- Title: The Wake Up
- Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Pages: 322
- Published: December 2017 – Lake Union Publishing
- Source: Publisher
Description: Something has been asleep in forty-year-old cattle rancher Aiden Delacorte for a long time. It all comes back in a rush during a hunting trip, when he’s suddenly attuned to the animals around him, feeling their pain and fear as if it were his own. But the newfound sensitivity of Aiden’s “wake up” has its price. He can no longer sleepwalk through life, holding everyone at arm’s length. As he struggles to cope with a trait he’s buried since childhood, Aiden falls in love with Gwen, a single mother whose young son bears a burden of his own.
Sullen and broken from his experiences with an abusive father, Milo has turned to acting out in violent and rebellious ways. Aiden can feel the boy’s pain, as well as that of his victims. Now he and Milo must sift through their pasts to find empathy with the innocent as well as the guilty, to come to terms with their deepest fears, and to finally discover the compassionate heart of a family. (publisher)
My take: The Wake Up is a lovely story about family – mostly about a boy and a man both damaged by circumstances out of their control. The setting is a small California cattle ranch where horses are also raised. This novel is full of emotions and people learning how to give others and themselves room to grow. It’s about forgiveness – of oneself and others. The theme of empathy runs through it all. As I turned the last page I felt hopeful and very glad to have started the year with such a good novel.
I wholeheartedly agree!
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This sounds like a captivating story.
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I really liked it, Kathy. Only the second of the author’s books I’ve read and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more.
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It sounds lovely but I tend not to read anything that has a western theme…I should probably get over that…
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I wouldn’t call this a western novel – it just took place on a ranch but it’s more about the individual characters.
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I love the sound of it! Thanks for sharing….
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It was really good, Laurel!
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I think I’d like it too
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You should try it!
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I have been noticing this one Mary and have read one or two others of hers that I liked. I have it in my Audible possibles to listen to. Your review encourages me.
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Only the second of KRH’s books I’ve read and I’d definitely read more.
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I love this author’s books that I’ve read. This sounds good too!
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It really was, Vicki. I like her writing style.
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This one sounds like a feel-good novel. I have not read anything by this author.
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Ultimately it was a feel-good novel but the characters had to work to get there.
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I love a book that leaves me feeling hopeful and this is an author that I’ve really been wanting to read so this one is going on my TBR!
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I hope you get a chance to read it, Katherine!
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This sounds like a fantastic book! Thanks for the review!
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It really is. Thanks for your comment!
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I’ve not read this author yet and it sounds like a sweet story.
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[…] Review: The Wake Up […]
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I didn’t know that Catherine Ryan Hyde had a new one out. I like her books. This one sounds very good. Nice review!
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Nice when stories of trouble and conflict can resolve with hope. I liked the sound of this and am glad that you liked it. Thanks for sharing.
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[…] The Wake Up by Catherine Ryan Hyde Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser A Soupçon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley Some contemporary fiction, a little mystery and suspense, a little historical fiction. My favorite of the month was my first read of the year: The Wake Up. […]
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