Say Goodbye for Now
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Say Goodbye for Now was the first Catherine Ryan Hyde novels I read, and I’ve since read nearly ten others. This story made a great impression on me, and I was taken in by her simple yet meaningful writing style. I’ve since learned that this style isn’t limited to this one novel, and that in every book, the characters vacillate between being unable to stop talking and speaking in short, choppy words, like “Oh. Right. Well.” In all her novels, children and vulnerable adults suffer from deep insecurities and act surprised and unsure when they come across real kindness. They often worry that their incessant talking will cause the listener to fly into a rage, or that if they ask for too much or wear out their welcome, they’ll get yelled at or beaten. It’s very sad, and you do come across such characters in real life who have been severely abused. If these types of characters and dialogue really speak to you, you’ll love her books.
There are two plotlines in this story: one involves a boy’s loyalty to a wounded dog, and the other is an interracial relationship in the Deep South during the late 1950s. I was far more interested in the dog, which takes precedence in the first half of the film. I loved the opening chapters, and I was immediately sucked in by how the boy came across the wounded dog on the outskirts of the freeway, and how he coaxed him to trust that he was going to help him. He dragged the dog in a wagon for miles until he found a veterinarian who would treat the case, and the relationship between the boy and the stray was very touching. The veterinarian, a no-nonsense, independent woman came across as cold at times, but she just had more experience with animals than people.
One of my favorite Hyde books, I’d recommend it if you have a soft spot for animals, or if you can imagine helping a wounded dog. I was the perfect reader for this book, since I’ve been known to carry around a plastic bag of cat food when I go walking in case I run into a homeless stray.
There are two plotlines in this story: one involves a boy’s loyalty to a wounded dog, and the other is an interracial relationship in the Deep South during the late 1950s. I was far more interested in the dog, which takes precedence in the first half of the film. I loved the opening chapters, and I was immediately sucked in by how the boy came across the wounded dog on the outskirts of the freeway, and how he coaxed him to trust that he was going to help him. He dragged the dog in a wagon for miles until he found a veterinarian who would treat the case, and the relationship between the boy and the stray was very touching. The veterinarian, a no-nonsense, independent woman came across as cold at times, but she just had more experience with animals than people.
One of my favorite Hyde books, I’d recommend it if you have a soft spot for animals, or if you can imagine helping a wounded dog. I was the perfect reader for this book, since I’ve been known to carry around a plastic bag of cat food when I go walking in case I run into a homeless stray.