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Catching the Westbound
He came into this world with two distinctive qualities-an extraordinary vision and an indomitable spirit, but at the age of ten years old, R.J. Watkins was banished from his small Appalachian community after being unjustly accused of igniting a mining accident. With a little help from fellow riders of the rails, R.J. learned how to survive on his own, but eventually his train came to rest with the Benton and Walters Best Show in America, where R.J. cultivated his unusual talents.
At seventeen, R.J. answered another whistle call of destiny, and he met the powerful McClennan family. Like a dazzling display of fireworks to their fourth of July picnic, R.J. provided the perfect blend of flavor for their family that had long since grew stale. But when he had hard time adjusting to the lavish extremes of the East Coast high society, R.J. learned to navigate their foreign world by completely transforming himself. A metamorphosis so complete that within a few short years he was the talk of the town, a man he barely recognized. Still all the talk was for naught because with the closing bell on a single autumn day in 1929, the McClennan fortune, which took generations to amass, was gone.
To stop the head-on collision with destitution, McClennan’s eldest son, Cosmo, made a deal with a devil, but it fell upon R.J. to pay the dues. No longer able to afford the luxury of other’s opinions, R.J. shed his finer sensibilities and used every trick he learned along the way to save his new family. Will his efforts be enough or ultimately destroy them?
From majestic corners hidden deep within the mountains to New York City’s finest ballrooms, Catching the Westbound chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of R.J. Watkins, a boy who came from nothing but with unparalleled determination, will, and resilience became the last great pioneer of industry.
After a lifetime of traveling paths of decadence and despair, by grace alone, he discovered the road that would lead him home.
At seventeen, R.J. answered another whistle call of destiny, and he met the powerful McClennan family. Like a dazzling display of fireworks to their fourth of July picnic, R.J. provided the perfect blend of flavor for their family that had long since grew stale. But when he had hard time adjusting to the lavish extremes of the East Coast high society, R.J. learned to navigate their foreign world by completely transforming himself. A metamorphosis so complete that within a few short years he was the talk of the town, a man he barely recognized. Still all the talk was for naught because with the closing bell on a single autumn day in 1929, the McClennan fortune, which took generations to amass, was gone.
To stop the head-on collision with destitution, McClennan’s eldest son, Cosmo, made a deal with a devil, but it fell upon R.J. to pay the dues. No longer able to afford the luxury of other’s opinions, R.J. shed his finer sensibilities and used every trick he learned along the way to save his new family. Will his efforts be enough or ultimately destroy them?
From majestic corners hidden deep within the mountains to New York City’s finest ballrooms, Catching the Westbound chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of R.J. Watkins, a boy who came from nothing but with unparalleled determination, will, and resilience became the last great pioneer of industry.
After a lifetime of traveling paths of decadence and despair, by grace alone, he discovered the road that would lead him home.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2012
22 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
D.C. Hicks
2 books7 followersAfter graduating from Ball State University, D.C. married her first-generation Appalachian husband, David. They live in Indiana with their son. Catching the Westbound is her debut novel. She is currently working on her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 14, 2012
This is a good and imaginative story but I found the grammatical errors very distracting. Sometimes I had to puzzle over what the author was really trying to say (i.e.,"high fluting"). With a good editor to smooth out the style errors this could become a 4-star read.
October 11, 2012
From my Amazon review:
I really liked the first 3/4 of this book. RJ is a character with whom it is easy to relate. Or, he is at least entertaining to watch. The story weaves through his trials and tribulations and you can't help but root for him.
I couldn't help but feel that there were a few spots towards the end of the book that would have made good stopping points for the novel. I was less enchanted with the last parts of the book and found RJ to be a bitter soul and not quite as likable as he was in the first part.
Still, it was an entertaining read and the few typos were not too much of a distraction.
I really liked the first 3/4 of this book. RJ is a character with whom it is easy to relate. Or, he is at least entertaining to watch. The story weaves through his trials and tribulations and you can't help but root for him.
I couldn't help but feel that there were a few spots towards the end of the book that would have made good stopping points for the novel. I was less enchanted with the last parts of the book and found RJ to be a bitter soul and not quite as likable as he was in the first part.
Still, it was an entertaining read and the few typos were not too much of a distraction.
