Worthy

Virginia ia a working girl, a waitress at a diner. Aaron is a widower who comes to the diner with his shy, young son, Buddy. He has his heart set on Virginia and she on him. Just when their first date is about to become reality, tragedy strikes. Their budding romance is not to be. We fast forward 19 years and Virginia owns the diner along with her friend, Fern. She's also now engaged to Lloyd. Lloyd, however is not the man she thinks he is,when her beloved dog, T-Rex goes missing. Through a series of events, T-Rex leads Virginia and Buddy back into each other's lives and teaches them both what they are worthy of in life. Put a dog in a story and I'm hooked, the dog lover that I am. Worthy stole my heart from the very beginning. The characters in this novel have flaws, big ones. Don't we all? As the story unfolds, we watch them come to grips with how to live a good and happy life, flaws included. Catherine Ryan Hyde gives us a feel good story about how it takes a village. We are not alone in this world and weren't meant to be. We need the love and help of others no matter where we are on our path. Life is meant to be shared and is fulfilled only when we include others. Strangers are never strange for long if we let them into our hearts. I became a fan of Ms. Hyde's work when I read Take Me With You. She's best known for Pay It Forward which became a movie. I think that"ll be the next one I'll read. Movie or no movie, that doesn't mean you should pass over any of her other works. Worthy will lift your spirits and restore your faith whether you're a dog lover or even a cat lover! If you are looking for a book to make you feel good, Worthy is it.

Yes, 4.5 stars! We really should have a 10-star rating system, it would be so much easier to grade novels if there were a bit of a larger grading system. I would have loved to have given this novel a 5-star rating - if for no other reason than the quality of the writing. Hyde is just a good storyteller, a good writer. I took off a little simply because I just couldn't "get into" the story. I thought it was a good idea for a story, but it seemed to write around and around the story instead of going right at it. Geez, whatever does that mean?? I don't know, and I was the one who wrote it! The other stories I've read by Hyde were rated as really good all the way up to and including great. If you haven't read stories by Hyde, please check out "Don't Let Me Go", "Where We Belong" and "Walk Me Home" and some of the others as well. Those novels are simply great, fun to read, fun to think about, fun to enjoy. Okay, if I'm being honest, there's a couple that I've read that I wasn't so hot about, but... Patrick

This was my second Ryan Hyde story. The story line itself is simple. A tragic accident prevents two people from becoming a couple, and a young boy from getting a step-mom. They drift apart after the boy's father dies and lose contact until 19 years later when the boy, now a man, finds a dog who has been dumped in the wild by a thoughtless and uncaring man. The dog's rightful owner, turns out to be the woman who might've been the boy's step-mom. And there you have the crux of the story as those two sort out whether or not they will have a relationship as adults. With the dog smack in the middle. The reason to read Ryan Hyde novels lies in her ability to create characters you rapidly develop empathy with. Plot. linear and predictable Narrative, limited the characters speak a lot to others and themselves. Dialogue- a little clunky and repetitious This story gets a five from me primarily for the character development. You care about them and that's what kept me reading. A weak area is Ryan Hydes decision to have the boy, Buddy have so much residual emotional damage from the loss of this father. My experience with kids and loss, is that they adapt and seldom exhibit the introverted shyness that Buddy exhibits. Her portrayal of him as a recluse accepting what the world offers, flies in the face of what typical young men do- challenge the world for everything. This bugged me, bu not enough to cost a star. All in all a fine effort and quality reading. highly recommended.

Books named after a dog seem somehow to have a life of their own. And it revolves around the dog. I read every book about dogs when I was in elementary school. And in the few decades since then those books have stayed with me long after the others have been forgotten. Lassie. Silver Chief. White Fang. Add Worthy to the list. He makes the characters in the story shine like the sun.

A likable, albeit rather predictable, story. The alternating point of view seems to be the "new thing" these days, but I find it rather exhausting and rarely done exceptionally well. Worthy is, however, a touching story and captivating at times. It would appear that C.R.H. did some respectable research on her characters and developed them with a level of "believability." The dynamic evolution of Jody happens rather rapidly and with little intervention, making Jody's transformation somewhat difficult to swallow in the end, but Virginia's character eases into transformation and develops into a character of strength with great believability. Police officer's role falls flat in the end. There are a great deal of unanswered questions in the falling action. For example, why is buddy's father's death never followed up on in regards to the children playing with firecrackers on the bridge? Why is his body never found? Sheila's body? Why is grandma's death left unexplained? This is really not a bad read, just not a great read. Again, the story itself is very moving.

物語は前半と後半の間に19年もの隔たりをおいて語られる。前半、主人公ヴァージニアは幼い息子バディのいるエアロンという男性に恋しているが、彼は事故のため突然、亡くなる。バディはショックのためその時の記憶をなくしたまま成長する。19年後、2人は再会することになるが、ともに相手が誰か、わからない。彼女はある男性と婚約して同棲しており、ワージィという名の犬を飼っている。しかし、やがてこの犬の扱いによってヴァージニアは婚約者の正体を知り、別れる。その犬のひどい扱いを目撃したのは、ジョディであるが、彼こそ今は成長したバディであり、運命は2人を再会させることとなる。物語はハッピーエンドとなるが、実に巧みに構成された作品となっている。各章はバージニア、ジョディの視点から相互に繰り返されるタイトルで語られていく。いったん読み始めると、一気に読まずには気が済まない作品である。なにより、英語が平易であり、物語の展開が早く、読者を飽きさせない。それどころか、次はどういう展開になるのかという好奇心にそそられる。この作品を読み、たちまちハイドのファンになった。

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact read it in two days. Will certainly be reading the other ones she has written.

Such a good story....can't put it down.

Wieder ein wunderbares einfühlsames Buch. Eine tiefe berührende Geschichte. Wunderbar geschrieben. Wie von der Autorin gewohnt, liebevolle detaillierte Charaktere. Lässt sich wunderbar auf Englisch lesen.

It s been a good read. Jody is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, who is unable to show affection and to express feelings. As a young man he meets by chance the lady that should have become his stepmother when he was a kid. Worthy, her dog, is what they have in common and what will glue them together.