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Christy
Christy Huddleston left home at 19 to teach school in the Smoky Mountains. There she came to know and love the wild mountain people with their fierce pride, their dark superstitions, their terrible poverty, their yearning for beauty and truth. Christy found her faith severely challenged in these primitive surroundings; and confronted with two young men of unique strengths and needs, she found her own growing yearnings challenged by love.
501 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1967
1088 people are currently reading
22223 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Marshall
196 books1,034 followersMarshall was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. She was the daughter of the Reverend John Ambrose Wood and Leonora Whitaker Wood. From the age of nine until her graduation from high school, Marshall was raised in Keyser, West Virginia, where her father served as pastor of a Presbyterian church from 1924 to 1942.
While a junior at Agnes Scott College, she met Peter Marshall, marrying him in 1936. The couple moved to Washington, DC, where her husband served as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Chaplain of the United States Senate.
In 1940, Marshall contracted tuberculosis, for which at that time there was no antibiotic treatment. She spent nearly three years recovering from the illness. Her husband died in 1949 of a heart attack, leaving her to care for their 9-year-old son, Peter John Marshall. He later also became a minister and author.
Marshall wrote a biography of her husband, A Man Called Peter, published in 1951. It became a nationwide success and was adapted as a film of the same name, released in 1955. Her success encouraged her to keep writing.
Marshall wrote or edited more than 30 books, which have sold over 16 million copies.[citation needed] They include edited collections of Peter Marshall's sermons and prayers, and her own inspirational writings. Her most successful books were A Man Called Peter (1951); and her novel, Christy (1967), which was inspired by the story of her mother's time in the mountains teaching the impoverished children of Appalachia. Christy was adapted as a CBS television series, starring Kellie Martin, beginning in 1994.
In 1959, Marshall married Leonard LeSourd, who was the editor of Guideposts Magazine for 28 years. Together they founded a book imprint, Chosen Books. They had three children, Linda, Chester and Jeffery.
Marshall died on March 18, 1983 at the age of 68. She was buried alongside her first husband.
While a junior at Agnes Scott College, she met Peter Marshall, marrying him in 1936. The couple moved to Washington, DC, where her husband served as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Chaplain of the United States Senate.
In 1940, Marshall contracted tuberculosis, for which at that time there was no antibiotic treatment. She spent nearly three years recovering from the illness. Her husband died in 1949 of a heart attack, leaving her to care for their 9-year-old son, Peter John Marshall. He later also became a minister and author.
Marshall wrote a biography of her husband, A Man Called Peter, published in 1951. It became a nationwide success and was adapted as a film of the same name, released in 1955. Her success encouraged her to keep writing.
Marshall wrote or edited more than 30 books, which have sold over 16 million copies.[citation needed] They include edited collections of Peter Marshall's sermons and prayers, and her own inspirational writings. Her most successful books were A Man Called Peter (1951); and her novel, Christy (1967), which was inspired by the story of her mother's time in the mountains teaching the impoverished children of Appalachia. Christy was adapted as a CBS television series, starring Kellie Martin, beginning in 1994.
In 1959, Marshall married Leonard LeSourd, who was the editor of Guideposts Magazine for 28 years. Together they founded a book imprint, Chosen Books. They had three children, Linda, Chester and Jeffery.
Marshall died on March 18, 1983 at the age of 68. She was buried alongside her first husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,504 reviews
May 29, 2017
Beautiful, beautiful! I am so glad I read it, and I heartily recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants a deep and wondrous read. Featuring a man calling his wife and son "twitter-witted"....
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
September 22, 2024
This was a book nagging me for a reread having read it in my 20s. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, it isn’t a book to read for theology and I remembered some of my earlier discomfort with that, but it is a great book to read for understanding a different place and a different time.
It started slow for me this time but grew on me.
It started slow for me this time but grew on me.
June 19, 2017
This warm and heartfelt novel is Catherine Marshall's loving tribute to her mother Lenora Woods' journey to Cutter Gap, in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, to teach its children shortly after the turn of the century. The effect it had on her mother's life and faith is captured with warmth and beauty in this fine audio book. It is made all the more special because it is read by Kellie Martin, who starred in the two-hour television adaptation, and the series that followed.
It is rare when an audio book is this good. Though nothing is ever a substitute for reading the book, having both read this fine novel in the traditional manner, and listened to this audio reading, I can honestly say that if you loved the television series, you will love this. Just as she did in the series, Kellie Martin perfectly captures the great beauty of these mountains and the poverty of its people. Occasional and brief interludes of banjo music frame this heartwarming — and sometimes heartbreaking — thinly disguised biography of a young and exuberant 19 year old girl who falls in love with the children of Cutter gap.
This seems more like a telling of a story than a reading, and that in itself separates it from many other audio books. Martin captures the joy and humor of Christy's time in Cutter Gap, as well as the conflict and resentment as the school and church butted heads over moonshine. She captures the romance that begins to blossom and her divided heart, as her inner emotions are torn between two very different men.
This may be warm family entertainment but it has substance as well. Those who are fans of the beloved bestseller and/or the fine television series it spawned will not be disappointed. The emotions of Christy and her resolve to stay in this place and teach are lovingly brought to life in Kellie Martin’s voice as she reads the wonderful words of Catherine Marshall. Particularly moving is the relationship between Christy and Fairlight Spencer, a strong but delicate woman who offers her friendship. The sadness these mountains could bring upon such a fine and delicate soul is movingly rendered by Kellie Martin. As Fairlight's inner flame begins to grow dim from the blowing winds of hardship and shadows of poverty, we are deeply moved.
I highly recommend this one, even if, like me, you've read it already. It is a loving tribute to Catherine Marshall's mother and the life she chose to live. Filled with love and joy, this is one audio book read by Kellie Martin that you'll savor and enjoy over and over.
It is rare when an audio book is this good. Though nothing is ever a substitute for reading the book, having both read this fine novel in the traditional manner, and listened to this audio reading, I can honestly say that if you loved the television series, you will love this. Just as she did in the series, Kellie Martin perfectly captures the great beauty of these mountains and the poverty of its people. Occasional and brief interludes of banjo music frame this heartwarming — and sometimes heartbreaking — thinly disguised biography of a young and exuberant 19 year old girl who falls in love with the children of Cutter gap.
This seems more like a telling of a story than a reading, and that in itself separates it from many other audio books. Martin captures the joy and humor of Christy's time in Cutter Gap, as well as the conflict and resentment as the school and church butted heads over moonshine. She captures the romance that begins to blossom and her divided heart, as her inner emotions are torn between two very different men.
This may be warm family entertainment but it has substance as well. Those who are fans of the beloved bestseller and/or the fine television series it spawned will not be disappointed. The emotions of Christy and her resolve to stay in this place and teach are lovingly brought to life in Kellie Martin’s voice as she reads the wonderful words of Catherine Marshall. Particularly moving is the relationship between Christy and Fairlight Spencer, a strong but delicate woman who offers her friendship. The sadness these mountains could bring upon such a fine and delicate soul is movingly rendered by Kellie Martin. As Fairlight's inner flame begins to grow dim from the blowing winds of hardship and shadows of poverty, we are deeply moved.
I highly recommend this one, even if, like me, you've read it already. It is a loving tribute to Catherine Marshall's mother and the life she chose to live. Filled with love and joy, this is one audio book read by Kellie Martin that you'll savor and enjoy over and over.
March 31, 2008
Okay - so I have read this book about 10 times, most recently 2008. It is about a young women who heads to the mountains to become a school teacher and the challenges she faces. There are two hunky guys she flirts with, too. This book does have religious tones while Christy questions and figures out what she believes. I think this book rings so true to me because I read it at an age when I was asking the same type of questions. I still enjoy the beauty of the story after repeat readings. This may be my all time favorite book.
June 8, 2019
Growing up, I heard that Christy wasn’t a book to read or series appropriate to watch. Then I realized I wasn’t a teen anymore. This book was recommended to me as a research read, and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so authentic and captivating. It half read as biography, half as fiction. The stories were so complex that it makes me think “you can’t make this stuff up.” It really was fascinating and overall I loved it.
Romantically speaking, there are primarily two scenes that I would not recommend to younger readers: when Alice tells Christy how she came to be with child and then during Ruby Mae’s wedding. Apart from that, there really didn’t seem to be a fleshly romantic side to the story. There were kisses and such mentioned, but they were not expounded on.
Spiritually speaking... this is an interesting topic and I’ll try not to be long-winded. I thought it was well-done with authenticity and historically. I do not agree with all the religious perspectives presented, but I cannot say that it was inaccurate at all. First, you had Alice, a Quaker woman. There are some references to following the “inner Light,” but from things I’ve read with Quakers, she was actually more about going to God’s Word more than following “personal revelation.” She did preach, though, which I disagree with. Christy herself was being challenged with what she believed and where she personally stood. I really liked it, but it could be something that younger Christians or those who are not sure where they stand could be confused by. David... oh, David. His character was excellently done. I agreed with very little of what he said or believed—he was that “head-knowledge” seminary student who doubted the authenticity of Jesus’ miracles and what happened when someone died. In the very end, it does seem like he finally got things straight, but throughout the entire book, he was always leaning toward the legalistic, Logic-over-Faith, man-called-over-God-called personality. Like I said, he was well done even though I didn’t like him.
So, who do I think should read this book? Older readers and those who are well-grounded in their faith. There are a lot of spiritual discussions, and while many of them are resolved, for someone who doesn’t know the Scriptures, it could confuse them.
Romantically speaking, there are primarily two scenes that I would not recommend to younger readers: when Alice tells Christy how she came to be with child and then during Ruby Mae’s wedding. Apart from that, there really didn’t seem to be a fleshly romantic side to the story. There were kisses and such mentioned, but they were not expounded on.
Spiritually speaking... this is an interesting topic and I’ll try not to be long-winded. I thought it was well-done with authenticity and historically. I do not agree with all the religious perspectives presented, but I cannot say that it was inaccurate at all. First, you had Alice, a Quaker woman. There are some references to following the “inner Light,” but from things I’ve read with Quakers, she was actually more about going to God’s Word more than following “personal revelation.” She did preach, though, which I disagree with. Christy herself was being challenged with what she believed and where she personally stood. I really liked it, but it could be something that younger Christians or those who are not sure where they stand could be confused by. David... oh, David. His character was excellently done. I agreed with very little of what he said or believed—he was that “head-knowledge” seminary student who doubted the authenticity of Jesus’ miracles and what happened when someone died. In the very end, it does seem like he finally got things straight, but throughout the entire book, he was always leaning toward the legalistic, Logic-over-Faith, man-called-over-God-called personality. Like I said, he was well done even though I didn’t like him.
So, who do I think should read this book? Older readers and those who are well-grounded in their faith. There are a lot of spiritual discussions, and while many of them are resolved, for someone who doesn’t know the Scriptures, it could confuse them.
March 8, 2022
I first read this book when I was a teenager, and I remembered really nothing of the story except that Christy was a girl who left her home in Asheville to work at a mission in the Appalachians and that I had liked the book. I think this book was more geared to my younger self, that youthful person still searching for her own path in life and wanting to codify her beliefs.
There is much truth, and dozens of truisms, in this book. Catherine Marshall was married to a famous pastor and she has a serious purpose in mind in writing this book. It is a Christian story and meant to be a serious search into what Christianity entails for the individual.
