book details

Book Review: That Kind Of Girl by Christy Ogilvie

categories: Book, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction, Survival, Uplifting, 1930's, Chicago, Hardships, Historical Fiction

Christy Ogilvie

about this book: That Kind of Girl is a novel, set in Depression era Chicago, a story told in seven voices, one in the present and six narrating as events unfold.

The Cameron family women, a grandmother and her two granddaughters, have fallen on extremely hard times. First they lost Bert, husband and grandfather, and then a house fire destroyed everything they had. Desperate, the grandmother contacts her wayward son in Chicago.

Arrival in the big city brings no relief. Faced with alcoholism, abuse and poverty, the Cameron women rise to each challenge with grace and grit.

From Amazon.com:

• "a clear picture of 1930's era Chicago, depicting contrasts between social classes, good folks and not so good folks, dreamers and dreams derailed. Christy Ogilvie reveals this story with striking descriptions of places and people, mystical happenings, and flashbacks"

• "Ogilvie has a lyrical way with words...(the story) just creeps up on you and you find yourself in a room in a boarding house brothel, thankful that you're there instead of 'home.' A lovely, lovely book that lingers in your soul."

• "...a family drama reminiscent of a classic southern gothic novel, though the tale is set in Chicago. The tragedies that befall the characters in TKOG are disturbing and heart-wrenching, yet the sorrow and despair are balanced with examples of love, beauty and tremendous strength of character."

This is Ogilvie's first novel. Her work in the music world, and at jobs to support her art over 20 years, has fueled her imagination. Her hope is that readers will come away from this story realizing that people long ago found the strength to move forward with joy, despite their challenges.

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A father comments on his daughter's book ..

The author of That Kind of Girl talks about her novel and the opportunity to read a story with a purpose about an unusual grandmother and her difficult choices for her children and grandchildren during the Great Depression. Yes, Christy is our daughter who transcends the eighty years between our lives today and her great-grandmother's life in 1930's Chicago. This story combines the novelist's vision and the historian's perspective, the social consciousness of a family's place in time and the timeless qualities of love and commitment that continues beyond their time. This may be our story. It might help complete your story. Watch the short video by her publisher, read the book, and share your thoughts, if you wish. [by Bruce C. Ogilvie, MS, MCP]