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Second Hand Heart

by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Goodreads Author)

3.33 of 5 stars 3.33 · rating details · 377 ratings · 94 reviews

One girl: Vida is nineteen, very sick, and has spent her short life preparing for death. But a new chance brings its own story, because for Vida to live, someone had to die.

One man: Richard has just lost his beloved wife in a car accident. He hasn't even begun to address his grief, but feels compelled to meet the girl who inherited his wife's heart.

Someone else's heart: In...more

Paperback, 460 pages

Published 2011 by Transworld (first published July 16th 2010)

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Jan 12, 2013 Donna Brown rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine

Theoretically this is the kind of book I really enjoy: emotional challenges, difficult dilemmas and scenarios that you hope you never ever find yourself in. In reality, however, I struggled to get into this book. Admittedly, Hyde has pulled together all the ingredients for a fine story - a young flighty girl in need of a heart, a tragic death, a grieving husband, a confusing relationship between the recipient and the donor's widow - but I still felt the recipe didn't quite come off.

The girl, Vid...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I bought this book after reading another of Hyde's books that I really enjoyed. And while it's not like I didn't enjoy this one, I was a little surprised by the path the story took. Vida is a teenager who has had a crappy heart since she was a baby. She is approaching the end of her time, she's number one of the heart transplant receiver list, when suddenly she is given another chance when a donor heart becomes available. A 30-ish woman had a car accident and died, and her husband agreed to dona...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Micki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I had the good fortune of connecting with Catherine Ryan Hyde this summer as a result of an adolescent literature class I took. One of the books I was required to read was Ryan Hyde’s Jumpstart the World, which addressed some LGBTQ issues. I really liked Jumpstart the World, and was stoked when my class had the opportunity to visit with her via Skype. I was also thrilled to have the opportunity to get a copy Secondhand Heart in order to read and review it. I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed th...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Lorin Cary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Second Hand Heart is now available in the US as an ebook, and that’s a good thing. Publishers here didn’t grab the book when it first appeared, and that’s puzzling because this is an excellent novel. A young girl, Vida (Spanish for life), gets a heart transplant and for the first time is free of the thought that she could die at any moment. Hyde could have left it at that. She does not. She probes grief, love, parenthood, resentment, friendship and a variety of seemingly unrelated topics. This i...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Kendra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review:
Posted on: http://readersedyn.blogspot.com/2011/...

I have a goal of shortening my reviews, but I find I have a lot to say about this book primarily because I relate to it on a number of levels. First and foremost being experience with a child born with a heart condition. Two years ago, at the age of 1 week, my son was diagnosed with Velcardiofacial Syndrome (VCF). This condition occurs at conception, involves the absence of ½ of the 22nd chromosome, and unfortunately can manifest in over...more Review:
Posted on: http://readersedyn.blogspot.com/2011/...

I have a goal of shortening my reviews, but I find I have a lot to say about this book primarily because I relate to it on a number of levels. First and foremost being experience with a child born with a heart condition. Two years ago, at the age of 1 week, my son was diagnosed with Velcardiofacial Syndrome (VCF). This condition occurs at conception, involves the absence of ½ of the 22nd chromosome, and unfortunately can manifest in over 180 ways in any combination. My son was afflicted with bilateral cleft lip, complete cleft palate, club feet, and a double aortic arch causing a vascular ring. At 10 days old, he underwent a vascular ring repair and began his second chance at life. He is one of the “lucky” children with VCF and has been thriving ever since the surgery despite ongoing medical care.

Second, just last month my family experienced the miraculous beauty of the Grand Canyon. Pretty sad that as an Arizona resident it was my first visit there. Every detail mentioned about the canyon was spot on!

Finally, and somewhat ironically, I read this book during a move because we had a 90 minute drive between the old house in Rimrock and our new house in Williams. The mention of Williams made me smile, as well as Vida’s visit to the Williams Visitor Center.

This book follows Vida, a 19 year-old who has come to terms with death because of her life-long struggle with a defective heart. At the last minute she receives a heart and suddenly everything changes. Also followed is Richard, the husband of the donor and his struggle with moving forward. The story, to say the least, is a spectrum of the human ability to cope.

What I disliked in the story was the absence of Vida’s father. His love for her is obvious, but I would have thought he would have played a slightly larger par considering the circumstances.

I enjoyed numerous components to the story beginning with the format. The story is told through a series of journal entries and e-mail correspondences. Readers are given a change of pace through the telling, effectively giving life to the voices sharing their innermost thoughts. I also appreciated the thoughts and discussions surrounding cellular memory. Whatever personal belief one may hold, the theory is definitely beyond intriguing.

