Leaving Blythe River: A Novel

Spoiler Alert! The cover picture for this book is a lie. The main character in this book does not cross a river so shallow his horse's hooves barely get wet. He does not ride alone. He does not even ride a horse. It is a stimulating picture though, isn't it? The book is very much the same. The various characters do not act like normal people. And the writing style is stimulating. The author strings together snippets of moments and interactions, out-of-context with other moments and with real life, and asks the reader to believe them on their face. It all flows together...unless you are more concerned with how life actually is. Sorry, I can't list all the ways she does this without actually spoiling the book for other readers. At some show more point in reading this, I imagined the author as some person stuck inside their home, restricted to looking out at passers-by, unable to hear them talking. Or watching TV with all foreign-language dialogue, unable to understand a word they were saying. And yet, every so often the author's TV would hiccup and show a few minutes of Academy Award-winning movies in her native language, leaving her with some "truth" but being forced to make up all the rest of the world around her from her own conjecture. In reading about the author, I found she is well-traveled. So that means she doesn't pay that much attention to the details of what she has been seeing, or she just doesn't care to tell the truth about the human condition to sell her books. My wife said she thought this book was aimed at much younger readers. If she meant it's aimed at teenagers who think you can get pregnant by kissing, then she may be right. show less

Happy belated Father’s Day! Not all of us have wonderful fathers. In fact, some people actually have pathetic fathers. Such was the case for seventeen year old Ethan Underwood. Ethan is enthralled with Jennifer, also seventeen, who works in his dad’s office. But, he and his mom’s trip to Peru was delayed and they walk in on his Dad … with Jennifer. The author skips over the sordid details when his dad was ‘caught’, but by assumption, we know his dad left and Ethan and his mother were on their own. When his mom receives word that his grandmother is ill, she has to leave Ethan to go take care of his grandfather. Ethan has no choice but to go stay with his father in a remote cabin within Blythe River National Wilderness.

Living, show more even temporarily in Blythe River, is sharply contrasted to their home in New York. He has to learn to think about his dangerous surroundings … grizzly bears for instance. As he’s exploring, he comes to know two of their neighbors, Sam, a pack guide, and Jone, an eccentric seventy-year-old. His dad is still practically non-existent, taking off and running for fitness for many hours and about eighteen miles per day. But, his dad fails to return one day and the search is on. Then, the search is abandoned as the ranger and cops believe he just abandoned his son. Ethan keeps looking. He can’t live with himself if he doesn’t even try and his dad is actually out there in the wilderness, lost or injured.

After a meandering start, the thrusters kicked in and the story became a fast-paced emotional roller coaster. This Blythe River is fictional, located about 100 miles south of Casper Wyoming and Yellowstone. The author’s use of subheadings was innovative. Many would reference the time-line to Ethan’s dad’s disappearance. For instance, chapter three’s subheading was “Three months before his father disappeared.” Catherine Ryan Hyde was also the author of the bestselling novel, Pay It Forward. The story is one that will stay with you as you watch Ethan mature and breakthrough from a teen worried about ‘teen things’ to a very responsible young man. Rating: 4 out of 5. show less

This has been my favorite book by Catherine Ryan Hyde so far. The book was not what I expected. I enjoyed every minute of it. I had to keep turning the page (or pressing the button on my Nook) to see if Ethan found his dad. The description of the scenery made you feel like you were right there with Ethan searching for his dad. Ethan's dad, Noah, may have been one of the worst characters. If I was Ethan I might have just left him on the mountain. I wondered what type of place Ethan was sent to with his dad, when the first lesson he gets is how to use bear spray and to never leave the house without it. When Jone shows up to claim her very fat cat from Ethan's house I had to laugh, because he thought the cat was a stray and was fat from show more all its fur. Fun book to read if you are up for an adventure in the wilderness. show less

A very enjoyable read - loved the setting - sounded like the Rockies ! The supporting cast of Sam and Jone were perfect. Ethan's transformation - at the novel's core - was heartwarming, humorous, sad, and uplifting all at the same time - an ideal contrast to his repulsive father.