Already I could see that although I tried to capture truth, truth could never be wholly contained in words. All of us know it: at the same moment the mouth is speaking one thing, the heart is saying another; or events are carrying us in one direction when all the while the real life of the spirit is marching in another.
Embedded in the novel are some beautiful observations and descriptions of life in the mountains of Tennessee and the troubles and joys that come with an isolated life. Living among descendants of Scottish clansmen, the girl, Christy, is forced to look at life through a different lens and put aside some of the ideas that come from a privileged, educated city life.
Once I began to notice I heard the old ballads everywhere. Strange how music and poetry can preserve the feel of another way of life. Sitting on a cabin porch, I’d see an English manor house with clipped lawns and lords and ladies strolling arm in arm.
The first half of the book seemed quite lovely to me. The weight of the second half was at times overwhelming. It simply went on too long. The religious philosophy stretched itself into passages that seemed more like sermons. I agreed with Marshall’s points and themes, but I admit to wanting to get back to the story, and ultimately to the end.
So many people never pause long enough to make up their minds about basic issues of life and death. It’s quite possible to go through your whole life, making the mechanical motions of living, adopting as your own sets of ideas you’ve picked up some place or other, and die–never having come to any conclusion for yourself as to what life is all about.
On how to justify a belief in immortality:
Because man’s a part of the natural order, and dying each winter and being resurrected each spring is part of the rhythm, the normal ebb and flow of life. Surely if it happens to mere flowers and trees, it happens to us.”
There is wisdom in both those passages, and one that struck me as quite significant to today’s world circumstances was this one:
I’d long since learned that no difference in viewpoint should ever be allowed to cause the least break in love. Indeed, it cannot, if it is real love.
I am not sorry to have read this book, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is soul searching or trying to understand the nature of God and the struggles of what God might have planned for your life that you cannot know to plan for yourself.
There is much truth, and dozens of truisms, in this book. Catherine Marshall was married to a famous pastor and she has a serious purpose in mind in writing this book. It is a Christian story and meant to be a serious search into what Christianity entails for the individual.
Already I could see that although I tried to capture truth, truth could never be wholly contained in words. All of us know it: at the same moment the mouth is speaking one thing, the heart is saying another; or events are carrying us in one direction when all the while the real life of the spirit is marching in another.
Embedded in the novel are some beautiful observations and descriptions of life in the mountains of Tennessee and the troubles and joys that come with an isolated life. Living among descendants of Scottish clansmen, the girl, Christy, is forced to look at life through a different lens and put aside some of the ideas that come from a privileged, educated city life.
Once I began to notice I heard the old ballads everywhere. Strange how music and poetry can preserve the feel of another way of life. Sitting on a cabin porch, I’d see an English manor house with clipped lawns and lords and ladies strolling arm in arm.
The first half of the book seemed quite lovely to me. The weight of the second half was at times overwhelming. It simply went on too long. The religious philosophy stretched itself into passages that seemed more like sermons. I agreed with Marshall’s points and themes, but I admit to wanting to get back to the story, and ultimately to the end.
So many people never pause long enough to make up their minds about basic issues of life and death. It’s quite possible to go through your whole life, making the mechanical motions of living, adopting as your own sets of ideas you’ve picked up some place or other, and die–never having come to any conclusion for yourself as to what life is all about.
On how to justify a belief in immortality:
Because man’s a part of the natural order, and dying each winter and being resurrected each spring is part of the rhythm, the normal ebb and flow of life. Surely if it happens to mere flowers and trees, it happens to us.”
There is wisdom in both those passages, and one that struck me as quite significant to today’s world circumstances was this one:
I’d long since learned that no difference in viewpoint should ever be allowed to cause the least break in love. Indeed, it cannot, if it is real love.
I am not sorry to have read this book, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is soul searching or trying to understand the nature of God and the struggles of what God might have planned for your life that you cannot know to plan for yourself.
March 7, 2022
Christy is a Christian historical fiction novel written in 1967 and loosely inspired by the author’s mother’s experiences as a school teacher of impoverished children in the Appalachian areas of Tennessee. I am happy to have had the opportunity to read this and wished I had read it when I was a teen. I can see my younger self really connecting with Christy Huddleston, a young 19 year old impressionable girl who decides to volunteer to teach in a Mission school in Cutter Gap, Tennessee in 1912. Christy comes from a well to do family in Asheville, North Carolina so naturally she knows only of life in her affluent world. When she decides to take this step, it is met with concern from her parents but Christy is determined to make a difference and teach where she is needed.
Christy is met with challenges even before her arrival in Cutter Gap. She has no idea of the world she is entering and doesn’t even realize how much this experience and especially these mountain people will change her life. At first, she is appalled at the poverty and lack of cleanliness she witnesses. The mountain people are still living in primitive conditions with no running water or electricity in their cabins. They live in such a remote place that everything they have is made with their own hands from the bounty of the place they live. Much of what they believe in is superstitions and a fearful religion. They have certain traditions about weddings and funerals that are quite different. They utilize folk medicine ideas and are ignorant to ways that could prevent many diseases they suffer from. One example - typhoid is caused by dirty, unclean water but they just believe every so often a “scourge” will occur and people will die. These tricky and faulty beliefs pervade their lives and any changes to their ways of living aren’t necessarily going to be easily made.
Miss Alice Henderson is Christy’s Quaker mentor who becomes her spiritual guide and counselor. She encourages Christy to really get to know the mountain people and to learn to appreciate their differences and to see the beauty in the people and the place they are living. Miss Alice thinks it is important to preserve the best of the Appalachian ways and lifestyle without critical opinions in order to affect change. She approaches her interactions with love and Christy has to learn this herself.
Christy’s experiences in the school house with the 67 children of all ages as well as her blossoming relationship with several of the ladies, Fairlight Spencer and Opal McHone, are touching. We also meet David Grantland, the minister at the Mission who is seen more as an outsider by the community and the local doctor, Neil MacNeil who serves the people he grew up among.
The history and background of the people is truly fascinating and much of their traditions that are brought forth in the first half of the book left me really wanting to find out how this story was to play out. But the focus with the second half was on Christy’s struggle and convictions with her faith and her romantic connections she must figure out. There are quite a few tragedies that occur that the author uses to answer these questions.
I have to admit that I didn’t really know that this was a Christian fiction novel. This is not a genre for everyone and I realize that. I happen to enjoy reading this genre on occasion and believe that this is an excellent example. If you are in the mood for a heartwarming and inspirational story then pick this one up and give a copy to your favorite teenager and read it together! I think there would be some truly worthwhile conversations there!
March 20, 2018
I listened to this on audio, so pardon any misspellings!
Okay, this is going to be a complicated review. In my opinion, Christy is a good book, just maybe not for all audiences. I'm giving it a solid 3.5 stars for "didn't-love-didn't-hate-but-liked-it-more-than-3 stars-but-not-quite-4-stars". There were things I liked and things I didn't like and things that simply were. Things that were uplifting and things that were depressing. I liked Christy herself for the most part. She was lively, and an entertaining narrator, making me smile several times with her reactions to things. It was good to watch her grow and mature, both emotionally, and spiritually, her faith journey being especially touching. The thing I disliked about her was her romantic journey. She was probably the most immature in that area, and while it wasn't at all like modern day YA in which it's often "get physical first and ask questions later," she still had that immature attitude of, "If I'm not in love with him, then why do I have all teh tingly feelings when he kisses me?" Just guessing here, but that might be...wait for it...hormones, maybe? Love should be so much more than physical attraction and tingles, dear. I also really didn't like her main love interest hardly at all, which brings me to my next point.
David, her love interest, didn't seem like a bad guy at first, but the more she got to know him the more I disliked him. First of all, when she started trying to take small steps of faith to help the community, he put her down and acted like this wasn't a response from God, this was just a happy happening. Though not always, he could also be condescending towards her when she asked questions for which he didn't have answers. And finally, the man was in the ministry, not because he felt God was calling him to be there and he genuinely wanted to help the people of Cutter Gap, but rather, he was there because other people thought the ministry would suit him, other people had assigned him to Cutter Gap, and he was basically just there to do a job he was assigned to do, with no real love for the people. On top of that, he would preach fiery sermons to the people about how they needed to change their ways, using Scripture to back himself up, and then we find out that he doesn't even believe everything in the Bible, and is so unsure of his own faith that when Christy starts asking him questions about what he believes and why, he gets all defensive and condescending saying she's "diving into deep theological waters" and he "doesn't want to confuse her". Um...who was the one who was just saying how unsure he was about the existence of heaven, Jesus' miracles being true miracles, etc. and keeps referring to debates back at the theological seminary rather than his own solid beliefs You, not her. And that wasn't the only thing he was condescending to her about. To give Christy credit, she did pick up on these issues and it did cause her to hesitate, but in my opinion, it took her way too long to put the brakes on the relationship. If it were me, he would have been dropped like a hot potato the minute he proposed. To give David credit, he too came to realize his shortcomings by the end and decided to take his life in a different direction.
Then there was the other love interest: Dr. McNeill. To be honest, I was pretty neutral about him throughout most of the book. I never thought he seemed as arrogant as Christy thought he was at first, though he did have a strong personality. And while I didn't agree with what he believed, at least he knew WHY he believed it, unlike David. My main issue with the idea of Christy and him together was the contrast of his atheism with her growing faith, because I do feel that people who are considering a relationship, much less marriage, need to be in a similar place with their faith or you're opening up room for conflict that doesn't have to be there. However, that contrast changed by the end (albeit, last minute!) at which point I was okay with the idea.
A character I was not neutral about was Miss Alice, who may have been my favorite side character in the whole story. She was a woman of integrity and strong, unwavering faith, who made for an excellent mentor and friend for Christy and others, and her personal story held some interesting surprises.
There were other likable side characters as well, Fairlight and Ruby May coming to mind first. I also liked several of the school children and enjoyed reading about Christy's school times in general and the difference she made in her student's lives by actively showing love to them even when it was difficult. As for the side characters I felt neutral about, I still felt that they were all characterized well and unique enough that I never got confused about them, and it was interesting to see them function as a community.
For the story itself, as I said at the start, it's a good story, but not necessarily suitable for all readers, due both to differences in personal taste, and for younger readers, a little bit of content issues. It could be very uplifting seeing Christy's accomplishments and the sweet personal connections she made with individuals in the community, and ultimately, the change she brings to the community is the heart and point of the story. At the same time, the story didn't pull punches when it came to thematic elements and there were a number of things that happened that could be considered depressing, and some things that aren't appropriate for readers of all ages. The mountain community lived in desperate poverty and ignorance, and just like back in the day when their ancestors lived in Scotland, there was little in the way of traditional law enforcement, and family feuds and acts of revenge that sometimes resulted in murder were the norm. There were other illegal acts as well, like the making and selling of illegal moonshine, the discovery of which could also lead to murder. This is all historically accurate, and in all reality my own Appalachian ancestors (nearly all of them!) probably experienced some form of this sort of poverty and ignorance in their lifetimes, so that was an interesting glance back in time for me. It's just not one of the happier historical accuracies to base a story upon, and not everyone will find it enjoyable, even when taking the more uplifting moments into consideration.
On top of this, there were medical things that some could find icky. (One time in particular, I was listening while eating breakfast to the part where one character gets double pneumonia and...ugh...I wish I hadn't.) There was only one doctor for the entire community, though the people from the mission tried to help as much as they could, and some descriptions of illness and one surgery, which I'll cover in further detail in the content section of this review, while not graphic to an extreme, could be more than some people want to read, especially as nearly the entire last third of the book centers around an epidemic of typhoid in the community, and that is one nasty disease that, sadly, did cause a number of deaths, thus adding to the depressing depressingness.