August 8, 2012
This novel really worked for me. It made me laugh; it made me cry; it made me laugh while I was crying - all that. RJ is a great character; he's super engaging and likable most of the time so when he does something wrong or uncool I more ache for him to fix things more than get frustrated with him. And he isn't perfect; which really is probably good or the story likely would have gotten old after a while.
On the contrary, I just wanted the novel to continue forever. Every time the narrative skipped forward a bit I wished it would go back and fill in the gaps even if the events weren't as life-changing as the others.
Around RJ were all the people he dealt with in his life and all of them were wonderful. Even the ones who weren't particularly developed or anything were still interesting enough that I didn't mind them interfering and being present in RJ's life. Even Cosmo and Elliot entertained me.
The writing was really powerful. A lot happened in RJ's life and a lot of it moved me, for better or worse. I don't really know how to articulate it besides saying that it just really got to me. The writing took everything that happened to RJ and made me feel it.
Perhaps the only thing that I might point out as not being fantastic was the narrative with regards to RJ's sight. There were many times that RJ or someone commented on how terrible it is/must be to be able to see everyone's death but the story never really made me consider it or feel like I experienced it at all. Besides the times that it more directly affected RJ's life in the story, it was easy to forget about and not experience the rest with that overshadowing it all.
And now I'll avoid going on about how I feel about all the things in the novel as I occasionally do with my reviews (I wish I read these books with other people...) and instead just finish by saying that I really liked the ending. Not even just the epilogue but the last couple chapters into that just all were a fantastic way to end the amazing novel. I was reading it on a train sitting next to someone so I needed to frequently put my kindle down and look out the window a little while to settle down and not have too visceral of a reaction to it. This book in whole was just marvelous.
On the contrary, I just wanted the novel to continue forever. Every time the narrative skipped forward a bit I wished it would go back and fill in the gaps even if the events weren't as life-changing as the others.
Around RJ were all the people he dealt with in his life and all of them were wonderful. Even the ones who weren't particularly developed or anything were still interesting enough that I didn't mind them interfering and being present in RJ's life. Even Cosmo and Elliot entertained me.
The writing was really powerful. A lot happened in RJ's life and a lot of it moved me, for better or worse. I don't really know how to articulate it besides saying that it just really got to me. The writing took everything that happened to RJ and made me feel it.
Perhaps the only thing that I might point out as not being fantastic was the narrative with regards to RJ's sight. There were many times that RJ or someone commented on how terrible it is/must be to be able to see everyone's death but the story never really made me consider it or feel like I experienced it at all. Besides the times that it more directly affected RJ's life in the story, it was easy to forget about and not experience the rest with that overshadowing it all.
And now I'll avoid going on about how I feel about all the things in the novel as I occasionally do with my reviews (I wish I read these books with other people...) and instead just finish by saying that I really liked the ending. Not even just the epilogue but the last couple chapters into that just all were a fantastic way to end the amazing novel. I was reading it on a train sitting next to someone so I needed to frequently put my kindle down and look out the window a little while to settle down and not have too visceral of a reaction to it. This book in whole was just marvelous.
July 27, 2015
Bravo, DC Hicks! I was thoroughly entertained. I was drawn in by RJ's character within the first few pages of the book, and shared his life's journey with him--sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, and always rooting for him. What a bittersweet rags to riches tale, and a fantastic time capsule. I'd place CATCHING THE WESTBOUND on my book shelf between FOREST GUMP and WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.
Here, I feel compelled to mention that I did read on other reviews that there were editing issues with the book. I was unaware since I used Kindle text-to-speech to read the story to me, thus, with the MC's dialect, it would have been difficult to know if the author had made an error. I gave it five stars in spite of editing issues--based on story alone.
If there are editing issues, I hope the author reissues the book with corrections made. It'd be a shame to have technical issues dog such stellar storytelling.
October 30, 2012
Gypsies tramps and thieves scallywags, dandies and all the trappings of Mark Twain, John Steinbeck in the making of a nation, the rebuilding of a life and a man… D.C. Hicks has done an outstanding job for her first novel… Wow!!! I have read many reviews where people have said that they couldn’t put the book down or couldn’t wait to get back to it… Well this is how I felt reading catching the Westbound… Great story line, many different twists, a love story … A mystery, science fiction adventure… The gilded age to the atomic age…
November 29, 2012
I liked the story of the book but found the lack of good editing (i.e. using many times "then" when it should have read "than")very distracting. Also, there was a lot of profanity which I didn't like.
