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Christy, Catherine Marshall
This novel, first published in the sixties, is Catherine Marshall's attempt to capture her mother's experiences teaching school in rural Appalachia almost a hundred years ago. It's told in first person, which was a brave thing to do for any daughter, trying to see through her mother's eyes.
I first read Christy when I was a teenager, and it made a great impression on me, and before you ask: I didn't realize that there was a television program based on the novel, and I have never seen it.
If you go searching for information about Marshall and this work of hers, you'll find that she was a devoted Christian, the daughter and wife of ministers. As I remember this novel, it wasn't primarily about religion or faith, although there is a major character who is Quaker. That character (Alice Henderson) was so finely drawn that I went and looked up more about Quakers as after finishing the novel.
Mostly this novel is about the community of people in the most remote part of Appalachia, and it was that part of the story that really struck me. Now I have to say that it is many years since I read this novel and my memory may not serve, but it seemed to me that Marshall avoided stereotype and cliche. I'm going to reread Christy -- it's still in print -- and see how I feel about it now. I'll let you know.
December 8, 2005 10:31 AM
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Comments
I loved Christy when I was a young teen, and I recently tried to reread it (17 or so years later). It was so sickeningly sweet/filled with stereotypes/heavily Christian that I couldn't finish it. Though it served a purpose for me as a young reader, my tastes have changed.
I also wanted to ask you, knowing that you are an Jane Austen fan (I've been reading your blog for about 9 months now)...
Have you read Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife? and if so, what did you think of it?
Posted by: elvesoncrack at December 8, 2005 11:38 AM
I know I started Christy at least a couple of times, but I don't know why I've never finished it. I have a battered old copy lying about and should dig it out.
I do, however, remember the television show vividly. Mostly I remember the love triangle between Christy and Rev. David (played by Randall Batinkoff of "For Keeps" fame) and the Scottish doctor Neil MacNeill. One of those situations where Christy liked Rev. David and knew he was the one she should love but the attraction between her and Dr. Neil was so smokin' you just wanted them together. And if I recall, we never got resolution on that situation.
Bummer. Wonder if the book has the same set up?
Posted by: Lynn M at December 8, 2005 11:40 AM