And finally, and probably the most problematic were a mention of rape and the discovery that rape is part of the backstory of one prominent side character. When this character made this revelation, this was probably the one place where I thought a description went farther than it should have. The sex act was not described, but the character did mention where the wicked, evil, DESPICABLE excuse for humanity initially touched her, and I thought she should not have included this detail as it went from the simple knowledge that he touched her inappropriately to, okay, now we're picturing *where* he touched her, and that's not something that needs to be pictured, especially as the mere knowledge that it happened was sickening enough to begin with. I will also address this further in the content section.
Now, having said that^ I will make note that hearing about the positive way that the community supported this character when they found out what happened was very touching and uplifting. The individual's parents and the Quaker community, one older woman in particular, rallied around her and protected her from gossip, ensuring that she and the child felt loved, not rejected. Her experience also taught them that they've been so focused on their teachings about the "inner light" that they've neglected other things such as educating their girl children about natural bodily acts like sex so they are not ignorant lambs among wolves if an evil person was to come into the community again with the intention of taking advantage of them. They also made changes related to a number of other things like how they had some ideas about modern day revelations from God but were actually considering rather silly things like indigestion or bodily aches as messages from God. So they enacted change so there would be checks for such things.
So, all things considered, Christy is a complex book. I can see why those who have loved it over the years loved it, as it is very uplifting in some ways and minus a little confusing moment, I liked the way it ended. At the same time it is depressing in places, and with the hatred, revenge, icky medical descriptions, and one instance of a remembered rape, I was unable to completely fall in love with it, hence my rating of 3.5. Still, there is definitely a reason this is a classic, and I think the right audience will enjoy it very much.
Content for those who want to know:
Due to the following content, particularly the part that touches on rape, I would not personally recommend this book for anyone under the age of 16, maybe older depending on the individual.
Violence: There are many instances of violence in this book, though generally, it is not described.
As stated in my review, the part of the Appalachias where the story happens is so isolated there is not a lot in the way of traditional law enforcement and we discover that even when the law is enforced the courts can be biased because families plot and plan to get a certain people elected as judge. Therefore, families get in feuds and may even shoot each other and sometimes get away with it. Many don't seem to think twice about threatening others with guns and knives. One Quaker woman who is normally against violence even taught herself to shoot better than the men just so they would respect her enough to listen to her when she tries to act as peacemaker. (We never actually see her have to use a gun during the story.)
Early on in the story an in-home surgery happens that will involve the need to drill a hole in a man's skull to relieve pressure, but Christy walks out before it starts.
Christy sees the remnants of an animal that was killed by another animal. Blood and fur on the ground described briefly. One character recalls how another character was raised to have no respect for animal life and would often kill animals, not for food or fur, but just simply for the sake of killing, and was often unmerciful about it. She recalls how he broke the leg of a baby deer, just because he could, and was about to bash its head in, but she stopped him.
Miss Alice makes brief mentions of having met a crippled child who was later beaten and raped and died, and once walking into a house to discover an insane man had hung his wife. Neither of these things are described any more than what I said here. (Note: Miss Alice tells Christy these things to explain to her that yes, she will run into some great evils being committed in this region, but she believes God has placed the two of them there to use them as tools to bring that evil to an end.)
A baby dies and it turns out it was from internal injuries caused by something the mother did out of ignorance and superstition to try to cure what she thought was wrong. The babys' dead body is briefly described, but there is no external injury, so it's not icky just very sad.
Brief discussion of Indian scalping, how some pioneer doctor's helped those who survived a scalping via a procedure in which a hole is bored into the skull. This makes Christy wish her imagination were not so vivid.
Some pranks the older boys play in the classroom have potential for physical harm. A rock is wrapped in cloth to look like a ball and thrown at a young girl's head. She is bruised but otherwise okay. Hot marbles are left on the floor with the intention that Christy will pick them up and get burned. (She's warned ahead of time.) A much later prank involves someone putting something in the school furnace(?)that spits out sparks when Christy goes to stoke the fire. Holes are burned in her dress and her neck is burned enough to raise a blister.
An older boy beats a younger boy unconscious. The beating is only barely described by the witnesses. (We later discover the reason for the beating is because the younger boy got too close to the place where a bunch of moonshine was being hidden.)
Christy acts as assistant during one surgery on a child. It is generally not described but there is brief mention of a large pocket of puss caused by infection.
Sexual:
An older boy in Christy' s class uses a written assignment to tell her he has trouble focusing on lessons because she's so pretty. (This is the only instance, and nothing ever comes of his supposed attraction to her.)
Some non-described kisses on the cheek, lips, and eyelids at varying times.
When Christy is preparing the dead baby's body for the "laying out" some men come in to see the baby and they are drunk. Christy notices one of them staring at her and then winking to his companions. She ignores it. But the man of the house is concerned enough about the drunks that when he walks the ladies back to the mission he brings his gun.
Later we discover that the man^ actually didn't bring his gun because of the drunks, he brought it because some strange men no one knew had followed Christy out there. David warns her not to leave the mission without him again at least not until they find out who the men are.
Some men (most likely drunk) try to break into the house where Christy and two other women are staying by themselves. The women end up having to barricade the doors and look for things to use as weapons because the men are out there looking to possibly kill a man they think is staying in the same house (he isn't) and whether or not they get to the man, they imply they might take advantage of the women as well, shouting through the door things like, "We don't want to hurt ye we just want to 'enjoy' ye," and offering the women alcohol that is probably moonshine. The women can hear them discussing which man gets which woman. The men never get in, though, and are eventually chased off by a sudden rain storm.
In the last third of the story Miss Alice reveals to Christy that she was raped as a teenager. It is not described in extreme or titillating detail, but enough is described that it's not appropriate for younger readers (and could possibly be a trigger for those who have experienced this horrible thing), so I'm going to put this is spoiler code. Miss Alice was so ignorant about the act of sex she didn't even have the words to tell her parents what happened until she realized she was pregnant (pregnancy was something she knew about because of raising farm animals, she just didn't know what caused it) and was able to tell them about that. Miss Alice says a sadness fell on her family worse than if they were mourning for a death. Unfortunately, by that time, the evil, wicked, excuse for humanity who did that to her had gone back to England, and the family couldn't find him in order to bring him to justice.
There's a wedding ceremony with some rather old traditions, including "putting the bride to bed" smack in the middle of the festivities. The loft where they take the bride and groom is directly above where the dancing is happening and Christy is embarrassed to hear "bawdy" noises coming from up there.
Language: Terms like "devil take ye" and "swear" are about as close to actual swearing that is heard. There's mention of Christy hearing some drunk men use swears so raw she hasn't heard most of the words before.
Other: A boy is said to have been born "half witted" and has epilepsy. He is only half dressed (though the essential areas are covered Christy can tell he is wearing nothing under the long sweater) speaks in grunts, drools, amd smells very bad. Christy is so upset about him that she later gets sick to her stomach and it's implied (not described) that she vomits. When Christy tells Miss Alice where she went that it upset her so much Miss Alice understands and says "that's the worst place of all."
The majority of the descriptions of illness come in the last third of the book where many people fell ill and dying from typhoid. Victims of the disease have high temperatures, swollen, furry tongues, delirium, diarrhea, and Christy personally tends to several of these people and has to clean them up and realizes she'll never forget the distinctive stench. One of the worst descriptions was when someone who had typhoid also got double pneumonia and finally, after much treatment, coughed up whole bunch of phlegm and pus.
Sadly, some people we've come to know during the story die of the typhoid.
People drink and get drunk, mostly on illegal moonshine.
Spiritual: Miss Alice is a strong Christian woman trying to reach out to the Appalachian folks, and her fellows in the mission house.
Christy spends much of the story grappling with topics of faith and figuring out what she believes but by the end, comes to a much stronger faith of her own.
The people living in the mountains have a rather backward and works-based idea of the Christian faith. Among other things, they think anything that makes you too happy is probably sinful, and that even if you're a believer you've got to constantly worry about "backsliding" and ending up in hellfire anyway. There's also big emphasis during funerals on preaching of hellfire and damnation in order to try to scare people into repentance. (This is a tradition David refuses to carry on when he performs funerals.)
As stated, David, despite being a minister, doesn't seem sure of all his beliefs and actually comes to realize this by the end of the story and starts looking at doing something else with his life.
Right at the end of the book someone nearly dies and we're given a glimpse of heaven where there is much bright, beautiful light, radiating love, green grassy fields, flowers, streams, and some characters who were believers and passed on earlier in the book.
Okay, this is going to be a complicated review. In my opinion, Christy is a good book, just maybe not for all audiences. I'm giving it a solid 3.5 stars for "didn't-love-didn't-hate-but-liked-it-more-than-3 stars-but-not-quite-4-stars". There were things I liked and things I didn't like and things that simply were. Things that were uplifting and things that were depressing. I liked Christy herself for the most part. She was lively, and an entertaining narrator, making me smile several times with her reactions to things. It was good to watch her grow and mature, both emotionally, and spiritually, her faith journey being especially touching. The thing I disliked about her was her romantic journey. She was probably the most immature in that area, and while it wasn't at all like modern day YA in which it's often "get physical first and ask questions later," she still had that immature attitude of, "If I'm not in love with him, then why do I have all teh tingly feelings when he kisses me?" Just guessing here, but that might be...wait for it...hormones, maybe? Love should be so much more than physical attraction and tingles, dear. I also really didn't like her main love interest hardly at all, which brings me to my next point.
David, her love interest, didn't seem like a bad guy at first, but the more she got to know him the more I disliked him. First of all, when she started trying to take small steps of faith to help the community, he put her down and acted like this wasn't a response from God, this was just a happy happening. Though not always, he could also be condescending towards her when she asked questions for which he didn't have answers. And finally, the man was in the ministry, not because he felt God was calling him to be there and he genuinely wanted to help the people of Cutter Gap, but rather, he was there because other people thought the ministry would suit him, other people had assigned him to Cutter Gap, and he was basically just there to do a job he was assigned to do, with no real love for the people. On top of that, he would preach fiery sermons to the people about how they needed to change their ways, using Scripture to back himself up, and then we find out that he doesn't even believe everything in the Bible, and is so unsure of his own faith that when Christy starts asking him questions about what he believes and why, he gets all defensive and condescending saying she's "diving into deep theological waters" and he "doesn't want to confuse her". Um...who was the one who was just saying how unsure he was about the existence of heaven, Jesus' miracles being true miracles, etc. and keeps referring to debates back at the theological seminary rather than his own solid beliefs You, not her. And that wasn't the only thing he was condescending to her about. To give Christy credit, she did pick up on these issues and it did cause her to hesitate, but in my opinion, it took her way too long to put the brakes on the relationship. If it were me, he would have been dropped like a hot potato the minute he proposed. To give David credit, he too came to realize his shortcomings by the end and decided to take his life in a different direction.
Then there was the other love interest: Dr. McNeill. To be honest, I was pretty neutral about him throughout most of the book. I never thought he seemed as arrogant as Christy thought he was at first, though he did have a strong personality. And while I didn't agree with what he believed, at least he knew WHY he believed it, unlike David. My main issue with the idea of Christy and him together was the contrast of his atheism with her growing faith, because I do feel that people who are considering a relationship, much less marriage, need to be in a similar place with their faith or you're opening up room for conflict that doesn't have to be there. However, that contrast changed by the end (albeit, last minute!) at which point I was okay with the idea.
