Book Review: When I Found You

The latest book I read was called When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Synopsis (from Amazon):

While duck hunting one morning, childless, middle-aged Nathan McCann finds a newborn abandoned in the woods. To his shock, the child—wrapped in a sweater and wearing a tiny knitted hat—is still alive. To his wife’s shock, Nathan wants to adopt the boy…but the child’s grandmother steps in. Nathan makes her promise, however, that one day she’ll bring the boy to meet him so he can reveal that he was the one who rescued him.

Fifteen years later, the widowered Nathan discovers the child abandoned once again—this time at his doorstep. Named Nat, the teenager has grown into a sullen delinquent whose grandmother can no longer tolerate him. Nathan agrees to care for Nat, and the two engage in a battle of wills that spans years. Still, the older man repeatedly assures the youngster that, unlike the rest of the world, he will never abandon him—not even when Nat suffers a trauma that changes both of their lives forever.

My Thoughts

This was a really good book and a fast read. I loved how she developed both of the main characters. You want to hate Nat because of some of the things he puts Nathan through, but you also love him because he’s just a boy and the world has done nothing but let him down. Nathan, is seriously a saint. He shows a level of love and patience that most of us only dream of having, along with the old saying “With age comes wisdom”. Nathan is a truly honest person, yet it does not come across as harsh. Hands down best quote of the book (and there are many): “The value of your life is your own choosing”. It’s so true, yet I feel like we forget this in our day to day actions.

I’ve actually started reading another by her called When You Were Older. Stay tuned for that review once I’m done!

The Chamber

A few nights ago we watched a movie that Mike had taped on our DVR. It’s an older one (1996) based on a John Grisham novel called The Chamber.

Director: James Foley

Stars: Chris O’Donnell, Gene Hackman, and Faye Dunaway

Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes

Plot Summary: (from IMDb) Having survived the hatred and bigotry that was his Klansman grandfather’s only legacy, young attorney Adam Hall seeks at the last minute to appeal the old man’s death sentence for the murder of two small Jewish boys 30 years before. Only four weeks before Sam Cayhall is to be executed, Adam meets his grandfather for the first time in the Mississippi prison which has held him since the crime. The meeting is predictably tense when the educated, young Mr. “Hall” confronts his venom-spewing elder, Mr. “Cayhall,” about the murders. The next day, headlines run proclaiming Adam the grandson who has come to the state to save his grandfather, the infamous Ku Klux Klan bomber. While the old man’s life lies in the balance, Adam’s motivation in fighting this battle becomes clear as the story unfolds. Not only does he fight for his grandfather, but perhaps for himself as well. He has come to heal the wounds of his own father’s suicide, to mitigate the secret shame he has always felt for the genetic fluke which made this man his grandfather, and to bring closure — one way or another — to the suffering the old man seems to have brought to everyone he has ever known. But, would mercy soften his grandfather’s heart?

Rating: TV

Seriously, who doesn’t love a little Chris O’Donnell? He played a great part, as did Gene Hackman. He managed to make you hate him for being racist, yet see the good in him as well. I’m always intrigued by a good character that you both hate and love as well as a movie willing to take on a heavy subject like the actions of the KKK and John Grisham did both. This is not a light hearted movie by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely well worth the watch!

Ratings Explanation:

  • Theater: This means the movie is awesome. Go see this movie in the theater – well worth the $100 you’ll spend for a night out to see it on the big screen!
  • On Demand: Since no one actually rents movies anymore, this category has changed to On Demand. This means it’s a great movie, but it is as good at home as it is in the theater and worth seeing a little sooner.
  • TV: This means the movie is ok. Wait for it to show up on HBO and see it for free.
  • Skip It: Movie sucks, don’t waste your time.

Anchorman 2

A couple of weekends ago Mike and I met up with our friends Chris and Kassie to check out Anchorman 2.

Director: Adam McKay

Stars: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Christina Applegate

Runtime: 1 hour, 59 minutes

Plot Summary: (from IMdB) Having left San Diego for New York City, Ron Burgundy is living the high life with his wife Veronica Corningstone and son Walter Burgundy. However, when the boss decides to promote Veronica to full-time lead anchor and fire Ron, everything changes. Now heading back to San Diego, Ron is washed up and working part-time at Sea World. His shot at redemption though comes in the form of a man named Freddie Schapp, who’s an executive producer at the Global News Network, the world’s first 24 hour round the clock news channel. He hires Ron, who proceeds to reunite the news team of Champ, Brick, and Brian, and head back to New York City. While there Ron and his news team are given the graveyard shift and a challenge. Ron comes up with a radical new idea to transform the news and that puts him at the top of the game once again. But how long will Ron’s newfound fame last? And will Brick finally find true love?

Rating: On Demand

This movie was pretty darned funny. The whole cast is back (including Steve Carell & David Koechner) and as hilarious as ever. There are some borderline jokes (as one would expect from Will Ferrel/the Anchorman franchise) but it was definitely funny. Let me explain why I gave it an “On Demand” review instead of a “Theater” review. I loved the movie. It was hilarious and really entertaining. But you could watch it at home and get the same experience. Just my two cents. 🙂

Ratings Explanation:

  • Theater: This means the movie is awesome. Go see this movie in the theater – well worth the $100 you’ll spend for a night out to see it on the big screen!
  • On Demand: Since no one actually rents movies anymore, this category has changed to On Demand. This means it’s a great movie, but it is as good at home as it is in the theater and worth seeing a little sooner.
  • TV: This means the movie is ok. Wait for it to show up on HBO and see it for free.
  • Skip It: Movie sucks, don’t waste your time.

Second Riding Lesson

I had my second riding lesson last weekend and I’m officially obsessed. This time I rode Cinch, a 9-year-old, 15 hand, bay quarter horse. He was a little bit smaller than the horse I rode in my first lesson, but had a little more spunk. He definitely challenged me for the whole ride… and I loved it. I’ve realized that with riding it’s one of the few things that my mind doesn’t wander… for the whole 2 hours I was there I thought of nothing but connecting with the horse. I’m seriously becoming one of those horse crazy girls!

My next lesson should be in the arena… I’ll be riding a couple of different horses and working on the difference paces. I can’t wait!!!

Welcome To 2014!

Well friends, welcome to 2014!

Last night we held our annual New Years Eve party, complete with pig roast. My husband and family are getting really good at this pig roasting process… this was arguably one of the better ones we’ve done!

The New Years Pig
The New Years Pig

This year was one of the mellower years (with age comes wisdom?) but it was still great to spend time with our friends and family and to share a delicious meal! We celebrated both the New York (9pm here) and midnight ball drops. We could only find the live New York feed on the Spanish channel again this year… and by 9pm it was pretty hilarious to hear everyone trying to remember their high school Spanish and to actually count backwards in it.

I hope you all had as much fun as I did and that you have a wonderful year! I can’t wait to see what 2014 brings!