Reads and Thoughts

It's been a couple of days since I've read this and now as I sit here and write a review why do I feel sad all over again? Why do I remember those paint made from rocks and it makes me want to ugly cry again? Sigh.

I've read plenty of stellar reviews about this book, but since I'm really not a fan of kidnapping stories or such I prolong reading it and store it on my TBR pile for quite sometime now, but for some uncertain reason this book just keeps appearing on me - on bookstores and sites and blogs I visit so I finally gave in and dive into this world of the captor and its victim and once I dove into their story, I honestly cant go back. That chilling first sentence was enough to keep me from continuing reading it.

The story was taken in a form of letter Gemma wrote for Ty – her captor. She wrote things from the day of their first meeting leading to the strange and disturbing months she stayed with him at the Australian outback. Gemma’s voice to the story was totally gripping; she’s believable and from the get-go she got me. Her voice has the ability to take reader like me into the same adventure that she’s been through.

Ty is one of those characters that tatted up its mark on me. He really did a great number on me especially with those paints made from rocks. I know it's a pretty silly thing, but something about that thing breaks my heart. As I’ve said, I never in my life thought I would shed a tear over paints made from rocks – those paints are definitely killer tear jerker. Anyway, Ty is definitely the wrong side here and there is definitely no doubt about that but can you really blame Gemma for being conflicted with him when at some time the guy who kidnapped her show things that makes him so human and vulnerable? Most of the times, I wanted to grab that guy and gave him a hug and cover him up from all the evils that are lurking. His run-on words and dialogues with Gemma sometimes makes me cry for no apparent reason, he just seem to reach something in me that makes my tear ducts shed tears. He’s not bad or crazy. He has dreams and aspirations. I just think he’s just lost – so lost.

I’m aware of what Stockholm Syndrome is and as I’m reading this I know Gemma might not be the only one under this, I thinking I also might be under this syndrome. Would it be possible even I’m not the one who was kidnapped? I can’t explain it but there is this huge amount of empathy I feel for Ty and I know and I’ve stated that what he did was wrong but he’s not bad and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m feeling Gemma’s conflictions with Ty – she’s compelled with his sadness, vulnerability, love for the land and his artistic side just like what also happened to me. (I told you guys, Ty definitely did a number on me)

Gemma and Ty has limited verbal communication throughout the story and it just proves me more that actions to speak louder than words. Because we’ve all seen that their lack of words for each other, their simple actions shows a lot of things.

The setting of the story is one of the highlights of it. With Gemma's great voice and the author's way of words, the Australian outback setting gives me the real deal. The place was creepily beautiful - with its vastness of sand and sand and sands. It plays an important part of this book even though it’s just a setting – a setting that is definitely alive.

The story development was awesome. Everything flows smoothly. I definitely lose myself as I read it. The writing was simple yet beautifully done. I don’t know how she does it but the author definitely gives me the feels of everything. The story utterly grabbed my heart. It was intense and powerful, it was honestly a simple book yet the author did an amazing job in broadening it. There are a lot of ways that this story could turn into but one thing I know for sure is that no matter what road this story would take I would still shed a tear or two. And as illogical as it may seem, I'm hoping for a happy ending for this two characters. This book left me exhausted, restless, overwhelmed, and even in emotional overload.

It's a very haunting story that would surely stay with me forever. This is just sad and I finished it with tears in my eyes. Is it too weird to want for a sequel of this book? There are question in my mind that I can’t seem to put into words but I know they’re questions and I wanted answers or better yet the author could give us this very same story told thru our captor’s perspective. ;)