A character I was not neutral about was Miss Alice, who may have been my favorite side character in the whole story. She was a woman of integrity and strong, unwavering faith, who made for an excellent mentor and friend for Christy and others, and her personal story held some interesting surprises.
There were other likable side characters as well, Fairlight and Ruby May coming to mind first. I also liked several of the school children and enjoyed reading about Christy's school times in general and the difference she made in her student's lives by actively showing love to them even when it was difficult. As for the side characters I felt neutral about, I still felt that they were all characterized well and unique enough that I never got confused about them, and it was interesting to see them function as a community.
For the story itself, as I said at the start, it's a good story, but not necessarily suitable for all readers, due both to differences in personal taste, and for younger readers, a little bit of content issues. It could be very uplifting seeing Christy's accomplishments and the sweet personal connections she made with individuals in the community, and ultimately, the change she brings to the community is the heart and point of the story. At the same time, the story didn't pull punches when it came to thematic elements and there were a number of things that happened that could be considered depressing, and some things that aren't appropriate for readers of all ages. The mountain community lived in desperate poverty and ignorance, and just like back in the day when their ancestors lived in Scotland, there was little in the way of traditional law enforcement, and family feuds and acts of revenge that sometimes resulted in murder were the norm. There were other illegal acts as well, like the making and selling of illegal moonshine, the discovery of which could also lead to murder. This is all historically accurate, and in all reality my own Appalachian ancestors (nearly all of them!) probably experienced some form of this sort of poverty and ignorance in their lifetimes, so that was an interesting glance back in time for me. It's just not one of the happier historical accuracies to base a story upon, and not everyone will find it enjoyable, even when taking the more uplifting moments into consideration.
On top of this, there were medical things that some could find icky. (One time in particular, I was listening while eating breakfast to the part where one character gets double pneumonia and...ugh...I wish I hadn't.) There was only one doctor for the entire community, though the people from the mission tried to help as much as they could, and some descriptions of illness and one surgery, which I'll cover in further detail in the content section of this review, while not graphic to an extreme, could be more than some people want to read, especially as nearly the entire last third of the book centers around an epidemic of typhoid in the community, and that is one nasty disease that, sadly, did cause a number of deaths, thus adding to the depressing depressingness.
And finally, and probably the most problematic were a mention of rape and the discovery that rape is part of the backstory of one prominent side character. When this character made this revelation, this was probably the one place where I thought a description went farther than it should have. The sex act was not described, but the character did mention where the wicked, evil, DESPICABLE excuse for humanity initially touched her, and I thought she should not have included this detail as it went from the simple knowledge that he touched her inappropriately to, okay, now we're picturing *where* he touched her, and that's not something that needs to be pictured, especially as the mere knowledge that it happened was sickening enough to begin with. I will also address this further in the content section.
Now, having said that^ I will make note that hearing about the positive way that the community supported this character when they found out what happened was very touching and uplifting. The individual's parents and the Quaker community, one older woman in particular, rallied around her and protected her from gossip, ensuring that she and the child felt loved, not rejected. Her experience also taught them that they've been so focused on their teachings about the "inner light" that they've neglected other things such as educating their girl children about natural bodily acts like sex so they are not ignorant lambs among wolves if an evil person was to come into the community again with the intention of taking advantage of them. They also made changes related to a number of other things like how they had some ideas about modern day revelations from God but were actually considering rather silly things like indigestion or bodily aches as messages from God. So they enacted change so there would be checks for such things.
So, all things considered, Christy is a complex book. I can see why those who have loved it over the years loved it, as it is very uplifting in some ways and minus a little confusing moment, I liked the way it ended. At the same time it is depressing in places, and with the hatred, revenge, icky medical descriptions, and one instance of a remembered rape, I was unable to completely fall in love with it, hence my rating of 3.5. Still, there is definitely a reason this is a classic, and I think the right audience will enjoy it very much.
Content for those who want to know:
Due to the following content, particularly the part that touches on rape, I would not personally recommend this book for anyone under the age of 16, maybe older depending on the individual.
Violence: There are many instances of violence in this book, though generally, it is not described.
As stated in my review, the part of the Appalachias where the story happens is so isolated there is not a lot in the way of traditional law enforcement and we discover that even when the law is enforced the courts can be biased because families plot and plan to get a certain people elected as judge. Therefore, families get in feuds and may even shoot each other and sometimes get away with it. Many don't seem to think twice about threatening others with guns and knives. One Quaker woman who is normally against violence even taught herself to shoot better than the men just so they would respect her enough to listen to her when she tries to act as peacemaker. (We never actually see her have to use a gun during the story.)
Early on in the story an in-home surgery happens that will involve the need to drill a hole in a man's skull to relieve pressure, but Christy walks out before it starts.
Christy sees the remnants of an animal that was killed by another animal. Blood and fur on the ground described briefly. One character recalls how another character was raised to have no respect for animal life and would often kill animals, not for food or fur, but just simply for the sake of killing, and was often unmerciful about it. She recalls how he broke the leg of a baby deer, just because he could, and was about to bash its head in, but she stopped him.
Miss Alice makes brief mentions of having met a crippled child who was later beaten and raped and died, and once walking into a house to discover an insane man had hung his wife. Neither of these things are described any more than what I said here. (Note: Miss Alice tells Christy these things to explain to her that yes, she will run into some great evils being committed in this region, but she believes God has placed the two of them there to use them as tools to bring that evil to an end.)
A baby dies and it turns out it was from internal injuries caused by something the mother did out of ignorance and superstition to try to cure what she thought was wrong. The babys' dead body is briefly described, but there is no external injury, so it's not icky just very sad.
Brief discussion of Indian scalping, how some pioneer doctor's helped those who survived a scalping via a procedure in which a hole is bored into the skull. This makes Christy wish her imagination were not so vivid.
Some pranks the older boys play in the classroom have potential for physical harm. A rock is wrapped in cloth to look like a ball and thrown at a young girl's head. She is bruised but otherwise okay. Hot marbles are left on the floor with the intention that Christy will pick them up and get burned. (She's warned ahead of time.) A much later prank involves someone putting something in the school furnace(?)that spits out sparks when Christy goes to stoke the fire. Holes are burned in her dress and her neck is burned enough to raise a blister.
An older boy beats a younger boy unconscious. The beating is only barely described by the witnesses. (We later discover the reason for the beating is because the younger boy got too close to the place where a bunch of moonshine was being hidden.)
Christy acts as assistant during one surgery on a child. It is generally not described but there is brief mention of a large pocket of puss caused by infection.
Sexual:
An older boy in Christy' s class uses a written assignment to tell her he has trouble focusing on lessons because she's so pretty. (This is the only instance, and nothing ever comes of his supposed attraction to her.)
Some non-described kisses on the cheek, lips, and eyelids at varying times.
When Christy is preparing the dead baby's body for the "laying out" some men come in to see the baby and they are drunk. Christy notices one of them staring at her and then winking to his companions. She ignores it. But the man of the house is concerned enough about the drunks that when he walks the ladies back to the mission he brings his gun.
Later we discover that the man^ actually didn't bring his gun because of the drunks, he brought it because some strange men no one knew had followed Christy out there. David warns her not to leave the mission without him again at least not until they find out who the men are.
Some men (most likely drunk) try to break into the house where Christy and two other women are staying by themselves. The women end up having to barricade the doors and look for things to use as weapons because the men are out there looking to possibly kill a man they think is staying in the same house (he isn't) and whether or not they get to the man, they imply they might take advantage of the women as well, shouting through the door things like, "We don't want to hurt ye we just want to 'enjoy' ye," and offering the women alcohol that is probably moonshine. The women can hear them discussing which man gets which woman. The men never get in, though, and are eventually chased off by a sudden rain storm.
In the last third of the story Miss Alice reveals to Christy that she was raped as a teenager. It is not described in extreme or titillating detail, but enough is described that it's not appropriate for younger readers (and could possibly be a trigger for those who have experienced this horrible thing), so I'm going to put this is spoiler code. Miss Alice was so ignorant about the act of sex she didn't even have the words to tell her parents what happened until she realized she was pregnant (pregnancy was something she knew about because of raising farm animals, she just didn't know what caused it) and was able to tell them about that. Miss Alice says a sadness fell on her family worse than if they were mourning for a death. Unfortunately, by that time, the evil, wicked, excuse for humanity who did that to her had gone back to England, and the family couldn't find him in order to bring him to justice.
There's a wedding ceremony with some rather old traditions, including "putting the bride to bed" smack in the middle of the festivities. The loft where they take the bride and groom is directly above where the dancing is happening and Christy is embarrassed to hear "bawdy" noises coming from up there.
Language: Terms like "devil take ye" and "swear" are about as close to actual swearing that is heard. There's mention of Christy hearing some drunk men use swears so raw she hasn't heard most of the words before.
Other: A boy is said to have been born "half witted" and has epilepsy. He is only half dressed (though the essential areas are covered Christy can tell he is wearing nothing under the long sweater) speaks in grunts, drools, amd smells very bad. Christy is so upset about him that she later gets sick to her stomach and it's implied (not described) that she vomits. When Christy tells Miss Alice where she went that it upset her so much Miss Alice understands and says "that's the worst place of all."
The majority of the descriptions of illness come in the last third of the book where many people fell ill and dying from typhoid. Victims of the disease have high temperatures, swollen, furry tongues, delirium, diarrhea, and Christy personally tends to several of these people and has to clean them up and realizes she'll never forget the distinctive stench. One of the worst descriptions was when someone who had typhoid also got double pneumonia and finally, after much treatment, coughed up whole bunch of phlegm and pus.
Sadly, some people we've come to know during the story die of the typhoid.
People drink and get drunk, mostly on illegal moonshine.
Spiritual: Miss Alice is a strong Christian woman trying to reach out to the Appalachian folks, and her fellows in the mission house.
Christy spends much of the story grappling with topics of faith and figuring out what she believes but by the end, comes to a much stronger faith of her own.
The people living in the mountains have a rather backward and works-based idea of the Christian faith. Among other things, they think anything that makes you too happy is probably sinful, and that even if you're a believer you've got to constantly worry about "backsliding" and ending up in hellfire anyway. There's also big emphasis during funerals on preaching of hellfire and damnation in order to try to scare people into repentance. (This is a tradition David refuses to carry on when he performs funerals.)
As stated, David, despite being a minister, doesn't seem sure of all his beliefs and actually comes to realize this by the end of the story and starts looking at doing something else with his life.
Right at the end of the book someone nearly dies and we're given a glimpse of heaven where there is much bright, beautiful light, radiating love, green grassy fields, flowers, streams, and some characters who were believers and passed on earlier in the book.
September 8, 2011
For anyone who says that reading fiction is not as edifying and worthwhile as reading a non-fiction book, I say, "Have you read Christy?"
I mourn that Catherine Marshall wasn't around in my lifetime, but I feel so utterly blessed that she poured her heart and soul and love into this eternal story! There are more moments of true wisdom tucked away in this biographical novel than in any other book I've read outside of The Book... and it's all nestled effortlessly in a touching, gripping, fascinating, and beautiful story!
Each time I read it I'm reminded of the beauty and awesome power of God's love. I remember and drink in the eternal wisdom in all Miss Alice says and does. I am fascinated by the impetuous, passionate and immature character of Christy that every woman with a kindred spirit can identify with. I am given hope for a world in which God's love can be allowed to work.
What. A. Classic.
I mourn that Catherine Marshall wasn't around in my lifetime, but I feel so utterly blessed that she poured her heart and soul and love into this eternal story! There are more moments of true wisdom tucked away in this biographical novel than in any other book I've read outside of The Book... and it's all nestled effortlessly in a touching, gripping, fascinating, and beautiful story!
Each time I read it I'm reminded of the beauty and awesome power of God's love. I remember and drink in the eternal wisdom in all Miss Alice says and does. I am fascinated by the impetuous, passionate and immature character of Christy that every woman with a kindred spirit can identify with. I am given hope for a world in which God's love can be allowed to work.
What. A. Classic.
March 5, 2022
3.5 stars
I know I'll be in the minority here. This should be read and enjoyed by those who like Christian fiction for what it offers. I'm just not one of them. Having said that, the story was inspiring, as were the mountain people of Cutter Gap, and the character of Christy herself, based on the experiences of the author's mother.
I know I'll be in the minority here. This should be read and enjoyed by those who like Christian fiction for what it offers. I'm just not one of them. Having said that, the story was inspiring, as were the mountain people of Cutter Gap, and the character of Christy herself, based on the experiences of the author's mother.
February 25, 2025
I’ve been avoiding this review for weeks because I didn’t really know what to say or how to say it. This book is intense. And huge. And it sticks to you like a burr. I read this for the first time when I was far too young to have any business reading it, but in defence of my preteen self, I thought it was an
Anne of Green Gables
style book because of the cover. Anyways, I read it and never forgot it through the decade that has passed. Much of the book was imprinted on my mind despite the hundreds of books—and I am not exaggerating—I’ve read since. It’s one of the few books I never forgot, and when I reread this this year, I found myself remembering some scenes almost word for word. That’s how much it struck and fascinated me.
To start off, the book is fascinating. The 1912 setting of a small settlement in the wild Smokey Mountains, inhabited by the descendants of Highlands who still carry the language and habits of their ancestors, is unbelievable when contrasted with New York, where the survivors of the Titanic landed. Actually, Cutter Gap and the people thereof reminds me a little of my own people, who also have a lot of the language and superstitions of our 1600s ancestors, as well as a similar laid back, cheerful approach to life. Actually, there’s quite a few similarities between the Québécois and the mountain folk, and that gave me a sense of kinship.
The writing style is very simple—almost starkly so—which only highlights the starkness of the book—the filthy, littered yards, the steep mountain passes, the muddy roads, the whiskey-scented church… But the starkness is always tempered with beauty. There’s crystal mountain streams and plunging purple mountains and beautiful baby eyes and big friendly smiles. The setting isn’t the only thing alive—so are the characters. Sweet Fairlight and her darling family, scallawag Creed, sturdy Sam Houston, chattery Ruby Mae, strong Miss Alice, Opal and Izaak and their poor little family, Little Burl, Mountie, Doctor MacNeil… I can’t even list everyone here, but they live, with all their flaws, quirks, strengths, and beauty. Even the villains (those of Cutter Gap, anyhow) end up being people you can’t help but feel for despite their evilness. And then there’s Christy herself, sweet and naïve, desperate to find her place in the world, to make a difference, to find out what she believes… I related so strongly to her. We’re nearly the same age and I’ve just got through struggling with what she battles here.
The plot of the book is slow-paced, more of a episodic recital of what happens over the year of Christy’s sojourn than actually plot-driven or character-driven. There’s ups and downs; it’s very lifelike, imperfect but worthwhile. There’s plenty of crises, and the ending is quite climatic, but there’s also lots of simple everyday moments and sweet, funny interactions. The romance isn’t my favourite—I don’t like David, of whom I will speak more anon—and while I like the Unsuspected Other Fellow, that romance always comes out of thin air, so I don’t particularly feel like it fits in. (Is he just liking her because of Margaret’s similarities? I don’t know.) But I love the message:
God shows up even in the darkness. And God cares about us.
Honestly, I forget what the message was, beyond that, because it’s been so long since I read it. But I remember I was impressed by how solid it was, though I did struggle that at the end, it didn’t come through much. There was plenty of gravel mixed in with the gold, though, mostly shovelled in by David. And here comes my complaint on David. I don’t get why everyone in the book thought he was great. He was patronizing—specially towards Christy—and pooh-poohed her feelings and questions a lot. (And his romance with her is quite questionable, not to say red-flagged.) He didn’t understand the mountain people, didn’t particularly try to, had a very low stock of patience, and didn’t quit tying to turn them in a day to his own way of thinking, which wasn’t solid at all to start with. Personality wise, I didn’t like him at all except for the one time he kept bushing that strip on the hill, and I think(?) his sermon had some good points(?). My second gripe with him is his absolute lack as a pastor. A man who has no idea what he believes in has no business in the ministry. David wasn’t a minister, he was a man who took up preaching as a career because his mother wanted him to. He was stuffed to the gills with professional skepticism about everything in the bible, and I got so, so mad at him when he wasn’t even able to help Aunt Polly at her deathbed or Christy with her desperate questions. I don’t like Miss Alice’s preaching, but at least she knew what she believed in and could share it.
Honestly, I’m not sure I even touched on everything I should’ve in this book. There’s literally so much. But I plan to read it again soon and update this review. It’s a very deep, dark book, harsh and heavy—not just with the content mentioned below, but the poverty and struggles of the people, which absolutely shreds the heart. But it has a lot to offer for those who can bear it, and the honesty is refreshing, even if it’s sobering. 5 stars, overall…
Content: Recommended age: 18+. There is a ton of content, to be honest, though it was never for shock value and always included out of honesty. Still, it’s a lot. Main points include:
To start off, the book is fascinating. The 1912 setting of a small settlement in the wild Smokey Mountains, inhabited by the descendants of Highlands who still carry the language and habits of their ancestors, is unbelievable when contrasted with New York, where the survivors of the Titanic landed. Actually, Cutter Gap and the people thereof reminds me a little of my own people, who also have a lot of the language and superstitions of our 1600s ancestors, as well as a similar laid back, cheerful approach to life. Actually, there’s quite a few similarities between the Québécois and the mountain folk, and that gave me a sense of kinship.
The writing style is very simple—almost starkly so—which only highlights the starkness of the book—the filthy, littered yards, the steep mountain passes, the muddy roads, the whiskey-scented church… But the starkness is always tempered with beauty. There’s crystal mountain streams and plunging purple mountains and beautiful baby eyes and big friendly smiles. The setting isn’t the only thing alive—so are the characters. Sweet Fairlight and her darling family, scallawag Creed, sturdy Sam Houston, chattery Ruby Mae, strong Miss Alice, Opal and Izaak and their poor little family, Little Burl, Mountie, Doctor MacNeil… I can’t even list everyone here, but they live, with all their flaws, quirks, strengths, and beauty. Even the villains (those of Cutter Gap, anyhow) end up being people you can’t help but feel for despite their evilness. And then there’s Christy herself, sweet and naïve, desperate to find her place in the world, to make a difference, to find out what she believes… I related so strongly to her. We’re nearly the same age and I’ve just got through struggling with what she battles here.
The plot of the book is slow-paced, more of a episodic recital of what happens over the year of Christy’s sojourn than actually plot-driven or character-driven. There’s ups and downs; it’s very lifelike, imperfect but worthwhile. There’s plenty of crises, and the ending is quite climatic, but there’s also lots of simple everyday moments and sweet, funny interactions. The romance isn’t my favourite—I don’t like David, of whom I will speak more anon—and while I like the Unsuspected Other Fellow, that romance always comes out of thin air, so I don’t particularly feel like it fits in. (Is he just liking her because of Margaret’s similarities? I don’t know.) But I love the message:
God shows up even in the darkness. And God cares about us.
Honestly, I forget what the message was, beyond that, because it’s been so long since I read it. But I remember I was impressed by how solid it was, though I did struggle that at the end, it didn’t come through much. There was plenty of gravel mixed in with the gold, though, mostly shovelled in by David. And here comes my complaint on David. I don’t get why everyone in the book thought he was great. He was patronizing—specially towards Christy—and pooh-poohed her feelings and questions a lot. (And his romance with her is quite questionable, not to say red-flagged.) He didn’t understand the mountain people, didn’t particularly try to, had a very low stock of patience, and didn’t quit tying to turn them in a day to his own way of thinking, which wasn’t solid at all to start with. Personality wise, I didn’t like him at all except for the one time he kept bushing that strip on the hill, and I think(?) his sermon had some good points(?). My second gripe with him is his absolute lack as a pastor. A man who has no idea what he believes in has no business in the ministry. David wasn’t a minister, he was a man who took up preaching as a career because his mother wanted him to. He was stuffed to the gills with professional skepticism about everything in the bible, and I got so, so mad at him when he wasn’t even able to help Aunt Polly at her deathbed or Christy with her desperate questions. I don’t like Miss Alice’s preaching, but at least she knew what she believed in and could share it.
Honestly, I’m not sure I even touched on everything I should’ve in this book. There’s literally so much. But I plan to read it again soon and update this review. It’s a very deep, dark book, harsh and heavy—not just with the content mentioned below, but the poverty and struggles of the people, which absolutely shreds the heart. But it has a lot to offer for those who can bear it, and the honesty is refreshing, even if it’s sobering. 5 stars, overall…
Content: Recommended age: 18+. There is a ton of content, to be honest, though it was never for shock value and always included out of honesty. Still, it’s a lot. Main points include:
March 7, 2022
Christy is a 1967 historical fiction Christian novel set in the Appalachian Mountains of Cutter Gap, Tennessee in 1912. The story is based on the life of the author’s mother and her experiences teaching school in this rural area as a young woman.
Only recently did I hear about this book and wanted to read it because the (fictional) setting of Cutter Gap is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where I have visited numerous times over my life since it is only a short drive away Georgia. On one visit, I recall touring a historical landmark of a one-room schoolhouse that closely matched the description of the church/school where the book’s protagonist, Christy, taught.
Christy Huddleston (19) took a teaching position in Cutter Gap, an inaccessible mountainous community, after hearing a speaker talk about the region’s need for teachers to support the mission. Christy was raised in an affluent home and suffered culture shock at the primitive conditions, folk beliefs, and the poverty she encountered.
Fortunately for Christy, the job provided a room in the mission house and meals prepared by the minister’s sister living at the mission. David Grantland, the minister, and co-teacher, worked together with Christy to education students and improve conditions in general. Medical care was provided by Neil MacNeil, the local native physician. And Alice Henderson, Christy’s mentor, established the school where Christy teaches and schools in two other nearby locations.
As the novel progresses, it shows the challenges Christy faced being an outsider. The mountain people of the area are of Scottish-Irish decent, have ingrained beliefs based on tradition, and scant education. Christy and others from the mission teach more than just the children, some adults, especially the women, were eager to learn themselves. However, the feuding/revenge cycle among the families in the area make adopting new ways, embracing learning, and modernization/change unlikely.
Christy is well-written story that is less historical fiction and more Christian Fiction than I was expecting. It is what readers unaccustomed to Christian Fiction would call preachy. I count myself in that group. I went into this for the historical fiction/setting aspect when I should have skipped this altogether because I am of the wrong target audience.
From a characterization standpoint, I didn’t connect with anyone and felt Christy didn’t have enough experience to not appear arrogant in her push to make changes. She would often act singularly, then expect other people to help install phone lines or transport materials she had received from donations. She assumed her way was best without asking permission in advance.
The book is riddle with mini side stories of someone’s past, bible stories, and hymns. Some of these were quite lengthy. These interrupted my reading/listening and I would find myself skimming ahead to where the story resumed. And speaking of reading and listening, I kept switching back and forth between a digital book and the audio narrated by Kellie Martin. Each format had its pluses. I was able to skim easily in the digital format. However, the particularly good audio brought the mountain people’s dialect to life and made the songs more enjoyable.
Typically, I watch any screen adaptation of the book I’m reading. I didn’t this time because the 2000 film had low ratings and I didn’t want to invest time in the television miniseries (as I am currently watching a wonderful miniseries of Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White).
This could be a captivating read for the right reader. In fact, based on reviews, more than eighty percent of the reviewers rated this book four stars or higher. But there just wasn’t enough focus on the flora/fauna/geography/setting for me. And other content kept diverting the story.
CW:
Only recently did I hear about this book and wanted to read it because the (fictional) setting of Cutter Gap is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where I have visited numerous times over my life since it is only a short drive away Georgia. On one visit, I recall touring a historical landmark of a one-room schoolhouse that closely matched the description of the church/school where the book’s protagonist, Christy, taught.
Christy Huddleston (19) took a teaching position in Cutter Gap, an inaccessible mountainous community, after hearing a speaker talk about the region’s need for teachers to support the mission. Christy was raised in an affluent home and suffered culture shock at the primitive conditions, folk beliefs, and the poverty she encountered.
Fortunately for Christy, the job provided a room in the mission house and meals prepared by the minister’s sister living at the mission. David Grantland, the minister, and co-teacher, worked together with Christy to education students and improve conditions in general. Medical care was provided by Neil MacNeil, the local native physician. And Alice Henderson, Christy’s mentor, established the school where Christy teaches and schools in two other nearby locations.
As the novel progresses, it shows the challenges Christy faced being an outsider. The mountain people of the area are of Scottish-Irish decent, have ingrained beliefs based on tradition, and scant education. Christy and others from the mission teach more than just the children, some adults, especially the women, were eager to learn themselves. However, the feuding/revenge cycle among the families in the area make adopting new ways, embracing learning, and modernization/change unlikely.
Christy is well-written story that is less historical fiction and more Christian Fiction than I was expecting. It is what readers unaccustomed to Christian Fiction would call preachy. I count myself in that group. I went into this for the historical fiction/setting aspect when I should have skipped this altogether because I am of the wrong target audience.
From a characterization standpoint, I didn’t connect with anyone and felt Christy didn’t have enough experience to not appear arrogant in her push to make changes. She would often act singularly, then expect other people to help install phone lines or transport materials she had received from donations. She assumed her way was best without asking permission in advance.
The book is riddle with mini side stories of someone’s past, bible stories, and hymns. Some of these were quite lengthy. These interrupted my reading/listening and I would find myself skimming ahead to where the story resumed. And speaking of reading and listening, I kept switching back and forth between a digital book and the audio narrated by Kellie Martin. Each format had its pluses. I was able to skim easily in the digital format. However, the particularly good audio brought the mountain people’s dialect to life and made the songs more enjoyable.
Typically, I watch any screen adaptation of the book I’m reading. I didn’t this time because the 2000 film had low ratings and I didn’t want to invest time in the television miniseries (as I am currently watching a wonderful miniseries of Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White).
This could be a captivating read for the right reader. In fact, based on reviews, more than eighty percent of the reviewers rated this book four stars or higher. But there just wasn’t enough focus on the flora/fauna/geography/setting for me. And other content kept diverting the story.
CW:
June 6, 2018
Full review now posted!
This book is billed as the first Christian fiction novel. Before this point, an author’s faith might be woven through their work, but that didn’t put it in a different genre. Thanks to Marshall’s novel, an entirely new genre was born and has now split into multiple subgenres. The biggest awards for Christian fiction remains the Christy Awards in honor of this book. If there is any classic of the genre, it would obviously have to be this book, which meant it was something that I really needed to read.
I honestly expected fluff, because a lot of Christian historical fiction tends to veer in that direction. That was definitely not the case here. There was faith, yes, and it was an incredibly important element of the story. Faith was the binding force. But there was also a level of brutal honesty that was often uncomfortable to read. The lifestyle of the mountain people whose children Christy goes off to teach was appalling. They were in a way trapped in the past, unaware or untrusting of modernity and how life was changing as the country entered the 20th century. As a whole, they are maudlin and superstitious to the point of actually adversely affecting their own health.
Christy is only 19, but she is desperate to make a difference. Not just with the children she teaches, but with the Cutter Gap area as a whole. Her parents are understandably upset by her choice to leave her well-to-do home for the squalor of the backwards mountain community to which she feels called. But Christy wants more than anything for her life to matter, and so she goes anyway. Through her deep emotional involvement in the lives of the Cutter Gap people and the guidance of Miss Alice, the woman who helped start the missions in Cutter Gap and surrounding areas, Christy’s faith becomes truly real to her for the first time in her life. Before this, church was what she and her family attended on Sunday. But as she is faced with questions from the people of the area, she has to start figuring out for herself what she actually believes and who God is to her. Her spiritual growth was the most real and genuine such growth I’ve ever come across in fiction.
Besides Christy, my favorite character was Miss Alice, the Quaker woman who helps run three missions scattered over the area. She takes Christy under her wing, and her own approach to faith was a beautiful thing. She didn’t believe in putting any conditions on love, or in trying to change the people of the area as soon as possible. Yes, she sees the need for change, but more than that she sees a need for a truer understanding of God and His unconditional love. So that’s what she offers: love. Miss Alice views God as a Friend and Comforter and Good Father who cares deeply about His people. The mountain people tend to see God as vengeful and His favor as fickle, and that’s what Miss Alice sets out to change. She was such a real character, with a real faith that defines her entire life. Her openness was incredibly refreshing.
What amazes me most about this book is the fact that it’s based on reality! Marshall wrote this book as a moderately fictionalized account of her own mother’s experiences teaching in a one-room school deep in the Smoky Mountains. That knowledge made everything I read more poignant and disturbing in turn. The bitter element of realism in this book, while compelling, is the reason this book was four stars for me instead of a full five. It made me incredibly sad, and was hard to read in places because of that sadness. However, I have a deep and profound respect for both the book and the author, and for how it helped develop an entire genre.
For more of my reviews, as well as my own fiction and thoughts on life, check out my blog, Celestial Musings.
This book is billed as the first Christian fiction novel. Before this point, an author’s faith might be woven through their work, but that didn’t put it in a different genre. Thanks to Marshall’s novel, an entirely new genre was born and has now split into multiple subgenres. The biggest awards for Christian fiction remains the Christy Awards in honor of this book. If there is any classic of the genre, it would obviously have to be this book, which meant it was something that I really needed to read.
I honestly expected fluff, because a lot of Christian historical fiction tends to veer in that direction. That was definitely not the case here. There was faith, yes, and it was an incredibly important element of the story. Faith was the binding force. But there was also a level of brutal honesty that was often uncomfortable to read. The lifestyle of the mountain people whose children Christy goes off to teach was appalling. They were in a way trapped in the past, unaware or untrusting of modernity and how life was changing as the country entered the 20th century. As a whole, they are maudlin and superstitious to the point of actually adversely affecting their own health.
Christy is only 19, but she is desperate to make a difference. Not just with the children she teaches, but with the Cutter Gap area as a whole. Her parents are understandably upset by her choice to leave her well-to-do home for the squalor of the backwards mountain community to which she feels called. But Christy wants more than anything for her life to matter, and so she goes anyway. Through her deep emotional involvement in the lives of the Cutter Gap people and the guidance of Miss Alice, the woman who helped start the missions in Cutter Gap and surrounding areas, Christy’s faith becomes truly real to her for the first time in her life. Before this, church was what she and her family attended on Sunday. But as she is faced with questions from the people of the area, she has to start figuring out for herself what she actually believes and who God is to her. Her spiritual growth was the most real and genuine such growth I’ve ever come across in fiction.
Besides Christy, my favorite character was Miss Alice, the Quaker woman who helps run three missions scattered over the area. She takes Christy under her wing, and her own approach to faith was a beautiful thing. She didn’t believe in putting any conditions on love, or in trying to change the people of the area as soon as possible. Yes, she sees the need for change, but more than that she sees a need for a truer understanding of God and His unconditional love. So that’s what she offers: love. Miss Alice views God as a Friend and Comforter and Good Father who cares deeply about His people. The mountain people tend to see God as vengeful and His favor as fickle, and that’s what Miss Alice sets out to change. She was such a real character, with a real faith that defines her entire life. Her openness was incredibly refreshing.
What amazes me most about this book is the fact that it’s based on reality! Marshall wrote this book as a moderately fictionalized account of her own mother’s experiences teaching in a one-room school deep in the Smoky Mountains. That knowledge made everything I read more poignant and disturbing in turn. The bitter element of realism in this book, while compelling, is the reason this book was four stars for me instead of a full five. It made me incredibly sad, and was hard to read in places because of that sadness. However, I have a deep and profound respect for both the book and the author, and for how it helped develop an entire genre.
For more of my reviews, as well as my own fiction and thoughts on life, check out my blog, Celestial Musings.
July 17, 2020
This was my second time reading Christy, and I enjoyed it more than I did the first time. Actually I listened to the audiobook this time, narrated by Kellie Martin, and it was well done.
I love this book for many reasons, not the least of which is how each character is so sensitively drawn, and how spiritual themes are integral to the story without being forced. I also love that disparate views--the superstitions of the Mountain People, Dr. McNeil's no-nonsense scientific worldview, Miss Alice's Quaker traditions, Christy's conservative but hollow church upbringing--are each treated with respect and explored with both boldness and sensitivity. I love that questions and doubts are expressed as a normal part of faith.
Not every story lends itself to such explicit exploration of matters of faith, and that's completely fine. But this one does, and it does so expertly.
I love this book for many reasons, not the least of which is how each character is so sensitively drawn, and how spiritual themes are integral to the story without being forced. I also love that disparate views--the superstitions of the Mountain People, Dr. McNeil's no-nonsense scientific worldview, Miss Alice's Quaker traditions, Christy's conservative but hollow church upbringing--are each treated with respect and explored with both boldness and sensitivity. I love that questions and doubts are expressed as a normal part of faith.
Not every story lends itself to such explicit exploration of matters of faith, and that's completely fine. But this one does, and it does so expertly.
February 17, 2024
I am in awe at how wonderful Christy by Catherine Marshall was. It has been on my TBR forever. I just didn’t feel it was my kind of read. Going through some tough transitions in life right now. This was the perfect read. This is labeled a Christian Fiction novel. Set in the 1912 Appalachians. Reminded me of Little House on the Prairie. When Christy first arrived as a teacher it reminded me of the Little House episode where (I think) Mary left home to teach in a horrible school. Mary did not survive. Christy survived and conquered. This is based on the author’s mother’s experiences through the stories she told.
December 10, 2016
Is this the end? Why isn't there more! :'( This was my first time reading Christy by Catherine Marshall ... and I loved it! Why didn't I read it sooner?? My only complaint is that the book ended. ;)
More thoughts to come, potentially.
Now, onto Julie!
More thoughts to come, potentially.
Now, onto Julie!
November 26, 2018
1.5/5 stars.
I probably would never have read this book, but my book club decided to pick it up. I vaguely remember watching some of the TV series when I was a kid, but that's all I had to go on before jumping into this story.
Oy, I have thoughts about this book.
What I Liked:
I listened to this book on audio, and I honestly think that is the way to go. I don't know if I would have enjoyed reading this book in print, but the audio is read by the same actress who played Christy on the TV series, and she did an excellent job. I had no idea conditions were so rough in the Appalachians at the turn of the 20th century. I really enjoyed reading a semi-historical account of how life was for these mountain communities back then, and how difficult it must have been to bring improvements to those communities. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I liked the ending.
What I Didn't Like:
As another reviewer said, this book is a theological train-wreck. I'm not even sure where to start. Christy is mentored by a Quaker woman who seems to have some sort of name-it-and-claim-it philosophy and believes in special revelation. The "inner light" is looked to for guidance, and God's guidance is found by characters "looking within themselves" instead of to Scripture. The preacher character argues that not everything in the Bible is true, and that he doesn't believe "the gospel" is enough to change lives. The mountain people's religion is described as their believing in the "God Of The Old Testament", as if the God of the Old and New Testaments are two different gods.
At one point, two of the characters, who are basically supposed to be missionaries, have no idea why they are Christians. I would argue that if you have no idea why you are a Christian, you aren't one. I kept hoping that they would come to a true understanding of God and sin, and repentance and faith by the end of the story, but that just didn't happen.
It's ironic to me, because at one point the mountain people are described as believing they have to live a certain way to avoid God's wrath, which is a salvation by works belief - but the "missionary" characters in this book seem to be living by the same philosophy, just a different perspective. Much is made about "believing in Christianity" and doing things "God's way", and "loving God and loving people". Seems to me to be works-righteousness as well, just with a different view of who God is.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, "believing in Christianity", "doing things God's way", "love God love people" is all very vague and not helpful, because we are not saved by doing things "God's way". We are saved precisely by realizing that we CAN'T do things "God's way" - we are all hopeless sinners, in need of a Savior. In order to be saved, we must recognize God's holiness, that we have sinned and broken God's law, that we do deserve God's wrath for our rebellion against Him; but that Jesus took the punishment for us by dying on the cross for us - and when we repent of our sin and trust in Jesus to save us, He forgives us and offers us eternal life.
The characters in this story didn't seem to have any understanding of that at all. Jesus is hardly mentioned at all - I counted twice - and each time He was merely referred to as an "example" and a "fighter against evil". Evil is not defined as sin, but merely as sickness, poverty, tragedy, and ignorance. "The gospel" is mentioned, but never explained. All religious epiphanies come from emotionalism and mystical experiences, including one apparent trip to Heaven.
I could put more warnings about the descriptions of gross conditions and sexual content, but I think the theological warnings are enough. There is just so much wrong here theologically, I was incredibly disappointed. If you want a glimpse of the living conditions in the Appalachians, forge ahead with discernment - but if you want solid Christian fiction, skip this one. I wouldn't recommend it.
I probably would never have read this book, but my book club decided to pick it up. I vaguely remember watching some of the TV series when I was a kid, but that's all I had to go on before jumping into this story.
Oy, I have thoughts about this book.
What I Liked:
I listened to this book on audio, and I honestly think that is the way to go. I don't know if I would have enjoyed reading this book in print, but the audio is read by the same actress who played Christy on the TV series, and she did an excellent job. I had no idea conditions were so rough in the Appalachians at the turn of the 20th century. I really enjoyed reading a semi-historical account of how life was for these mountain communities back then, and how difficult it must have been to bring improvements to those communities. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I liked the ending.
What I Didn't Like:
As another reviewer said, this book is a theological train-wreck. I'm not even sure where to start. Christy is mentored by a Quaker woman who seems to have some sort of name-it-and-claim-it philosophy and believes in special revelation. The "inner light" is looked to for guidance, and God's guidance is found by characters "looking within themselves" instead of to Scripture. The preacher character argues that not everything in the Bible is true, and that he doesn't believe "the gospel" is enough to change lives. The mountain people's religion is described as their believing in the "God Of The Old Testament", as if the God of the Old and New Testaments are two different gods.
At one point, two of the characters, who are basically supposed to be missionaries, have no idea why they are Christians. I would argue that if you have no idea why you are a Christian, you aren't one. I kept hoping that they would come to a true understanding of God and sin, and repentance and faith by the end of the story, but that just didn't happen.
It's ironic to me, because at one point the mountain people are described as believing they have to live a certain way to avoid God's wrath, which is a salvation by works belief - but the "missionary" characters in this book seem to be living by the same philosophy, just a different perspective. Much is made about "believing in Christianity" and doing things "God's way", and "loving God and loving people". Seems to me to be works-righteousness as well, just with a different view of who God is.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, "believing in Christianity", "doing things God's way", "love God love people" is all very vague and not helpful, because we are not saved by doing things "God's way". We are saved precisely by realizing that we CAN'T do things "God's way" - we are all hopeless sinners, in need of a Savior. In order to be saved, we must recognize God's holiness, that we have sinned and broken God's law, that we do deserve God's wrath for our rebellion against Him; but that Jesus took the punishment for us by dying on the cross for us - and when we repent of our sin and trust in Jesus to save us, He forgives us and offers us eternal life.
The characters in this story didn't seem to have any understanding of that at all. Jesus is hardly mentioned at all - I counted twice - and each time He was merely referred to as an "example" and a "fighter against evil". Evil is not defined as sin, but merely as sickness, poverty, tragedy, and ignorance. "The gospel" is mentioned, but never explained. All religious epiphanies come from emotionalism and mystical experiences, including one apparent trip to Heaven.
I could put more warnings about the descriptions of gross conditions and sexual content, but I think the theological warnings are enough. There is just so much wrong here theologically, I was incredibly disappointed. If you want a glimpse of the living conditions in the Appalachians, forge ahead with discernment - but if you want solid Christian fiction, skip this one. I wouldn't recommend it.
June 7, 2022
Cleanliness: Towards the end of Chapter 7 (pg 102), it mentions that a “little girl was beaten over and over by her mother’s lover, …brutally raped” and as a result, died the next day. It references it again, later down the page and again two pages later.
Chapter 33 is a woman explaining about how a man who came into her Quaker community seduced and raped her. It is detailed and graphic enough that I recommend reading it first in order to determine if you want your children reading it.
A few pages into Chapter 35 (pg 396), a doctor comments on the fact that he’s amazed that a grown woman doesn’t know anything about the facts of life/sex, and again references it on pg 401.
In Chapter 42 (pg 457), a woman says she was born illegitimately but uses the word “b*st*rd,” and also says she was “an accident conceived in man’s lust.”
Chapter 33 is a woman explaining about how a man who came into her Quaker community seduced and raped her. It is detailed and graphic enough that I recommend reading it first in order to determine if you want your children reading it.
A few pages into Chapter 35 (pg 396), a doctor comments on the fact that he’s amazed that a grown woman doesn’t know anything about the facts of life/sex, and again references it on pg 401.
In Chapter 42 (pg 457), a woman says she was born illegitimately but uses the word “b*st*rd,” and also says she was “an accident conceived in man’s lust.”
November 3, 2008
This was the book that spawned adult reading for me. My mom read it aloud on a car trip to the Smokey Mountains. The characters are engaging and could walk off the page. Truly the first experience I had with characters that i would recognize if they walked into the room.
Fifteen years later, this book remains the only book I've ever read that still holds all it's charm and wonder with each reread. I make a piont to reread it at least every two years.
Cutter Gap and it's people are very much alive in Catherine Marshall's writing. A beautiful story of romance, adventure, and coming of age in a time when being true to yourself was the least of your worries.
Fifteen years later, this book remains the only book I've ever read that still holds all it's charm and wonder with each reread. I make a piont to reread it at least every two years.
Cutter Gap and it's people are very much alive in Catherine Marshall's writing. A beautiful story of romance, adventure, and coming of age in a time when being true to yourself was the least of your worries.
August 24, 2018
I read Christy in two days. Not only was it a beautifully written and timeless narrative of Appalachian culture, it was also a most refreshing romance. There are two main men in this book, the young Pastor, David and Dr. Neil MacNeil a self-proclaimed atheist. What strikes me so throughly is the fact that both men are a perfect foil for one another. In a sense, I feel that the Rev. David is unknowingly an atheist and similarly Dr. MacNeil a devout Christian by the book’s end. This is the power of the writing at display. Christy is asking deep questions about the meaning of life, the hindrance of restrictive patriarchal cultures, and the impact poverty has on some of the most vulnerable members of society. Both of these men offer her answers to her questions and in her own way she accepts and rejects these answers forming her own opinions in the book. Among these questions is discovering for herself what constitutes love and what relationships look like both in the mountain culture and beyond. I wish books were regularly written with such depth and profundity as is modeled in these pages. Simultaneously the depth is complemented with colloquial mountain culture showing that these people’s values and traditions are much more than just a bunch of ignorant hillbillies. With mountain expressions like, “But that way is so up-tilted, you could stand straight up and bite the ground” thrown in it was hard to put down. Catherine Marshall’s descriptive sentences were a treat as well. Here is my favorite that I now have begun reading every spring:
“The evergreens were tipped with vivid green and the willows overhanging the streams were a whisper of green lace. Here and there in the fields of the valley, spicewood bushes waved yellow plumes. It was spring and I felt light and carefree.”
Please read this timeless coming-of-age story. I feel that every young girl should read this if only to know the beauty that comes from being immersed in other cultures and the self-discovery that follows.
“The evergreens were tipped with vivid green and the willows overhanging the streams were a whisper of green lace. Here and there in the fields of the valley, spicewood bushes waved yellow plumes. It was spring and I felt light and carefree.”
Please read this timeless coming-of-age story. I feel that every young girl should read this if only to know the beauty that comes from being immersed in other cultures and the self-discovery that follows.
October 27, 2020
What a beautiful book. Wish I had known of it before and wish I knew of more like it. I love stories about life in the mountains back in the turn of the century, but while this book was in 1912, it was still back then. For a person, like me, who has always wanted to live like Christy had, I would not have lasted. Like other teachers who came to teach there, I would have left in a heartbeat, and so I would have missed learning about their ways, their use of herbs, etc.
Christy has her work cut out for her, and she was a very strong woman, and that is what it takes to be a teacher in the Smokey's.
I have a friend who was a teacher in her younger years and who wanted to teach in the Smokey's, but she traveled there in the summer, I believe, and said that it was way too cold. I just told her about this book which I believe she will really enjoy, probably more than me since I was not a teacher.
And then I tried to watch the movie. What a horrendous job they did with it. It was exactly what I expected the book to be like when I first saw the cover on the book of Tyne Daly--Fluff. This movie can't compare to the book. And yet it could have been as great of a movie as Cold Mountain, which actually did justice to the book with the same name.
Christy has her work cut out for her, and she was a very strong woman, and that is what it takes to be a teacher in the Smokey's.
I have a friend who was a teacher in her younger years and who wanted to teach in the Smokey's, but she traveled there in the summer, I believe, and said that it was way too cold. I just told her about this book which I believe she will really enjoy, probably more than me since I was not a teacher.