August 25, 2012
What a fantastic book I was blown away by the storyline! It has been a long time since I was so entertained by a book, I really look forward to the next book by this author.
January 17, 2018
What a ride!
An interesting weaving of history into an engrossing life story. The hardships, trials, loves and dreams..... I wanted to follow to the end. I recommend this book.... you will gasp, smile, laugh out loud and perhaps wipe away a tear or two.
An interesting weaving of history into an engrossing life story. The hardships, trials, loves and dreams..... I wanted to follow to the end. I recommend this book.... you will gasp, smile, laugh out loud and perhaps wipe away a tear or two.
April 11, 2020
Wonderful
This tale tugs at your heart strings in so many ways. I loved how the author captures the southern way of speaking even in the spelling. It is a tale of hardship and love and wisdom.
This tale tugs at your heart strings in so many ways. I loved how the author captures the southern way of speaking even in the spelling. It is a tale of hardship and love and wisdom.
Read
March 10, 2017Loved this book
Read
January 28, 2014It's a wonderful gift when you find a book that is so entertaining that it interrupts your daily life. Catching the Westbound by D.C. Hicks is one of those gifts.
R.J. Watkins was born with the ability to see how people will die. It's a curse to R.J. as it is constantly clouding his mind with gruesome thoughts and scary visions of things to come. In his tenth year of life he gets the vision that the mine where his dad and most of the town's men work will collapse. He runs through the groups of miners warning them as they trudge to the opening of the mine to begin their day. Some listen and others brush him off and head into the depths of the mountain.
Just as R.J. had predicted the mine collapses killing many people. The mine owner accuses R.J. of causing the collapse and since the town is emotional and in mourning the story catches on. In order to save R.J. from danger his father sends his 10 year old son out into the world with the following advice, "Run until nobody knows your name."
R.J. makes plans to hop a train and ride it away from the danger of his hometown. His young friend Benny refuses to let him go alone so the two boys hop a freight train and head for the great unknown.
Along the way R.J. and Benny encounter many dangers but also are taken under the wing of a tough hobo named Red. Misfortune soon frowns on the trio and the group must split up and go their separate ways.
The remainder of the book follows R.J's rise through the social ladder in New York due to an encounter with a very rich man. R.J. makes himself a mover and shaker in the financial scene and must hide his past.
The path that R.J. takes is a winding one and it has many pitfalls but also leads him to the love of his life. This book is an adventure and romance all rolled into one. In the end R.J. realizes what is most important in life.
This book was a quick read because it drew me in and I cared about the characters from the get go. It was long enough to tell the story without a lot of missing pieces and the story is easy to follow even with all of the topsy turvy twists the main character's life takes.
R.J. Watkins was born with the ability to see how people will die. It's a curse to R.J. as it is constantly clouding his mind with gruesome thoughts and scary visions of things to come. In his tenth year of life he gets the vision that the mine where his dad and most of the town's men work will collapse. He runs through the groups of miners warning them as they trudge to the opening of the mine to begin their day. Some listen and others brush him off and head into the depths of the mountain.
Just as R.J. had predicted the mine collapses killing many people. The mine owner accuses R.J. of causing the collapse and since the town is emotional and in mourning the story catches on. In order to save R.J. from danger his father sends his 10 year old son out into the world with the following advice, "Run until nobody knows your name."
R.J. makes plans to hop a train and ride it away from the danger of his hometown. His young friend Benny refuses to let him go alone so the two boys hop a freight train and head for the great unknown.
Along the way R.J. and Benny encounter many dangers but also are taken under the wing of a tough hobo named Red. Misfortune soon frowns on the trio and the group must split up and go their separate ways.
The remainder of the book follows R.J's rise through the social ladder in New York due to an encounter with a very rich man. R.J. makes himself a mover and shaker in the financial scene and must hide his past.
The path that R.J. takes is a winding one and it has many pitfalls but also leads him to the love of his life. This book is an adventure and romance all rolled into one. In the end R.J. realizes what is most important in life.
