book and making a sequeal and oH! there looking into making a MOVIE! yumm.mhhmm
# annie wrote on January 27, 2011 at 6:19 pm:
a movie awsome i was hoping they would this book is awsome!