I strongly recommend this book for all; especially those who blessedly remain unaffected by such traumatic events. The brief glimpse into such an experience is priceless. The tribute to and resiliency of humans and the ability to evolve, even in the face of such devastating circumstances, is both inspiring and not to be missed in this heart-felt story.

(Kindle book received from author @cryanhyde for review)(less)

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Aug 28, 2010 Nikki-ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: transworld-summer-reading-challenge, received-for-review

Second Hand Heart is a love story, but it’s not your average love story. Then again, is it really a love story? This one is about a nineteen year old called Vida who has spent her short life preparing to die, then finally comes a new heart. But with somebody else’s death, along comes a new chance for Vida.

Then there’s Richard. He’s just lost his beloved wife in a car accident and hasn’t even begun to come to terms with his grief. Yet, he feels compelled to meet the girl who has been given his wi...more Second Hand Heart is a love story, but it’s not your average love story. Then again, is it really a love story? This one is about a nineteen year old called Vida who has spent her short life preparing to die, then finally comes a new heart. But with somebody else’s death, along comes a new chance for Vida.

Then there’s Richard. He’s just lost his beloved wife in a car accident and hasn’t even begun to come to terms with his grief. Yet, he feels compelled to meet the girl who has been given his wife’s heart.

When Vida & Richard meet at the hospital, Vida immediately falls for Richard. However, he dismisses her feelings and thinks she’s a foolish child.

Can a second hand heart bring two people together?

The book is written in journal format and each journal entry is a chapter. The first few chapters of the book are Vida’s journal, then we get a few journal entries from Richard, before going back to Vida and it carries on like that. There’s also a few emails, mainly between Richard and his mother-in-law, thrown into the mix. It may sound like it could get confusing, but it isn’t and the story flows seamlessly between the two journals.

Second Hand Heart isn’t just a love story, it addresses the subject of organ donation and transplantation as well as the theory of cellular memory (where the donor recipient takes on memories, habits, interests and tastes of the donor, that may have somehow been stored in the cells of the transplanted organ). While I don’t usually go for a love story type of book, I’m all for organ donation (as I’ve let my family know) and I’ve heard of cellular memory, so I thought this might be interesting.

Much like Richard did, I found the character of Vida to come across as a bit childish for her age. However, after a while of thinking that, I came to remember that Vida had a different upbringing to most children. She was weak and spent most of her childhood at home with her mother, rather than out making friends etc. While I understood that, I did find her character to be a bit on the stalker-ish side too, in the way that she pursues Richard. Still, I found her to be a unique character (how many young girls have an elderly best friend?)

Despite having never lost a loved-one as close as Richard has, I can understand his need to hang on to the life-force of his wife. His mixed emotions and on-going grief are understandable for somebody in his situation.

I’ve never read any of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books before, though I recognised the name. Catherine is a best-selling author (and deservedly so) and I think most people will have heard of Pay It Forward. I’ve not read the book, but I have seen the movie (though apparently the two are very different). Having read Second Hand Heart, I’m certainly interested in reading more of her work.

I enjoyed Second Hand Heart and the journey taken through the Story. I found that you think it’s going to go one way and then it goes in another direction. This is definitely a worthwhile read and one I did in 3 sittings.

Second Hand Heart is released in the UK in paperback on 16th September.

Please note: I received this book free from Transworld Publishers as part of the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge. However, this in no way influenced my opinion of the book.(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Ellie rated it 5 of 5 stars

When reading Second hand heart, I felt I was on an educational journey. The ideas and questions Ryan Hyde proposes throughout this novel were both unfamiliar and at times left my emotions and empathy towards characters conflicted and confused.

Ryan Hyde tells a story of a young twenty year old girl called Vida who has been waiting on a heart transplant for most of her adolescence. She has been waiting essentially for life, to be a teenager. The books opening sentence: 'I'm probably going to die...more
When reading Second hand heart, I felt I was on an educational journey. The ideas and questions Ryan Hyde proposes throughout this novel were both unfamiliar and at times left my emotions and empathy towards characters conflicted and confused.

Ryan Hyde tells a story of a young twenty year old girl called Vida who has been waiting on a heart transplant for most of her adolescence. She has been waiting essentially for life, to be a teenager. The books opening sentence: 'I'm probably going to die really soon' is so simplistically heart breaking. In the beginning Vida is aloof and resigned to her fate. We are introduced to her Mother Abigail who is typically clucky and neurotic and clearly desperate to see Vida healthy. We are also introduced to Vida's only friend Esther, an old lady who has been neighbours and best friends with Vida since Vida was six years old. It is evident that the two identify with each other because they are both expectant of death.