And then I tried to watch the movie. What a horrendous job they did with it. It was exactly what I expected the book to be like when I first saw the cover on the book of Tyne Daly--Fluff. This movie can't compare to the book. And yet it could have been as great of a movie as Cold Mountain, which actually did justice to the book with the same name.
October 27, 2020
I LOVED LOVED this read. I honestly thought it was a romance novel and I steered clear of it for so long. I read this at a time when I needed it. I will say it reads more like a Christian novel so if you aren't into that maybe you will not like it but you should definitely still give it a try.
Christy, at the tender age of 19, feels it within her to go teach in the Smoky Mountains and help these helpless people. She learns so much about their resilience and their fierce pride that she begins to question herself and her place in the world.
There were so many beautiful quotes and inspirational love for God and humanity it got me thinking about myself. Why this or that? How and for what reason?
Very pleased with this one. It is a keeper and worth a second read.
Christy, at the tender age of 19, feels it within her to go teach in the Smoky Mountains and help these helpless people. She learns so much about their resilience and their fierce pride that she begins to question herself and her place in the world.
There were so many beautiful quotes and inspirational love for God and humanity it got me thinking about myself. Why this or that? How and for what reason?
Very pleased with this one. It is a keeper and worth a second read.
May 4, 2022
3rd read. Funny how reading books at different times makes a difference. When I read it in the late 90s in high school, I remember not enjoying it much because of ALL THE NATURE DESCRIPTIONS. I remember rolling my eyes, wondering when the next time she'd walk over a babbling brook and smell the flowers and feel the wind in her hair while hearing the birds tweet as they flew over the rainbow over the dusky blue mountains or something. ha. Then a decade later I read it and just loved it and thought my high school self was dumb. Did it have a lot of setting, even more than I like? Yes, but it wasn't that bad and I loved the ending so much I typed it up (see below). This time, maybe because I read it aloud to my daughter, I didn't swoon so much, but it was a solid read. So I likely would have given it a 2.5 in the 90s, a 5 in '07, and a 4 this time around. Just goes to show there really is something to "if a book isn't working for you now, put it down and try again later, it just might not be your time to read this book" Or you could hate it even more later....anyway. I did find it funny that my girl was caught off guard at the end, she didn't catch the subtle clues. We'll now watch the mini-series THAT GOT THE END SO SO WRONG. If I've ever been tempted to throw a DVD across a room it's this series, but well, all but the last two episodes are worth watching, and we've been watching movies of the classics we read this year if there is any. Anyone know if one of the stand alone movies makes up for the bad tv ending so I can watch that after the end and not be so miffed this time around? :)
UPDATE: The set of 3 movies made it worse, the only actors worth their salt was the ones that returned, everyone else, especially the new Christy was so wooden and unbelievable, and the story, if you didn't already know it, was so choppy to hardly make sense. I had to skip through a ton of it to make it through. Yes, they got the ending sort of "right" in this one, but it didn't make anything any better. None of the family was impressed.
07 - I literally typed up the last two pages so I could read it over and over again since I had to return my library copy. Of course, had to buy the physical copy when I could.
UPDATE: The set of 3 movies made it worse, the only actors worth their salt was the ones that returned, everyone else, especially the new Christy was so wooden and unbelievable, and the story, if you didn't already know it, was so choppy to hardly make sense. I had to skip through a ton of it to make it through. Yes, they got the ending sort of "right" in this one, but it didn't make anything any better. None of the family was impressed.
07 - I literally typed up the last two pages so I could read it over and over again since I had to return my library copy. Of course, had to buy the physical copy when I could.
May 31, 2020
Hmm. This was an interesting book to read. There were some strong, positive aspects to it, but towards the end it became rushed and muddled and it didn't really have a proper ending, just a blunt & crude CUT which left me unsatisfied.
More thoughts to come.
More thoughts to come.
June 27, 2010
Beautiful, beautiful book.
I absolutely loved the descriptions of the Smoky Mt. area and the people. It was wonderful to know more of their heritage and what contributed to their stubborness, their 'clan' loyalty and their work ethic.
Marshall is such a GOOD storyteller. The characters and conflicts were so real. The school children were a delight to read about. I can't even begin to understand how she handled 70+- kids in a one-room school. Amazing.
It's no surprise people fell in love with Christy. I certainly did. I love reading (this may sound twisted) of people's flaws and how they grow and sometimes overcome them, but more often just come to understand them and gain a different perspective. i.e. her sensitive nose: that never really went away, but she was able to not be as bothered by it because of her new perspective and feelings towards the people and the situation.
I love love love the ending.
I absolutely loved the descriptions of the Smoky Mt. area and the people. It was wonderful to know more of their heritage and what contributed to their stubborness, their 'clan' loyalty and their work ethic.
Marshall is such a GOOD storyteller. The characters and conflicts were so real. The school children were a delight to read about. I can't even begin to understand how she handled 70+- kids in a one-room school. Amazing.
It's no surprise people fell in love with Christy. I certainly did. I love reading (this may sound twisted) of people's flaws and how they grow and sometimes overcome them, but more often just come to understand them and gain a different perspective. i.e. her sensitive nose: that never really went away, but she was able to not be as bothered by it because of her new perspective and feelings towards the people and the situation.
I love love love the ending.
November 22, 2017
What a delight to reread this favorite book from my adolescence as we celebrate its 50th anniversary!
When I first read this book as a young teenager, I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the call to be a teacher. This was Christian fiction before the distinction became part of our vocabulary. Reading it as an adult, I fell in love with it all over again. This time though, I bring a new set of life experiences and heartbreaks and joys to the table and in that way the story came alive in a whole new way for me.
Oh how I love these characters. Fairlight. Little Burl. Ruby Mae. Miss Alice. Dr. Neill MacNeill (I love saying his name too lol). Mountie O’Teale. And a host of others, including of course Christy herself. And the setting? Such a stark, unforgiving, lonely place to live but at the same time it’s filled with such beauty, such melodies, and such a fascinating history. Here in Cutter Gap you grow to trust God more than you ever have before – because you need Him more than you’ve ever needed Him before.
Bottom Line: Christy is a story of courage, of faith, and of friendship. It’s about cherishing our differences while embracing our commonalities. It’s about trusting God for every step on a journey that literally can be uphill in the snow both ways. It’s about loving God and loving your neighbor, no matter how they talk or dress or what they believe. There is heartbreaking grief on these pages, but there is also inconceivable joy and love. (Some of that heartbreaking grief takes the form of events that might be too much for children or even young teens.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
When I first read this book as a young teenager, I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the call to be a teacher. This was Christian fiction before the distinction became part of our vocabulary. Reading it as an adult, I fell in love with it all over again. This time though, I bring a new set of life experiences and heartbreaks and joys to the table and in that way the story came alive in a whole new way for me.
Oh how I love these characters. Fairlight. Little Burl. Ruby Mae. Miss Alice. Dr. Neill MacNeill (I love saying his name too lol). Mountie O’Teale. And a host of others, including of course Christy herself. And the setting? Such a stark, unforgiving, lonely place to live but at the same time it’s filled with such beauty, such melodies, and such a fascinating history. Here in Cutter Gap you grow to trust God more than you ever have before – because you need Him more than you’ve ever needed Him before.
Bottom Line: Christy is a story of courage, of faith, and of friendship. It’s about cherishing our differences while embracing our commonalities. It’s about trusting God for every step on a journey that literally can be uphill in the snow both ways. It’s about loving God and loving your neighbor, no matter how they talk or dress or what they believe. There is heartbreaking grief on these pages, but there is also inconceivable joy and love. (Some of that heartbreaking grief takes the form of events that might be too much for children or even young teens.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 12, 2023
{February 2023 Reread}
I probably ought to lower my rating to three stars due to some messages and attitudes that I now find deeply troubling, but I still love the story and the setting so much that I can't bring myself to give it fewer than four stars. We shall see what future rereads bring.
{January 2019 Reread}
This latest reread left me perplexed. On one hand, some ideas and messages and characters and relationships no longer rang completely true. Pacing also struck me as slightly off, and certain anecdotes seemed to serve only to make the book unnecessarily long. I was planning on lowering my rating a star, but then, on the other hand, specific parts are still so good, and the setting still touches me in a way few other novels do. So . . . I am flummoxed.
I probably ought to lower my rating to three stars due to some messages and attitudes that I now find deeply troubling, but I still love the story and the setting so much that I can't bring myself to give it fewer than four stars. We shall see what future rereads bring.
{January 2019 Reread}
This latest reread left me perplexed. On one hand, some ideas and messages and characters and relationships no longer rang completely true. Pacing also struck me as slightly off, and certain anecdotes seemed to serve only to make the book unnecessarily long. I was planning on lowering my rating a star, but then, on the other hand, specific parts are still so good, and the setting still touches me in a way few other novels do. So . . . I am flummoxed.
May 14, 2018
I wondered if this book would hold up to how much I loved it as a fifteen to twenty-two-year-old when I was frequently rereading it. This is one of those rare books that seems to grow with you and always have new things to discover.
The heart of this book is about God's love for us and how it is reflected in his people. With realistic characters with different motivations and approaches, you can see so many different aspects. I could write a very long post just about the different kinds of love.
This is not an easy book to read; there is death, hard questions asked, and some very uncomfortable topics. They are the reason that this is a powerful book.
I'll be rereading this book. It still is at the very top of my favorite fiction books of all time list.
The heart of this book is about God's love for us and how it is reflected in his people. With realistic characters with different motivations and approaches, you can see so many different aspects. I could write a very long post just about the different kinds of love.
This is not an easy book to read; there is death, hard questions asked, and some very uncomfortable topics. They are the reason that this is a powerful book.
I'll be rereading this book. It still is at the very top of my favorite fiction books of all time list.
March 23, 2018
I. loved. this. book. What more is there to say? Of course I had my dislikes, but that's one of the signs of a well-rounded story in my opinion. The characters were so human, but they all strived to be more and do more. It was enchanting to read while being the same age as Christy (19). Cutter Gap has so many quirks and such personality it's hard not to like it among all the backward thinking and poverty. I enjoyed Christy's journey of faith as it was very blunt and realistic--she didn't shy away from the difficult, ugly, or the lovely. Plus, she was one of the only stubborn, idealist main characters that hasn't annoyed me to death. I loved how everyone was in a different place in their faith and approach to life, but they all had to come together so many times, often just to survive. It gave me lots to think about and I was smiling by the end. I'm so glad I finally read this classic!
I recommend this for ages 16+ due to some graphic details of illnesses, injuries, and crude living conditions, some suggestive and disturbing behavior, and some sensuality. None of the content takes away from my rating because for me it wasn't too much detail, and it was all written in a forthright but gentle way, although they could have gotten away with less several times.
I recommend this for ages 16+ due to some graphic details of illnesses, injuries, and crude living conditions, some suggestive and disturbing behavior, and some sensuality. None of the content takes away from my rating because for me it wasn't too much detail, and it was all written in a forthright but gentle way, although they could have gotten away with less several times.
August 6, 2017
This is such a delightful book. My mom, sister and I used to love watching historicals together when we were younger, and I remember watching this when it was made into a miniseries. The book is even better, giving a great glimpse of the poverty and lack of opportunity in Appalachia back in the early 1900's when young Christy Huddleston goes into the Smoky Mountains to become a schoolteacher. Such memorable characters and just a great all-around read. 4.5/5 stars.
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