1. The first thing I learned from this book was the style of writing. It was in letter form, but it didn’t start with Dear ____, on every page. Gemma, the main character, addresses her captor by saying “you” did this or “you” did that in a way of her observance. It was really effective in showing how Ty, her captor, was above her and he was the one controlling her. Every page is a good example to show this style, so I’ll just show a passage from page one. “You blinked quickly when I looked at you, and turned away… as if you were nervous as if you felt guilty for checking out some random girl in the airport. But I wasn’t random was I? And It was a good act.”.
2. Another thing I learned about writing from reading the book is an interesting take on how the captor treats Gemma. He's very kind to her. He didn't take her to torture her, rape her, or anything of the like. He had been stalking her for almost six years and through those years he was building a house in the middle of the Sahara Desert for them to live in. He was very gentle and had a deep love and understanding for the wildlife and plants in the desert. He was also a very handsome man, as Gemma describes. He took her in hopes of Gemma falling in love with him, and that's just what happened. In this passage on page 235-236, she describes how she's done trying to hate him. "You wrapped the blankets around me tighter. I felt your warm, dry hands around my shoulders, your fingers grasping at my skin. After some time, you leaned back into the sand, bringing me with you. I didn't have the energy to fight you anymore. And you were warm, so warm. " It was a really interesting and different take on a kidnapping, it almost convinced the reader that she should fall in love with him, too. 3. In my major piece two and three, I switched off points of view from the main character to the stalker, whereas in this book it's only from Gemma's point of view. Through reading this book, I learned a lot about what Ty, her captor, felt and thought, even though his point of view was never shown. A passage that displays this is on page 269. Before this passage, Gemma gets bitten by a poisonous snake. Ty desperately tries to help her as much as he can, with medicines he keeps in a shed. They don't work, and Ty knows if he doesn't take her to get help she'll die. He takes her to get help, despite the fact he'll have to turn himself in, but he doesn't care as long as Gemma's safe. "You turned back to the man, yelled something at him. Then you stepped on my stretcher. You leaned over me. Stroked my face. 'Goodbye, Gem,' you whispered. 'You'll be OK.' You touched the ring on my finger as you started to pull away."
2. Another thing I learned about writing from reading the book is an interesting take on how the captor treats Gemma. He's very kind to her. He didn't take her to torture her, rape her, or anything of the like. He had been stalking her for almost six years and through those years he was building a house in the middle of the Sahara Desert for them to live in. He was very gentle and had a deep love and understanding for the wildlife and plants in the desert. He was also a very handsome man, as Gemma describes. He took her in hopes of Gemma falling in love with him, and that's just what happened. In this passage on page 235-236, she describes how she's done trying to hate him. "You wrapped the blankets around me tighter. I felt your warm, dry hands around my shoulders, your fingers grasping at my skin. After some time, you leaned back into the sand, bringing me with you. I didn't have the energy to fight you anymore. And you were warm, so warm. " It was a really interesting and different take on a kidnapping, it almost convinced the reader that she should fall in love with him, too.
3. In my major piece two and three, I switched off points of view from the main character to the stalker, whereas in this book it's only from Gemma's point of view. Through reading this book, I learned a lot about what Ty, her captor, felt and thought, even though his point of view was never shown. A passage that displays this is on page 269. Before this passage, Gemma gets bitten by a poisonous snake. Ty desperately tries to help her as much as he can, with medicines he keeps in a shed. They don't work, and Ty knows if he doesn't take her to get help she'll die. He takes her to get help, despite the fact he'll have to turn himself in, but he doesn't care as long as Gemma's safe. "You turned back to the man, yelled something at him. Then you stepped on my stretcher. You leaned over me. Stroked my face. 'Goodbye, Gem,' you whispered. 'You'll be OK.' You touched the ring on my finger as you started to pull away."