Then Vida gets news that she will have a heart and we meet Richard. His wife has died in a car crash, her heart becomes Vida's. This is the question that I had never pondered over before: can a heart ever truly be given to another? Will the owner of Vida’s heart always be Lorries? I am twenty one years old and I have always known of transplants: this type of surgery is not a big revelation to me; but it is clear that with every advance in science, there comes a whole host of questions, possibility’s and implications. How intertwined are our emotions with our physical organs?

As soon as Vida has her new heart, she has feelings for Richard. Would a cornea transplant patient have memories of places and people their dona had seen? I really loved how this book proposes such questions.

The book is told from two points of view: Vida and Richard. At the beginning I struggled to like Vida because I felt she had no sympathy towards her mother or Richard. I fell in love with Richard straight away and was pleased to read about bereavement from the viewpoint of the husband for the first time. Abigail is a Mother redundant when Vida recovers, she is experiencing an extreme empty nest syndrome as Vida shows no mercy in her rejection. Vida has a very child like attitude towards love and relationships, she never considers how Richard may be feeling and at several points I wanted to scream at her 'HIS WIFE HAS JUST DIED!!!' The part where Vida turns up at Richards in a coat and nothing else I found particularly frustrating.

It is only when the story begins to peak and we are at the Grand Canyon that I began to understand that Vida is a child who has set out on a voyage to grow up. She couldn't do that with her neurotic mother by her side, she had to 'go it alone'....with her Goth friend Victor and his lovable hound (I really enjoyed those characters)... and her attitude towards love and relationships was immature because she was immature and had never had to consider anyone else’s feelings as she had always been the worse off in every comparison: she was a child about to die.

The point where Esther dies is where I at last felt a great deal of sympathy towards Vida. I see that her flippant attitude is really just a façade. I liked how Ryan Hyde’s writing style meant that I could fall in love with characters slowly and have a greater understanding of there personality’s as the book progresses. I would also note that I have never been taken to the grand canyon in a novel before and the sensory description has made me want to visit.

Definitely recommend Second Hand Heart! (less)

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Dec 22, 2010 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Um livro tocante, a estória de uma jovem de 20 anos a quem finalmente é dada esperança. Desde o nascimento que Vida, assim lhe chamou a mãe, espera por um coração compatível já que o seu não funciona normalmente. Por isso mesmo, sempre teve uma vida limitada, sem praticamente poder ir para a escola, vivendo a maior parte do seu tempo em reclusão. Vida sente-se presa ao seu destino e a uma mãe protectora em demasia, mas faz uma amiga, a sua melhor amiga: Esther, uma judia alemã, que sobreviveu ao...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Holly Schindler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay—I'm a big fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde. Talking huge. Enormous. They don't come any more devoted than me. And Second Hand Heart is my favorite of all of Hyde's books.

There's just something about this book. In the first place, it was my introduction to the concept of cellular memory; I have to say that I'm fascinated by the idea that we don't just make memories with our minds but with our entire beings—leave it to Hyde to zero in on such a beautiful idea and build a book around it. But there a...more

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Jul 28, 2010 Stella rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, 2010

My thoughts: Return to Me with Minnie Driver and David Duchovny (which is about "a man who falls in love with the woman who received his wife's heart must decide which woman it is who holds his heart") is one of my favourite movies, so of course as soon as I saw what Second Hand Heart was about I knew I had to read it.

I was intrigued by Second Hand Heart' theme: cellular memory. That a person's life, memories are not only stored in their brain but in every organ and cell of their body, and the...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Vida is 19 and has a life-threatening heart condition. Richard is 36 and has just lost his beloved wife in a car accident. When Richard is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife's donor heart, Vida takes one look at him and feels she's loved him all her life. Is Vida just a sheltered and confused young woman? Or is there truth behind the theory of cellular memory? Can a heart remember, at least for a time, on its own?

