OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Kidnapped for a Lifetime" by Robert Castro.]

Kidnapped for a Lifetime by Robert Castro claims to be a work of nonfiction, telling the true story of a man who was kidnapped and abused by his host family for many years.

Throughout the novel, the main character suffers brain damage on many occasions, and as a result is often very confused. The author decides to tell the story exactly as he remembers it, which is in a very fuzzy and disjointed way. Not to mention, crude and seemingly impossible. Due to that fact, readers are also very easily confused while trying to make sense of what is going on, and while trying to decipher what is real versus what is made up. While his experiences were surely very unique and interesting, they are told in such an uneducated and unbelievable way where it is extremely hard to enjoy.

On top of the confusing story, Robert Castro claims to have met and interacted with many famous people during the time frame of the novel, such as Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol. He even believes he helped with famous projects, conducted important research, earned various Harvard degrees, and was the first successful brain surgeon in the world. These claims have no tangible evidence, with some actually having strong evidence against them. Even Castro himself claims in the book that while he may remember these things happening, no record exists that can prove them to be true.

If this book still sounds interesting despite all the aforementioned flaws, I would recommend it to only a very mature audience, due to the graphic and even sexual scenes that so often occur.

Due to being such a unique book, I believe that if the author would straighten out his facts and tell the story in chronological order rather than however he first remembers it, it would have a much higher chance of being successful. However, the story as it is now does not, in my opinion, leave a reader satisfied or wanting more. Therefore, it does not deserve more than a 1 out of 4 star ranking.

Kidnapped for a Lifetime ends with the ever so common "to be continued," but in a way that seems like the author was simply bored of writing, instead of planning out a reasonable stopping point or leaving readers with a cliffhanger. The sequel will hopefully be improved in that it delivers something more clear and believable.

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Kidnapped for a Lifetime
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Like hannahbm13's review? Post a comment saying so!

Like I said, everything in the book is completely true. Nothing is made up. I said I dropped out of Harvard, I never claimed to have a degree there. I have a degree at Fordham university and Juilliard School of Music. I was an older educated person when I taken and trained to be the son of a poor family. I might sound the way I do, because of the injuries to my brain to keep me in there family. There should be records at Harvard of my activity. I did know all the people I wrote about. Blue4cat Author

Hannahbm, I enjoyed reading your insightful review. I remember reading another review of this book here recently. If you get a chance, you should look it up. Sometimes two reviewer can come to different conclusions about a book. However, in this case, I think you and the other reviewer had similar feelings.

I reviewed the book a month or so ago. I am glad that Hannah has very similar opinion of the book that I had. I had also rated the book with only 1 star. One opinion might be biased but two... Well, if I were the author, I would redraft the book.

Oops...I meant to say two reviewers, not two reviewer. I should proofread my comments.

[quote="bookowlie"]Hannahbm, I enjoyed reading your insightful review. I remember reading another review of this book here recently. If you get a chance, you should look it up. Sometimes two reviewer can come to different conclusions about a book. However, in this case, I think you and the other reviewer had similar feelings.[/quote]

Thank you for the kind words I work hard on my reviews and am glad to see it pays off! I will most certainly check out the other review!

-- 06 Dec 2015, 12:17 --

[quote="chytach18-"]I reviewed the book a month or so ago. I am glad that Hannah has very similar opinion of the book that I had. I had also rated the book with only 1 star. One opinion might be biased but two... Well, if I were the author, I would redraft the book.[/quote]

Yes, I was very interested to see that I was not alone in my opinion! We even commented on some of the same things, so I am glad I wasn't being too critical

Very nice and insightful review! Too bad the book didn't meet your expectations.

Very insightful review. I read through the comments, and it is clear you are not alone in your opinions on this book! Many of the things you mentioned do seem too far-fetched for a supposedly true story. I have sympathy for the author, but I think I'll have to pass on this one.

[quote="blue4cat"]Like I said, everything in the book is completely true. Nothing is made up. I said I dropped out of Harvard, I never claimed to have a degree there. I have a degree at Fordham university and Juilliard School of Music. I was an older educated person when I taken and trained to be the son of a poor family. I might sound the way I do, because of the injuries to my brain to keep me in there family. There should be records at Harvard of my activity. I did know all the people I wrote about. Blue4cat Author[/quote]

I am very sorry that my review wasn't very kind, I tried my best to stay honest with my opinion of the book! Like I said in the review, I think it has the potential to be a great story, and I'm hoping you can take my and other reviewer's criticism to help it reach that potential

-- 07 Dec 2015, 08:35 --

[quote="gali"]Very nice and insightful review! Too bad the book didn't meet your expectations.[/quote]
Thank you very much! Even when a book doesn't meet my expectations, it is still a learning experience

-- 07 Dec 2015, 08:37 --

[quote="LivreAmour217"]Very insightful review. I read through the comments, and it is clear you are not alone in your opinions on this book! Many of the things you mentioned do seem too far-fetched for a supposedly true story. I have sympathy for the author, but I think I'll have to pass on this one.[/quote]

Thank you! I appreciate the comment I also have sympathy for the author, so hopefully he will take my criticism and turn the book into a success!