This book was a quick read because it drew me in and I cared about the characters from the get go. It was long enough to tell the story without a lot of missing pieces and the story is easy to follow even with all of the topsy turvy twists the main character's life takes.
June 1, 2016
This is an odd book/novel to begin with. You will ask yourself, what have I attempted to read? Give yourself a little time and a couple of more pages and the book will draw you in. The characters are well written and not there for the fluff, the situations are ones that could have existed at or during that particular time frame, the reactions of the characters are ones that could have reasonably been expected, and the later years of the main character's actions also could have been reasonably expected. A good book to read.
October 31, 2012
I finished reading the Kindle version and will be purchasing a hardcopy when available. It was a very well paced story that kept me coming back every chance I had a free moment. Having family from KY, I know some folks like R.J. and are proud to have them. Faults and all, they make life interesting just as R.J. did in this story. Through life's ups and downs, we are along for the ride. Can't wait to reread this.
January 8, 2013
I liked the first 3/4 of this book. RJ is entertaining and his interactions w others was interesting. I felt that there were a few spots towards the end of the book that would have made good stopping points for the novel but it continued on with some nonsensical plot turns-nuclear energy, really come on, and dragged on thru some parts.
It was an entertaining read especially since it was a freebie
It was an entertaining read especially since it was a freebie
Read
November 4, 2012Riveting story about a child who is forced to leave home and live on the rails. His "gift" is both a curse and a blessing that shapes his life as he becomes a business tycoon. Taking the fall after his father-in-law's business fails when the Great Depression hits, he rebuilds his business and his personal life. Loved this story.
July 21, 2013
An interesting story. As a 10 year old R.J.starts life as a hobo riding the trains with his best friend and then joins a circus. He meets the love of his life, a Wall St. princess and through trying to ride the Wall Street crash he ends up in prison. When he gets out due to hard work he ends up a billionaire. This is a feelgood book.
February 22, 2015
Very entertaining!
This is book grabbed my interest from the first page and left me thinking about the story every time I was away from it. Though the main character is faced with many hardships, his life is quite a success in many ways in all the years he lived. This is a fast-paced, engaging, and very entertaining book.
This is book grabbed my interest from the first page and left me thinking about the story every time I was away from it. Though the main character is faced with many hardships, his life is quite a success in many ways in all the years he lived. This is a fast-paced, engaging, and very entertaining book.
July 15, 2012
This was a great book! I laughed and cried. I don't want to spoil it for potential readers so I won't talk about specifics but I have never cheered on a protagonist as much as I did R.J. This was emotionally draining and as much as I wanted to put it down and walk away from it, I couldn't!
January 14, 2013
This story had me laughing, crying, and staying up all night to finish. The characters are likeable and you feel for them and what happens during their life stories. A must read. But have tissues or a short-lived handy.
January 8, 2013
the story of RJ Watkins who was born with second sight
follows his story it will make you laugh and definitely make you cry
DC Hicks this is a winner 5 stars ill be looking for more of your work
a must read bravo loved it!!
follows his story it will make you laugh and definitely make you cry
DC Hicks this is a winner 5 stars ill be looking for more of your work
a must read bravo loved it!!
Want to read
July 12, 2012$0.0
July 18, 2012
Wish I could give this book more stars. I was Awesome. I loved it and never wanted to put it down!
August 2, 2012
Absolutely LOVED this book!! Had a hard time finding a stopping place to do other things at home!! Love a book like that!!!!!
October 15, 2012
It was an enjoyable story, however, the lack of editing and proofreading drove me quite batty. Then/than....not once but constant from beginning to end.
November 17, 2012
"Catching The Westbound' is a gem of a book. The characters were well-developed & the plot was so original & fun to read. If you liked "Water For Elephants" you would love this book!
January 14, 2013
Good multi-generational story. For all of his faults, I really liked and admired R.J. He did it his way!
January 16, 2013
amazing. Words won't do it justice. A must read.
February 3, 2013
I could not put this book down. I did not want it to end, but the ending was so appropriate. The main character, RJ was intriguing.....
March 26, 2013
I really liked this book despite awkward spots in the writing. I found it very engrossing and so sad, but with happy moments as well.
April 13, 2013
I dug the heck out of this book.....more in the front half than the back, but still a great read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews