Christy Book Review

SUMMARY:  The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world.  The Smokey Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.
     But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her - and her one-room school - as a threat to their way of life.  Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting news about how to care for the families of the Cove. 
     Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

REVIEW:  This book was first published fifty years ago and has been loved by millions of readers since.  Having watched and enjoyed the television series based on the book, I was excited to finally get a chance to read this beloved story for the very first time. 
      Catherine Marshall retells the stories told by her mother, the women the book is based on, with some added twists.  She doesn't hold back any punches and shows life in its full, raw, and rough form.  But, she also shows the love Christy developed for the people of Cutter Gap, how they opened her eyes to God and His love for us in ways she never could have living in Asheville.  Sometimes it was not pretty; many times I thought about putting the book down because it was very difficult to read.  But, I stuck with it and I am so glad I did.  This book gave me a new outlook on life and a new appreciation for the area of Tennessee I have grown to love.  If you have never read the book, or if you read it as a young person, pick it up and read it.  It is well worth the time.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Catherine Marshall, 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 millions readers.