Everything about this book is unexpected. You t...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Hazel McHaffie rated it 3 of 5 stars

No prizes for guessing this one's about organ donation! Vida is 19 and has been an invalid all her life because of a defective heart. Richard doesn't hesitate to donate his wife's organs when she is killed in a road accident. But for some reason he feels compelled to meet the recipient of the heart: Vida. She tells him immediately that she loves him and goes on to demonstrate that she has inherited many of the memories his wife had. How they resolve their issues, and deal with the confusing emot...more

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Nov 22, 2010 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, chicklit, for-review

Vida means “Life” in Spanish. Ironic enough, the actual Vida has a life that revolves around death, or at the very least the almost near certainty of it in her near future. When Vida is suddenly given a second chance at the hand of another she does what comes naturally, she seeks out the one her new heart has lost – Richard. It’s Richard’s loss and Vida’s gain that moves them both forward in life, their paths intertwining, but not exactly in the ways you’d expect. Both seeking something just bey...more Vida means “Life” in Spanish. Ironic enough, the actual Vida has a life that revolves around death, or at the very least the almost near certainty of it in her near future. When Vida is suddenly given a second chance at the hand of another she does what comes naturally, she seeks out the one her new heart has lost – Richard. It’s Richard’s loss and Vida’s gain that moves them both forward in life, their paths intertwining, but not exactly in the ways you’d expect. Both seeking something just beyond their grasp, but more important than either can comprehend in their current situations. Life.

Obviously I’d be remiss to fail to mention how Second Hand Heart initially drew me in because of its similarities to the popular movie, Return to Me. It’s one of my favorites. But outside of the fact that both the book and the movie have heart transplant patients as the central character and a love story of sorts, they truly are very different. One major difference being that Richard, the husband who lost his wife chooses to remain in open contact with whomever receives his late wife’s organs. This is crucial, because were it not for this very unique interaction between Vida and Richard the story could be completely different. Both are excellent though, mind you.

Vida. Her character was so well developed. Honestly. You could tell from the very beginning she’d had a lot of time to think. She was okay with death, which for most of us is quite the opposite. Once she’s given the opportunity to be free of this daily burden she hardly knows what to do with herself, and it’s evident even in the way she speaks. In the beginning of the story you almost want to shake her, she’s so passive. After a while though I came to realize that was just another way of coping, of helping those around her deal with the death she’s already come to grips with. After her life “begins” she’s like a kindergartner asking a thousand questions, making demands, and always seeming to wander aimlessly but with a purpose. By the end, she finally comes to a certain easiness with her new life and I loved the transformation.

Richard was a completely different situation all together for me. I felt like I could relate so well to him in so many situations. His fear for his wife’s heart now in Vida’s small body and his utter confusion at how to proceed with life. I think so many of us are like this. We live life taking for granted the things we hold most dear, until one day they are just gone. Most of us don’t get the opportunity for long good-byes like Vida thought she had, although I’m not sure it entirely matters. I think what I was reminded of most with Richard was the importance of truly loving those we care for like we may not see them even a few moments later. Make sure we appreciate them, tell them and be mindful of them. Because you never know.

Second Hand Heart was more than a story about a girl who got a second take on life and fell in love because of it. It’s about living and appreciating and loving. Never letting go, but remembering that life stops for no one. Both Vida and Richard had incredible journeys to struggle through, both extremely different in ways and so similar in others. And once they’d realized they needed each other, they were finally able to move forward and live.(less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Isobella Wedge rated it 4 of 5 stars

i decided to read this book because it had a pretty cover. this book fits into the category of a book with a male main character. i found it interesting to read because it showed a girl and a guys perspective on the same life event. my favourite quote from this book is 'people who allow themselves to be vulnerable always amaze me. i don't know how they/you do it.' because it's true. something i learned from this book is that life can be unexpected and if love is real it will last forever, no mat...more

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May 10, 2012 Lauri rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second novel I've read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and it was very good. The premise is that 19-year old Vida, who has had a heart-condition her whole life, receives a heart transplant just in time to save her life from Richard, whose wife has just died in a car accident. Apparently, there is anecdotal evidence and research on organ transplant memory - in other words, many organ recipients actually inherit some memories that seemed to belong to the organ donor. That is what this book is...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Vida has looked death in the eye on many occasions despite her young age of 19. It started on her first night of life when she nearly died from her defective heart. After two heart surgeries there is little more that can be done for her. Her last hope is a donor heart. She an her mother rejoice when they hear that a heart has been found for her but at the same time they realize the loss that someone else is facing while she is receiving life.

After the transplant, Via has feelings that she didn't...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 out of 5 rating

Okay, I really hate having to do this. But this book just did not do it for me. When I read the premise, I jumped at the chance to read it. I thought it would be emotional and pull at my heart strings, but unfortunately, it did far from that.

I couldn't care less about Vida. First of all, she's 19 but the writing style made her seem so much younger (and not just because she was sheltered. I think its because it was way too simplified). I didn't find her to be a sympathetic cha...more

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Apr 19, 2012 LolaJane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This book is premised on an interesting idea that cells and organs beyond the brain hold parts of our memories and transplant recipients experience the memories and preferences of their donor.
We follow the impact of cellular memory on Vida, a heart recipient, and the organ donor's husband.

