3.75 out of 4 stars.
“A perspective into what the Andrew Wyeth painting, Christina’s World was all about”
Christina Olson lived on the farm in Cushing, Maine that has been in her family’s name for decades. Although responsibilities to help out with the daily chores kept her at bay from taking on new ventures like teaching, her chronic illness that greatly hindered her leg’s strength to walk also made her never leave the familiar acres of land. Each and every day of her life and her brother, Al’s, were very much the same list of must-dos. However, one day she receives a knock at the door by her friend Betsy, who will then introduce her to Andrew Wyeth, a soon to be famous painter that makes Christina his muse for nearly 20 years! He loves how she is older but young at heart, brave but scared, and lonely but content.
I loved the first book I read by Kline called “Orphan Train” because the cast of characters’ need for acceptance and the overall wholesome feel the book gave that through problems, things may turn out alright. This book, “a piece of the world” gave the exact same feeling so I fell in love all over again. It was the message that even though the lifestyles in both books seemed depressing, the reader still received a warm feeling that the strength and perseverance will all make it worth it because their perspectives of life will be ever changed.
This novel is for those who love historical fiction and the ability to intertwine real facts and an imaginative spin. It is so refreshing to read about the old days due to the fact it wasn’t a period of people being spoiled and greedy even though this family had no electricity, heat, or real luxuries. I picked this book up right at the perfect time because I was getting so sick of the contemporary tales being released that focused on a main character having issues due to setting the bar so incredibly high while Christina Olson just wanted to walk in a straight line!
Highly recommend! Loved, loved, loved. Please be aware though that that the plot is very is airy and not a roller coaster of highs and lows. If you are interested in suspense or action, this will not hold your interest.
