The Talk-Funny Girl

The Talk-Funny Girl: A Novel by Roland Merullo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very powerful. A powerful tale of a girl who has grown up in isolation in rural Connecticut, who speaks an unusual form of English. Her parents, afraid of contact with other people, are under the spell of a wicked preacher. Reverend Pastor Schect preaches that children are evil, and must undergo "penances". Now 17, Marjorie Richards is beginning to pull away from her fearful & cruel community. Her aunt engineers a job for her away from her parents where she works with a slightly older young man. Sands (his nickname) is building a stone "cathedral" on the site of an old church which had burned down. He teaches Marjie stonework and construction.

Margie is strong and determined to escape her parents' miserable existence. Reading her story is a highly emotional experience that will open your eyes to the evil lurking in the world.  Although some have placed this book in the YA/teen book category, I think it is more than that.  Any woman, young or old, will identify with Marjie, Sands and Aunt Elaine, who saves her.  The book is suitable for older teens, but equally so for adults.

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