I found some of the secondary characters to be more interesting than the main characters - particularly the elderly woman Vida befriends. But overall, I found it a moving read.

The ending wrapped things up qu...more

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May 09, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Finding characters to root for is a big deal to me when reading a work of fiction. The main character in "Second Hand Heart" is really Vida, but it was the widower Richard who was the most sympathetic to me. Almost crippled by grief and grasping desperately at something to keep him going, along comes immature, sheltered, naive, say-whatever-she's thinking Vida, who has received his dead wife's heart via transplant, and I found myself wishing she would just leave him alone! He's been through enou...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Kirsteen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although I enjoyed this book I felt disappointed towards the end. I was drawn to the book due to the subject matter - "cellular memory" after transplant. The details surrounding the surgery were indepth and fascinating and the manner which the two main characters, Vida and Richard, dealt with the differing sides of transplant gave contrasting but equalling compelling accounts. The relationship between Vida and Esther, her elderly neighbour who survived life in a concentration camp during World W...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: july-11

This is the story of Vida, a 19 year old who needs a heart transplant, and Richard, whose wife is killed in a car accident and donates her heart to Vida. The book is written in alternate sections by both of them in the form of a journal. For me it started off very strongly then lost its way a bit before picking up again. The story looks at the theory that people who receive donor hearts can take on some of the donor's likes and dislikes so Vida falls in love with Richard the minute she sees him....more

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Nov 27, 2012 Susan Kasza rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was fascinated by the description of this book, but extremely disappointed when I started reading. First, the book was written as a series of journal entries and emails. I really found it hard to read; although this could be more a personal preference than poor writing. What I struggled with the most was the girl's immaturity. She was supposed to be 19, but her journal entries made her sound about 12 years old. Despite the first-person writing, I felt no connection to the main character and ha...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Amanda Chalifoux rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Second Hand Heart sounds like it is gonna be a really good book. That the man is gonna find love for second time, but maybe the relationship won't get people that approve cause of the age difference but really it shouldn't matter as long as the two people love each other. I hope they find happiness with each other and the middle age guy doesn't toss her love aside cause she is so young. It makes me wanna read more. I hope I can get a copy of this book, because it sounds like it would def. have m...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Phoenix Carvelli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fav-books-10-12

A wonderful book with very real characters and situations. A must read for everyone who has dealt with loss and rebirth!

This story hit close to home since my father was an organ donor and provided corneas to two people. He could have helped almost a hundred more with his tissue and bone donation. I consider organ and/or tissue donation as the final gift you can give. What a lasting legacy and a chance for those in need to have a chance at a better life. Thank you if you have taken the time to in...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Daisy Chain Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

This is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, so I was drawn to it, not out of any knowledge of her previous books, but due to the fact it seemed to me that it would appeal to me as a fan of Jodi Picoult. While this is similar in theme to Picoult’s books and will undoubtedly appeal to those who like her books, it lacks the emotional punch that Picoult packs. Her books have often left me in tears, and I was expecting this one to do the same. Instead, I consider this one to be a light s...more This is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, so I was drawn to it, not out of any knowledge of her previous books, but due to the fact it seemed to me that it would appeal to me as a fan of Jodi Picoult. While this is similar in theme to Picoult’s books and will undoubtedly appeal to those who like her books, it lacks the emotional punch that Picoult packs. Her books have often left me in tears, and I was expecting this one to do the same. Instead, I consider this one to be a light summer read, despite the serious subject matter, and it didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me. The plot is pretty straightforward, and there are no major surprises here. It’s definitely a book for the garden or the beach, when you don’t want to read anything too taxing. It’s not one that’s going to stay on your mind long after you’ve read it, nor is it a book that’s going to keep you reading late into the night.

The story here revolves around the cellular memory of a heart transplant recipient, Vida, and thirty-something Richard, who has lost his wife in a car crash. Vida is the recipient of Richard’s wife’s heart, and from the moment she sees Richard, Vida loves him, insisting that she retains some of his wife’s memories, the ones she held dearest in her heart. Cellular memory is not a topic that I’m all that familiar with, and although it was interesting and well-researched, the subject matter didn’t totally engage me.

