When I Found You

 

Title:  When I Found You

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Author Nationality:  American

Genre: Fiction

Publisher:  Black Swan

Year Published/ Release: September 2009

Pages: 512(Paperback)

Book Version:  Paperback

Star rating: ****

Nathan McCann is on his routine duck hunt when Sadie his dog starts digging on a spot only to find a new born baby boy half buried in the woods. He concludes the baby is dead until it moves.  He takes the baby home to his wife expressing interest in adopting the little boy, but the baby’s grandmother shows up.

The baby remains in the care of his grandmother until one day she finally fulfils the much awaited promise of introducing the two.

When an angry 15-year-old troubled boy arrives at Nathan’s doorstep, everything changes. Little Nat is all grown up with a not so good record and his grandmother has given up on him, so it’s up to Nathan to change that.

Nathan agrees to look after Nat but not without challenges. He remains firm on never abandoning Nat and together they grow through the daily struggles until Nathan falls sick and Nat has to be the helping hand.

My thoughts:

The author brought out the importance of human connections. She also did an amazing job in giving the reader an opportunity to journey through a period of 40 years through the eyes of two men who became each other’s’ pillar. This story shows how family ties can go beyond the blood relations.

It is a deep story of second chances and the impact it can have, however too few people put in the effort.

Memorable Quote (s):

“Most people prefer to think that their resentment is entirely the fault of the person they resent, and that twisted logic seems to make sense in their minds. But it makes no sense to me at all… But it’s a popular point of view. Probably because it’s so much easier. It relieves you of the burden of any and all self-examination.”

“Whatever you think your shortcomings are…you can’t just lock yourself in the house so no one can notice or comment. We all have to take ourselves out into the world, flaws and all. And find a way to make the adjustment.”

“There’s two things you can do with a kid like that. Way I see it. You can burst his bubble. Or you can wait and let life burst it. Let life do the dirty work for you. If you burst it he’ll hate you forever. And he’ll never really believe he couldn’t have made it. He’ll always think it’s your fault for standing in his way. For not having more faith in him. Now, life. When life bursts your bubble, well. It’s a little harder to argue with life.”