Based on the bestseller by Catherine Marshall, Christy tells the story of an idealistic nineteen year old who leaves the comforts of her city home to teach school in the impoverished Appalachian community of Cutter Gap, Tennessee in 1912. Strength, determination, and faith guide young Christy Huddleston through unforeseen difficulties, help her to gain understanding of the proud mountain people, and win her mentorship, friendship, and the love of two men.
Many times, like you I am sure, I've been disappointed in television shows or movies based upon books. So often they often cut out significant parts or change things around so much that they create a completely different story. This was absolutely NOT the case with the "Christy" series! First and foremost, Kellie Martin and Tyne Daly were *perfectly* cast in the roles of 19-year-old schoolteacher Christy Huddleston and Quaker missionary Alice Henderson. Secondly, the show generally kept true to the storylines that first brought Marshall's classic novel to life. The general premise of the story involves the title character, Christy, a recent transplant from a wealthy North Carolina family, who has just arrived in the poor community of Cutter Gap, Tennessee, in 1912 She has come to teach with those proverbial stars in her eyes. It's Christy's first time on her own, and her eyes are certainly opened as she experiences the effects of ignorance, poverty and disease. As she struggles to convert the residents to her beliefs, they also teach Christy a little about faith, perseverance, friendship and love. Other significant characters are David Grantland, a young minister who is desperate to win her heart; and Neil MacNeil, a native doctor who equally intrigues and infuriates the idealistic schoolteacher.
My only complaint is that the series was so short-lived! In my mind, we could certainly use a show like "Christy" on the air!
Set in Tennessee, it was actually filmed near Gatlinburg, in the Smoky Mountains, a place that is very dear to my heart.
Thanks to a heads up from our dear blogging friend, Andi, I have now pre-ordered this delight from Amazon. I can't wait to receive this gem and to share it with Grace.
Hugs,
Suzie Q
10 comments:
Christy is one of my all-time favorite books. I loved the TV series too. We lived in Maryville, TN for a while. The TV programs were filmed near there.
I had never heard of this book before but not that I read your post I know it is something I would enjoy reading. Thanks for sharing. Also I love your sun ray photo's that you took a couple of days ago.
I read Christy years ago when I was about 22. I was then living in Washington, D.C. and missing my mountains. The book really hit home for me because my mother grew up on a mountain top in TN in a log cabin built by my grandpa. When I was about 10 yrs. old my uncle took us to see the place where they had lived as children. The cabin was still standing but was being used as a tobacco barn. It made me very sad and I cried to see my mother's home that I had heard loving stories about used in such a manner. When I read Christy I remembered that we drove up the mountain as far as we could go then had to walk the rest of the way. At one point we had to cross a little foot bridge over a mountain stream then walk along a path through woods...all uphill! Finally we came out of the woods and into a beautiful clearing to see the sad little cabin. I really need to read this book again now that I'm old :) and see how it affects me now! My mother's mountain is about an hour from the Christy location and, by the way, my mother had to walk off the mountain to a one-room school. She only went to the 6th grade but her sister finished the 8th and was qualified to teach!!
I didn't mean to write a book here!! Thanks so much for reminding me about Christy. I love your blog. Keep up the good work.
Hope
This is my all time favorite book (I've read it three times!)
I enjoyed the movie and the series and I'm like you we need it back on the air!!
:-D
Oh Sue!!! I was so excited when I checked out Amazon and was able to pre-order the complete series of Christy.
The show was actually filmed in Townsend, Tennessee which as you know is located near Gatlinburg. One time my husband and I spent an entire day just driving around the beautiful countryside there.
It's such a shame they took this wonderful program off the air. I agree, we need more show like this one.
i gotta say, i've never seen the show, but i've read those books over and over and over. one of my favorites!
I never had watched this show before , but it sounds like one I could enjoy with my daughter as well. Thank you! We will put it in our Netflix queue.
Christy was one of my favorite television shows--as short lived as it was. I LOVE the book, too. I read it at least twice a year!
I love this book ! The tv series was great ~ My daughters and I watched it and were so disappointed when it stopped. Thanks for the amazon scoop, we will definitely order it ! Thanks for your kind comments on my blog.
I LOVE that series, I'll have to find it and watch it again, thanks for reminding me of it. It's a classic!!
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