Julie

Normally I do not enjoy historical fiction, but this one is modern enough that I could relate to Julie and much of what she went through. The book is set in the 1930's (forty-some years after the actual Great Flood), but the details of the flood itself are quite accurate and well-researched. The story itself is very engaging and kept me interested the entire time. The flood scene was almost overwhelming to me (I had no prior knowledge of the flood before reading the book) and was expecting some water damage to the newspaper offices or something. Despite what I'd read on the book jacket I had no idea that (SPOILER) hundreds of people were going to die, including some characters I had grown to care for. The only thing I did not like about the book was the scene in which Julie finally allows herself to feel God's overpowering love. It was a little less powerful than I felt it might have been. In this scene, Julie's clothes have been ripped off of her body and she is riding the rushing waters on a huge, uprooted tree. As she speaks with God, she realizes how vain she is and stands up straight and tall, deciding to not be ashamed of the way the Lord made her. She wonders why she feels ashamed, noting that she had admired her body in the privacy of her room. I see what the author was trying to do in this scene (the whole point is that nothing matters except our relationship with God) yet I found the image of her standing up straight, tall and naked while other people were around distracted me from what was taking place between her and God. Overall, however, this is a very wonderful book on multiple levels.

I had read other books by Catherine Marshall years ago. My daughter-in-law put me in touch with this one - don' know how I missed it. It has everything, humor,romance, mystery, human interest, plus the Christian viewpoint. A well-written, meaty story which, I think, is hard to come by these days.

Julie Wallace is 18 when her family moves to a small town in Pennsylvania. Her father has invested the family savings in a floundering newspaper. Julie becomes its star reporter and, in the year the book covers, she matures into a lovely young woman.Exploitative labor practices in the local steel mill, a minister who defies the town powers to provide support for downtrodden workers, Julie's youthful idealism, her father's illness and struggle to build his newspaper and establish himself in the community all combine with teenage awakening and a couple of natural disasters to make a highly entertaining and spiritually enlightening book. Turns out the book is autobiographical and it's at least as successful as Marshall's CHRISTY.Marshall's style is light and entertaining, never "preachy." But she gets a message across by demonstrating the power of faith and love in her characters' lives. Characters are full and vibrant, the story line moves tantalizingly and the language of the book is delightful.I can't imagine anyone not enjoying JULIE.

I loved "Christy" and "Julie" is just as wonderful! Julie is a high school senior who works for her father's small newspaper and her family's and minister's beliefs and concerns for the town and its people secure the wrath of the wealthiest man in town and several others. It's inspiring how they deal with it and rise above it and find deeper faith in God. Also, I loved Julie and Randolph's romance. What girl wouldn't want to marry a man like Rand? A WONDEFUL book!

I read "Christy" several years ago and watched every episode of the television series when it was aired. I enjoyed "Christy" so much that I was anxious to read "Julie." I just finished reading "Julie" and it was excellent. The story is captivating and will keep you interested until the very end. Once I got to the last 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. Catherine Marshall has a way of allowing the reader into the hearts, minds, and emotions of her lead characters. I highly recommend this book. Curl up in a comfy chair with some hot chocolate and enjoy!