The story here is told in journal format, which I liked at the start, as it enabled me to get to know Vida pretty well very soon on. After a while though, the style seemed overly simplified for this book. Vida’s diary entries often bordered on the repetitive and she had a tendency to lose her train of thought right in the middle of an entry, which got distracting after a while. Also, while Vida is ultimately a likeable character, I did question her motivations towards the middle of the book, and she began to annoy me quite a lot. She is very childlike in her persistence towards Richard - frequently turning up at his house when he tells her not to. I realised by the end of the book that she was doing everything she could to help him come to terms with his loss, but in parts, she is portrayed as being quite childlike and aggressive. She wasn’t a character I could really connect with, nor was the grieving Richard.

For the most part, the story is about love and loss - coming to terms with loss and learning to live again. For Vida, the book is a voyage of self-discovery. At age nineteen she hasn’t been able to live any sort of life. She has been ill from birth, has an over-protective mother and her only friend is a ninety year old concentration camp survivor. With her new heart she is finally able to live, not just survive. She can finally go out into the world and find herself. Vida’s road trip and coming of age was actually my favourite part of the book, and it was during these chapters that I started to like her again, and realise that her intentions were ultimately good. With Vida’s help, Richard is able to begin to move on with his life, and for all it’s themes of death, loss and grief, the book actually ends on a positive note of restoration, rebirth and rejuvenation.(less)

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Jan 07, 2012 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to JG (The Introverted Reader) by: Danielle

Shelves: received_for_review, fiction, 4_stars, author_american, nook, own, read_in_2012, reviewed, setting_us, womens_fiction, contemporary_fiction

Vida is 19 years old and dying. She's been dying her entire life. Not in the vague way that we are all destined to die, but in a way that has led her through multiple heart surgeries in her short life. This time, it's for real. Her doctors are talking weeks if she's lucky. She's been bumped to the top of the waiting list for heart transplants. And then she gets a new heart and she's able to start living.

On the flip side, Richard has everything. A job and a wife that he loves. Until he loses Lorr...more Vida is 19 years old and dying. She's been dying her entire life. Not in the vague way that we are all destined to die, but in a way that has led her through multiple heart surgeries in her short life. This time, it's for real. Her doctors are talking weeks if she's lucky. She's been bumped to the top of the waiting list for heart transplants. And then she gets a new heart and she's able to start living.

On the flip side, Richard has everything. A job and a wife that he loves. Until he loses Lorrie in a tragic car accident. He chooses to donate her organs and Vida gets her heart. Vida's and Richard's lives are forever entwined after that. The first time Richard walks into her hospital room after the transplant, Vida tells him that she loves him. She's never met him before, but she feels a deep, romantic love for him.

At my old job, I was the tiniest of tiny cogs in the transplant process. I did electrocardiograms on the donors so that doctors could make sure the heart was in good working order from an "electrical" standpoint. I was glad that the families had chosen to donate their loved ones' organs, but I hated that part of the job. I never saw the recipients (the actual transplant happened in larger hospitals), so I only saw the donors, and I knew that this beautiful child, wife, father, loved one would not be going home to his or her family. They were all beautiful and they were all young. I didn't do it often, but I was never able to detach myself from the sadness on that end. It was hard for me, to say the least.

It was nice to read a book where I could really sort of experience the life that comes out of such a tragic loss/beautiful gift. Vida, meaning life in Spanish, is a perfect mix of wisdom and innocence. She's led a very sheltered life by necessity. She hasn't been able to get out and run around and play, simply because her weak heart wouldn't let her. She's experienced most of her life from the inside of her house, looking out at the world through a window. Staring the reality of death down daily has led her to realize what is important in life though. Relationships, fairness, and honesty are always important to her. After the transplant, she wants to see as much of the world as she can and face everything on her own terms. She knows how much she's missed and she's making up for lost time.

Richard says something that really made me think. Vida's mother asks him why he decided to donate, and his first response is a stock reply of "Wouldn't anybody?" He talks through it a little and eventually comes to a reason that feels real. "I know why I donated. I wanted people to never forget her. As many as possible. This way I knew you would never forget her, and neither would Vida. And anybody who loved Vida. And the woman in Tiburon who got her corneas, she'll never forget Lorrie, and neither will her family and everybody who loves her. And I could go on with the other organs, but ... I wanted as big a group of people as possible to think about Lorrie on an ongoing basis. Not just get over it and forget." That's possibly one of the most compelling reasons I've ever come across for organ donation. Sure, saving a stranger's life should be the best reason, but in the throes of grief, it's got to be hard to think about that. Something that helps others remember your loved one? That might get through.

