Saturday, November 18, 2017

"Christy" by Catherine Marshall

In the mid-90's, I was a big fan of the TV show Christy that aired on CBS, and I hated that it was cancelled before we knew who Christy would marry. (Apparently a series of TV movies wrapped up that mystery, but they aired on Pax TV, a station we didn't get, so I never saw them.)

My mom had a copy of Christy, so after the show's cancellation, I found the book and flipped to the end to see what happened ... only to close it in disgust, as Christy ended up with the "wrong" (to my 15-year-old mind) man. And that was the end of my journey with Christy ... until now.

Twenty years later, things look a little different, and I've relished this opportunity to read the Catherine Marshall classic!



New edition of Catherine Marshall's inspirational classic! 

The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.

But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her - and her one-room school - as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove.

Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?




Clocking in at 512 pages, Christy is long, and it's not a quick read, but it is absolutely fascinating. Marshall's writing takes the reader with Christy to Cutter Gap as she encounters a world she didn't know existed.

One of the things that most struck me about Christy is how modern the writing felt. Sometimes when I pick up an older book, it's hard to get into the story because the writing style is so different from what we see today. But Christy is incredibly readable, and I had no trouble connecting with the story. (In fact, the only thing I didn't like about this book was the cover. If I saw the book on the shelf and had no idea of the story, no way would I pick it up.)

While Christy Huddleston is in Cutter Gap, she confronts her own selfishness, learns what it means to truly love others, and, most importantly, thinks through her beliefs about God and Christianity and comes to experience a real relationship with God.

Christy contains so much wisdom regarding loving others and sharing the gospel, yet it never seems preachy or heavy handed. In today's contentious society where people are often far more concerned with being right than being loving, Marshall's advice struck a chord with me, and I can't help but think the Church would be more effective if we would take her words to heart.

While the 15-year-old me was preoccupied with the love triangle between Christy, Rev. David Grantland, and Dr. Neil MacNeill (a love triangle that was certainly played up for the TV audience, as the romance is much more subtle in the novel), adult me loved experiencing Cutter Gap through Christy's eyes—and the romance was just the icing on the cake. (Also, I've revised my teenage opinion of which man Christy should marry!)

I'm so glad I've now read Christy ... now I may have to revisit the series, though I have a feeling it won't live up to the novel! 5 stars.

Learn more, download a free map of Cutter Gap, and purchase a copy.
See what others are saying.


Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), The New York Times best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel Christy. Based on the life of Marshall's mother, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. 

Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in A Man Called Peter. A decade after Dr. Marshall's untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of Guideposts, forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine's enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.

Find out more about Catherine at http://gileadpublishing.com/christy/.



Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. Reconnect with Catherine Marshall's beloved Christy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new edition! As nineteen-year-old teacher Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home of Cutter Gap, some see her-and her one-room school-as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

Celebrate the new 50th anniversary edition of Christy by entering to win one of TWO $50 Visa cash cards (details below) and by attending a Facebook Live party on December 5!


TWO grand prize winners will receive:
  • One copy of Christy
  • One $50 Visa Cash Card
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5. The winner will be announced at the Christy Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with authors who've been impacted by Christy and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

1 comment:

  1. Love to read biographies! Thanks for the warning of how long it is, I will save it for the summer but I would love to read it! Christy was one of my favorites growing up!

    ReplyDelete

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