Queechy

I loved this book. It's a sort of religion-based version of Pride and Prejudice. And the heroine, Fleda, even gets Mr. Darcy and Pemberley in the end.Queechy is dated, but how could it not be? It's a lovely testament to the power of faith throughout one's life. ("Ah, the store-house must be filled, and the mind well familiarized with what is stored in it while yet the days are bright, or it will never be able to find what it wants in the dark." The character focuses on "patient continuance in well-doing."Some of the descriptions are beautifully poetic. "If thought and feeling played their Aeolian measures on Fleda's heartstrings, they were listened to only by snatches, and she rarely sat down and cried to them."For all that the book was published in 1894, the use of language feels fresh and original. "It had been a wild night, and the morning looked scared."This version has missing sections and plenty of wrong words. The version shown on Amazon (also free for Kindle) with the same cover but as Vol. I and Vol. II separately was much better.

Fleda's life at 11 years is filled with sorrow and struggle. She has lost both parents and her grandfather. Sent to live with her aunt's family she faces many financial difficulties. With a strong belief system in God, she tackles all her problems with a faith that she will be shown the way to put food on the table for her family. It is a long hard road that she has to travel but she does it gracefully and lovingly. A good family story about growing up, facing hardships and meeting them with a kind, forgiving and understanding spirit.

I will admit that the book is long and the language a bit antiquated, but the story itself is well worth the journey through all of the pages. The author centered the story on the life of one girl, and what a story of is. I enjoyed the journey very much!

The story at heart is a love story, an epic of a single generation, written in the old wordy, descriptive, analogous style. One needs focus and patience, but your concentrated effort will reward you with a read you will not soon forget, nor be easily able to lay down once begun. If you are a hopelessly old fashioned romantic like me, you must not pass up the opportunity to read Queechy. It is long, not an easy read, but a wonderfully rewarding one.

Initially I found the old language mildly taxing to read, but after a few pages the reading got easier. I absolutely enjoyed the basic story and wondered about the frivolity and shallowness of some of the characters.Fleda portraying timidity and sacrifice at all times.The Christian perspective and background was particularly inspiring.

This book would've rated five stars except it was somewhat difficult to follow at times. Delightful story. It made me cry.

I haven't finished the book yet, but so far am finding it an interesting historical piece.

I enjoyed this book.