Vida's best friend is her neighbor, Ethel, a 90-ish concentration camp survivor. You know I'm drawn to concentration camp stories, so I liked the element. There was a reason for it though. After Vida's transplant, they have a thoughtful conversation about the purpose of a life that came so close to death. Ethel has lived her life in a bubble, almost afraid to live. Vida is choosing to seize the opportunity she's been given and squeeze everything she can out of it.

The biggest part of the book revolves around cellular memory. I don't think I've ever heard about this, but I'm curious. Apparently there's a hypothesis that our memories do not reside solely in our brain; our very cells might retain memories. Think about what that would mean in organ donation. Scientists are studying recipients who suddenly develop traits similar to the donors whose organs they've received, or even "remember" things that never happened to them but did happen to the donor. It was pretty fascinating. There's a brief overview at the San Francisco Medical Society page.

I liked the way things turned out. I won't go into it, I just wasn't sure that I was very happy with the obvious ending, but there was a twist that made me very happy.

I was expecting sort of a light chick-lit book when I started this. I'm left with a lot to think over, and I'm very happy about that. There's a lot going on in this short-ish novel. I recommend it.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, review-copy, signed

There is a full & more detailed review on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing, but I kinda don't want to delete this one to add that one... SO. I'm leaving it :)

I don't know what to say or how I feel about this one. It's been about a week since I read it, and there are very definitely things I loved about it, but also very definitely things that REALLY bothered me about it...

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Apr 04, 2011 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-on-the-blog

Catherine Ryan Hyde has proven she has a way of touching hearts and brining books to us that touch some of the deeper meanings of life. Second Hand Heart is no exception.

Second Hand Heart couldn't be a more fitting title for the story of nineteen year old Vida and her heart. Vida's life is quite tragic, living an existence where every breath can be her last since she brushed death on the day she was born. Her heart condition doesn't only affect her diminishing heath and ability to live a normal...more Catherine Ryan Hyde has proven she has a way of touching hearts and brining books to us that touch some of the deeper meanings of life. Second Hand Heart is no exception.

Second Hand Heart couldn't be a more fitting title for the story of nineteen year old Vida and her heart. Vida's life is quite tragic, living an existence where every breath can be her last since she brushed death on the day she was born. Her heart condition doesn't only affect her diminishing heath and ability to live a normal day-to-day life, it also affects the person she is... her heart.

When Vida is given a second chance at having a heart we are introduced to the scientific anomaly of cellular memory. When Vida meets Richard, the husband of the woman whose donated heart saves Vida's life, the story of the heart takes over and takes us on an emotional roller coaster side by side with a girl dying to live and show a grieving man that her heart remembers him.

Like Vida is intense, Richard is grieving and this sets the tone for Second Hand Heart. Their journey together isn't pretty and it literally tugs at your heart. Catherine Ryan Hyde makes it impossible to take sides, willing Vida to back away and find herself or willing Richard to give in to the girl who holds the heart he felt he would be eternally bound to. Both main characters are likable and strong in their own right.

Other key characters help build this story's character. Abigail, Vida's mother, paved the way for Vida's need to let go and intense feelings. Esther, Vida's best friend even though over half a century her senior, helped instill Vida with strength and faith she carried close to her literally and figuratively. It was the way she accepted Vida when she accepted few others which created a mini-story within a story equally as touching. Then there is Victor, Victor who saw Vida, noticed Vida and was ready to accept Vida. Victor was there to help Esther and Vida do what they had to, to finally move on in life, to let go of what needed letting go of. Then he was just there, in his possibly gothic style and all.

Second Hand Heart is an extraordinary story and completely unforgettable. I've cried before but very rarely does a story keep tears dancing in my eyes from the first page to the last. It was hard to stop the way the journal pages of Vida and Richard's story came to life. This will be a book I hold onto.

Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Plot: 5
Re-readable: Yes, I think so
Overall: 5(less)

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Jul 15, 2010 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, review-copies

Vida is a nineteen year-old girl who suffers from a heart condition. She's in hospital waiting for a transplant – time is running out, but before Vida can get a new heart, a potential donor needs to die. That donor turns out to be car crash victim Lorrie Buckner Bailey. When Lorrie's grieving husband, Richard, decides to visit the girl who received his wife's heart, Vida falls in love with him. But is it really Vida herself who loves Richard – or is it Lorrie's heart?

I really enjoyed this book....more Vida is a nineteen year-old girl who suffers from a heart condition. She's in hospital waiting for a transplant – time is running out, but before Vida can get a new heart, a potential donor needs to die. That donor turns out to be car crash victim Lorrie Buckner Bailey. When Lorrie's grieving husband, Richard, decides to visit the girl who received his wife's heart, Vida falls in love with him. But is it really Vida herself who loves Richard – or is it Lorrie's heart?