I received a free advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is an exciting read, the story of a young man left alone after the disappearance of his father and his metamorphosis from a boy into a gentle, kind, compassionate, and determined young man. Ethan is a very brave and determined young man who refuses to gives up despite the many obstacle he encounters in the search for his father. Ethan and his neighbors join together to search for his father who never returned after leaving for a run in the Blythe River National Wilderness. The park ranger and search parties have given up. Ethan is persistent and feels that he would never forgive himself if he didn’t at least try to do everything he show more could to find his father. The author’s descriptions make the reader feel as if he/she is taking part in the story. I could almost feel Ethan’s soreness and stiffness after the first day of riding. This is a very well written book with interesting and fully developed characters and an exciting plot. This is another great book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, a real keeper. show less

A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You can always expect several things from Catherine Ryan Hyde. There is always an exciting adventure—so pack your bags and enjoy the journey; which is anything but ordinary.

As always, her characters cross paths with strangers, face challenges, and many obstacles; from nature, animals, and some wise lessons to be learned along the way. LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER draws you in from the vivid front cover setting, to the final page; Part coming-of-age, literary, domestic suspense, and a heart and soul exploration of ordinary flawed people, a family amidst extraordinary circumstances.

Ethan, age seventeen is small for his age, and not cool. He feels show more inadequate around his father, mother, and his school mates. He does not fit in. No self-confidence. He is infatuated with his father’s secretary, Jennifer.

Growing up with two parents -athletes, type A's---and Ethan, not so much. He feels inferior and a let down, loser. He and his mom are on their way to the airport for a hiking trip to Peru, and at the last minute something goes wrong, and they have to return home. Surprised, and faced with the ultimate betrayal, what they see changes the course of their lives.

Their trip is cancelled, his mom and dad are separating. Next his mom receives a call- she has to leave town and take care of her ailing mother and father (his grandparents). He is not able to go due to the limited facility, and finds himself on his way from the city of Manhattan to the wilderness. He mom informs him he has to move in with his father. The last place he wants to be.

An A-frame remote mountain cabin in Wyoming –in the middle of nowhere with real grizzly killer bears and a man he has nothing in common with—a man who is only concerned about his looks, his body, and himself. Plus he has to go to school here, and a summer around a self-centered father. Now a new set of complications.

With his dog, his only friend- he receives the news about bears—never to be without bear spray from the park ranger. He finally makes it through the miserable school year and this godforsaken place, when his dad leaves one morning for a run, and never returns (plus he has taken the bear spray). Even though he does not like his father, Noah--he feels he has to find him.

After calling the cops --the search party cannot waste any more money coming up empty handed, and finding out the father withdrew money the days before---Everyone thinks his dad just left. His mom is still dealing with his grandparents and he is on his own in the middle of the wilderness.

With the tenacious and unwavering courage of Ethan, in search for his dad, and the help of three other eccentric characters and some animals, he learns he is more courageous than he thought. From bravery, forgiveness, strength, and lots of life’s lessons- an unforgettable story!

A nature lover an active hiker and cycler, always concerned about having an accident and being stuck out alone on a remote trail alone (however, love the solace). Readers will fall in love with Ethan – the underdog—a journey of self-discovery and the heartwarming strangers he meets along the way…Everyone has a lesson to be learned.

With the help of three colorful locals—a fearless seventy-year-old widow, a pack guide, a stubborn mule, and a former actor with limited outdoor skills—he heads into the wild.

Ironically, immediately after reading, LEAVING BLYTHE RIVER, watched an older movie on Amazon Prime An Unfinished Life (2005) Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, and Morgan Freeman. I had to laugh, an extension of the book---- Wyoming, bears, and a great family saga with some valuable life lessons of forgiveness. Very fitting.

Another winner by Hyde!

JDCMustReadBooks show less

Ethan Underwood is totally unprepared to search for his less-than-perfect dad in the Blythe River wilderness. With the help of three heinous, a 70 year old woman, a pack guide, and an actor with limited survival experience, set out to try to find Ethan's father. The character, Ethan, is a realistic teenager filled with angst and soon to grow up really quickly.