I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Harper Collins on October 17 2017
Source: Litfuse Publicity Group
Genres: Fiction, General, Religious, Romance, Western
Pages: 576
In the year 1912, nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston leaves home to teach school in the Smoky Mountains -- and comes to know and love the resilient people of the region, with their fierce pride, their dark superstitions, their terrible poverty, and their yearning for beauty and truth. But her faith will be severely challenged by trial and tragedy, by the needs and unique strengths of two remarkable young men, and by a heart torn between true love and unwavering devotion.
And don't miss another heart-soaring bestseller from Catherine Marshall: Julie
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Christian
Profanity: None
Sex&Violence: Sex(See notes below), Violence (Mild), Murder (Non-Descriptive)
Trigger Warnings: Molestation (Non-Descriptive), Rape (Semi-detailed), A baby dies as a result of a home remedy for being “liver-growed.”
Disclosure: This book explores life in the Great Smoky Mountains in the early 1900s. Some of it is hard to read for people accustomed to modern social and medical expectations. Poor living conditions and the societal norms of the time may be frustrating. However, this book provides an accurate glimpse of the era.
I first read ‘Christy‘ as a young woman of fifteen and I had little appreciation for the book back then. It’s funny how time changes our perspective! As a young woman, I got so caught up in despising the cultural dialect (that I actually still heard from my family) that I couldn’t enjoy the story. Looking back, I’m ashamed that I was so embarrassed by how the older people in my family spoke. As an adult, I appreciate this book for preserving Appalachian history.
I learned to love the simple mountain people right along with Christy. I felt her triumphs and her failures. Catherine Marshall is truly a gifted storyteller.
This book is mountain life, wrapped in paper and ink. The heart of the people and their vibrancy touched my heart in ways I truly didn’t expect. I’m so glad that I decided to re-read this book!
Yes, some of this book will be hard to read and that’s okay! Life isn’t easy. Sometimes life is ugly and heartbreaking and beautiful—all at the same time.
We have come a long way in the United States. For the most part, we know better sanitation and better medicine. Thank God the flu doesn’t kill as it used to and I’ve never heard of anyone checking a baby to see if it is “liver-growed.” But for all the advantages of modern living, we’ve also lost a heritage.
I have already mentioned my embarrassment at how my grandparents spoke. Now I have no grandparents left and I would do anything to hear my grandma yell through the house, “Hey! Git yer butt in here and say howdy, girl!” I’d even settle for her yelling at me to, “Shet th’ door!” I hear the old Appalachia dialect less and less and it makes me sad. This book helps preserve some of that and I can’t wait to share ‘Christy‘ with my children. They need to know their roots and where they came from. I want my children to know that they can sing with all their hearts. They can dance. I want them to know that they can let go of the stress of trying to live up to everyone else’s standards.
I would definitely suggest this book to older teens and adults who appreciate historical fiction. These are characters that will worm their way into your heart—maybe even break it. But, they also have beautiful life lessons that they can teach you if you let them.
About Catherine Marshall
Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), The New York Times best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel Christy. Based on the life of her mother, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in A Man Called Peter. A decade after Dr. Marshall’s untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of Guideposts, forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine’s enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.
What an awesome review! I read CHRISTY years ago and loved it. I read other books by Catherine Marshall and enjoyed them. When it came time for me to choose a play for the high school’s play production, I chose A MAN CALLED PETER. I couldn’t resist sharing the story of Catherine’s life with Peter Marshall, preacher and a US chaplain of the US Senate. Thanks for telling about your roots. Your blog posts are always interesting and informative.
Thanks, Diane! I haven’t read her other books. I will have to try them out!
Love Christy! I’m sure Catherine would appreciate your review!