I really enjoyed this book. It could easily have been a slushy, sentimental romance, but it manages to avoid that. Instead, it's a fascinating and moving story which raises an interesting question: does cellular memory (where a transplanted organ retains the memories and characteristics of its previous owner) really exist?

The story is told in the first person, alternating between Vida and Richard. Vida's section is in the form of a journal and she has a very intimate and conversational style, making her an engaging character. Through her journal entries we learn what it's like to have spent your whole life preparing for death and the emotions that a person goes through on discovering that they now have a chance to live after all. After meeting Vida, Richard also begins to keep a journal and his story unfolds both through his diary entries and through his email correspondence with Vida and his mother-in-law Myra. I enjoyed watching the characters develop over the course of the book as Vida learns how to enjoy life for the first time and Richard learns how to move on with his own life following Lorrie's death.

Although Vida and Richard are the characters we get to know best, I found the minor characters equally interesting – particularly Abigail, Vida's worried, over-protective mother, and Esther, her elderly neighbour who survived life in a concentration camp during World War II.

The style of writing used in this book, with very simplistic or incomplete sentences, would usually irritate me – and it did at times – but it was actually perfectly suited to the story and helped give the impression that Vida and Richard were talking directly to the reader via their diaries. The writing style, together with the very short chapters, makes this a quick and easy read, despite it being quite a long book. There are some detailed descriptions of heart surgery but nothing too gory for those of you who are squeamish (Catherine Ryan Hyde says in her author's note that she was given the rare opportunity to actually observe a heart operation whilst researching this book). Whether or not you believe in the theory of cellular memory Second Hand Heart is an interesting and thought provoking story.

http://shereadsnovels.wordpress.com (less)

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Jan 13, 2011 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, read-2010, young-adult, favorites

Posted at http://oh-my-books.blogspot.com/2011/...

Vida is a 19 years old women who is going to die soon. All her life has been about dying, so she isn't really afraid. But suddenly her life changes when she gets a second chance.

Richard's wife is dead, and a girl named Vida received her heart. He miss her very much, so he made the decision to met Vida. But as soon a they met, Vida knows she loves him.

Cellular memory is a theory that says a person's memories aren't only storage in the brain but in...more Posted at http://oh-my-books.blogspot.com/2011/...

Vida is a 19 years old women who is going to die soon. All her life has been about dying, so she isn't really afraid. But suddenly her life changes when she gets a second chance.

Richard's wife is dead, and a girl named Vida received her heart. He miss her very much, so he made the decision to met Vida. But as soon a they met, Vida knows she loves him.

Cellular memory is a theory that says a person's memories aren't only storage in the brain but in every organ, and when a person receives an organ transplant, they can feel what the other one felt. So, it's true? Is Vida really in love with Richard? And what about Richard and his feelings?

Vida is an amazing character. At first she was a sick girl waiting for her death and wondering about it, but when she receives the heart she becomes afraid of life and confused. She's 19 years old but acts like a kid, just discovering life. The only thing she was sure about it was her feelings for Richard. She knows she's in love with him.

It was sad to read Richard. He just lost his wife and it's scared for his wife's heart, now in Vida's body. The sudden death of his wife made it difficult for him to move on, he couldn't say goodbye. Even when he doesn't want to take a part of Vida's life, it's impossible not to feel drawn to her...or to her heart?.

Cellular memory is the biggest theme in this book, but not the only one. It's about Vida finally being able to grow up. It's about appreciating every minute of your life, and learning about real love. Both of the main characters had extremely difficult journeys in this book, but when they stopped struggling, it's when they both could finally move on.

The author made a good job writing realistic characters. I could feel their feelings, even when I haven't had the same experiences. Sometimes the story was a little bit slow, but I think it was necessary for this kind of story.

Overall, Second Hand Heart is a heart warming story about love and life. Beautiful written, it's a book that I'd recommend to all.(less)

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About Catherine Ryan Hyde

I'm the author of 18 published and forthcoming books.

My newest releases are Don’t Let Me Go, Jumpstart the World , When I Found You and Second Hand Heart. Forthcoming is and When You Were Older (Transworld UK, Spring 2012).

Newer novels are Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness.

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Quotes from Second Hand Heart

“... even though it was beautiful and comfortable, and even though it was the world, it was also a little bit boring.

No, wait. Maybe boring isn’t the right word. What’s the word I’m wanting here? Lonely. That’s it. It was a little bit lonely.” — 4 people liked it

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