Christy.

A while back I read a book titled Christy by Catherine Marshall.  I enjoyed it a bit more than I should have.
     Regardless, it was still a ridiculously good book.  I wrote a book report on it for school.

Here it is:

       Christy is a genuine story, written by Catherine Marshall Lesourd.  The copyright of this book is 1967, also done by Mrs. Lesourd.  Christy is published by Avon Books Incorporated.  Catherine, as an author uses her maiden name only.  Thus, the novel is by 'Catherine Marshall', though her name is indeed Catherine Marshall Lesourd.  The editor of this powerful book is Leonard E. Lesourd.  Christy was first published in 1967.

    The setting of our brilliant book is one of great depths; rural Cutter Gap, Tennessee in the year of 1912.  Now you must understand, though the year was indeed 1912, in ways traveling to Cutter Gap was like traveling back a century.  I say this for an abundance of reasons,  one being the mountaineers were without modern transportation; I say mountaineers for they were, the story takes place in the Wild Appalachian Mountain Ranges.  Another reason Cutter Gap was like a flash from the past was the culture overall.  The culture was rich and authentic, full of 17th and 18th century ideas from their Calvinistic ancestors.  Which brings me to another point,  their religious beliefs had been handed down, and twisted along the way, from their legalistic Scottish/Irish ancestors, too.  Another major thing that made Cutter Gap well, Cutter Gap, were the people.  The people of Cutter Gap were truly unlike any others.  They felt deeper than most humans and were often Iron-Willed, Fun-Loving, Rough n' Tough, Tenderhearted, Drunken, Sharp, Vulnerable - all in the same person!  The setting to this beloved classic makes the plot a most curious one.


     As I've said, the characters of Christy are extremely unique and full of deeper depths that we usually find in people.  There are more than many crucial characters to this charming read, but I must only mention the most key ones, beginning with Christy herself.  Christy Huddleston is a small, brilliant, lively, and exceedingly determined 19-year-old.  In her eyes, Christy's well-off life in Ashville is dull.  Longing for something MORE and adventure brings her to be the Cutter Gap school teacher.  She is mesmerized by these intriguing mountaineers, they immediately capture her.  God uses these people and their mountains to forever-change Christy.  I could go and on about Miss Huddleston, though I shall move on.  The next crucial character is the remarkable Alice Henderson.  Miss Alice, as we know her, is the founder of the Christian mission which Christy works for.  She is an older lady - about fifty when our tale begins.  Miss Alice is oozing with such supernatural peace, love, and acceptance that Christy has never seen before!  Miss Henderson is truly a woman of noble character.  Her influence plays a large part in the people of Cutter Gap.  Another main character in Christy is David Grantland, the young minister of The Cove.  David is big, charming, studious, and has a wonderful sense of humor.  David is not quite sure who he is or what he believes.  Finally, there is Neil MacNeill, the doctor of The Cove.  Dr. MacNeill is a most curious man.  He is muscular, tall, strong-willed, extraordinarily knowledgeable, and oh so different from the others.  The Characters of Christy make for an undiminishing enjoyment of the book.  

    The concentrated upon theme for our story is Christy and her transformation from Ashville Christy Huddleston to Cutter Gap Christy Huddleston.  Mrs. Lesourd truly makes her theme one of beauty, bringing the characters, setting, plot to life intensely through Christy's eyes.  In all,  the book's theme accurately brings our history to life in true mountain style.

    The main events of this book are ample in supply.  Christy's many discoveries of God are just a few.  Dr. Neil's layers being transformed and peeled back.  The radical impact on Christy made by Miss Alice.  The children gaining education.  The improvements of Cutter Gap, spiritually and physically.  David's astounding realization.  Deep friendships formed.  Tragedy strikes several times.  Anywho, the events of this tale are thrilling and inspirational.

   The lessons taught in Christy are wholesome, heart-opening, and thought provoking.  From Christy we learn innumerable things, one being God IS.  God is constant.  He is always. He is love.  He is MORE.  From courageous Alice Henderson we can learn to love unconditionally.  From Little Burl we can learn that we are called to walk in The Love Of Christ.  From Mrs. Mchone we see the victory we have in Christ.  From Neil MacNeill we learn the power of surrender and so much more.  The lessons in this book are gripping and not irrelevant. 


   I thought Christy was a delightful read!  Though, this story of Mrs. Lesourd's is extremely intense.  Thus, it adds many negatives and is not for all readers.  I would recommend Christy to select people.  All in all, the author did a wonderfully splendid job at writing her book.

There ya have it folks, my book report on Christy.