When I Found You

By: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

"What do I have to do to make you wash your hands of me? There's nothing you could do. I will never wash my hands of you."

Nathan McCann thought he didn't want a family. But when he finds an abandoned newborn in the woods, he feels an inexplicable bond with the boy and starts to make plans to raise the child as his own - until the baby's grandmother steps forward to claim him. Nathan makes a request of her, though: to one day bring the boy to meet his rescuer.

Fifteen years later, Nathan gets his wish when the boy and his grandmother show up on his doorstep. Named Nat and now an angry teenager with a criminal record, the boy is once again in need of rescuing. Nathan takes Nat in, swearing to never abandon him. Nathan believes that with love and patience anyone can change. And he just might be right.

From the author of Pay It Forward comes a poignant tale of love, pain, and trusting people to stay by your side in a world where leaving is easy.

©2013 Catherine Ryan Hyde (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Give This Book More Than An Hour

and you'll be rewarded with a heartbreaking story of compassion and tenderness. The last couple of hours were so much better than the first 5. Too bad it took the narrator that long to warm up!.


I was Oh So Done with is novel by the 3rd hour and was complaining about it to a friend-who had recommended the book-she read the paper book. She couldn't understand I disliked it so. The narration was cardboard, stiff and toneless. I didn't give a $hit about any of these people- the boy was a total brat, the old guy was dull and his wife was Suzy Homemaker with passive aggressive issues. The girlfriend was so meek and quite you couldn't hear what the narrator said..in a book you could read the words.

On her recommendations, I finished the whole book and ended up being taken into the world of these people, Plus the narrator gets so much better

Only for patient people I guess.

A beautiful story that doesn't pull any punches.

This story reads like a fable, meditatively, simple and straightforward yet heavy with metaphor and intertext. It certainly is forthcoming! I don't want to give any of the story away, though the story is kind of timeless and yet secondary to the experience, so I will just say that there is much tragedy and disappointment, many questions and surprises, to the point of being quite heartbreaking at times, which makes it all the more beautiful.

The performance was excellent. The voices of some minor characters were annoying, but meant to be, and only briefly. I must also praise the production and engineering - this was non-fatiguing, never left me needing to rewind to catch too-quiet sections, and didn't have any of the glitches that often pop up in audiobooks. The recording process was totally transparent, which, unfortunately, has not been the case for any of the last 10 or so audiobooks I've listened to. So, Bravo!

improves as the characters age

This book definitely improves as the story progresses. I struggled with the author's style of writing at the start but stuck with it because I liked the story line, which I'm glad I did because it got much better. The "old man" has some words of wisdom for Nat that I found myself wanting to remember for myself.

Good listen

I didn't remember what the book was about when I started listening to it so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't love it at first but as the story went on I started to like it more. However, it wasn't until the end that I decided I liked the book. The end was the best part!

Another Winner

Where does When I Found You rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a heartfelt story and though I rarely write a review I felt compelled to mention this one. I listen to at least one story a week from various authors but Catherine Ryan Hyde always tugs at my heartstrings with her stories about youth who struggle to find love and acceptance in a world who has left them in circumstances beyond their control.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nathan was by far my favourite character with his calm wisdom and persistence. His love and loyalty never wavered. He made me want to be a better person than I was before I read the book.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Cummings’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Jeff has a way of colouring your imagination with his descriptive voice and giving you a complete picture of each character by his inflections of speech.

If you could rename When I Found You, what would you call it?

I will always be there!

Any additional comments?

Sometimes an author comes along to challenge you to see a different view of the world and how to be the best of who you could be. Love of those who are given into our care whether through birth or chance is a gift and it is up to us to make the most of it. Catherine Ryan Hyde shows through her writings that each one of us can make a difference in this world in which we live in.

Great Read!

Would you consider the audio edition of When I Found You to be better than the print version?

Story had multiple lessons and was well written. Inflections of reader were well done.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Nat became Nelson.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Possibly.

Ok story enjoyed it overall

Good story line. Went rather slow at times. Simple to follow if I dozed off. Not a lot of depth to the characters.

Lovely "true" story

I call this a "true story" because the author has the truth about the positive side of human nature and behavior down pat. In this story, she especially focuses on why humans do the right things they do. I realized, through reading this, that most negative things people do are actually simple to understand, hurt... leading to anger, self protection skewed. The heinous things people do: we best be glad we can't fathom it. And the awesome things people do to really make a difference? THAT is something interesting to ponder. if you are looking to read something thrilling with twists turns and bloodshed, pass this book up. I'd you want a nice read about people who feel real and a short trip back to the era of 60s to 90s, grab this book.

First rate - AGAIN!!

I have just finished listening for the second time - maybe six months later. I can honestly say I have enjoyed it as much or more this time! I highly recommend "When I Found You".

great story

loved it. listening was really good. great story about ones life , love, accomplishments and struggles