Rating: 
Summary: This Rock is Dead Weight
Review: A pointless and confusing book with a faint hearted hero who disappears without a trace before the story ends. Where did he go? We don't know nor do we care, he is nothing more than a witness to his own blubbery tale of woe, a crybaby loved only by his Mama and at times, himself. The story includes a girl he moons over from a distance,a girl he plainly has no chance with. Repeated acts of cowardice and weakness performed by the lead character and his brother make them unlikeable but at least the brother, a moonshiner, comes off as having more grace at the end than does Muir, the narrator, who wants to be a preacher and gives up his dream of building a church, leaving it to rot into the brambles and weeds and leading to a poor girl's death. Charitable acts from neighbors go unappreciated and a sickening description of an elephant being tortured to death while Muir stands by and refuses to stop it defines his utter lack of worth. This book should not have been written and the author, who teaches at Cornell, should apologize for using the name of the wonderful John Muir for this sad sack, pitiful bible thumping creep. Oprah put his Gap Creek on her book club and Morgan has received raving reveiws and awards for that novel and other works. Why? This is all as wrong as George Bush's presidency.
Rating:
Summary: THIS ROCK
Review: After reading GAP CREEK and TRUEST PLEASURE, I was very excited to get this book. Unfortunately, only after one-third of the way into the novel, I became bored. The same theme appeared over and over, and the actions of the characters became so predictable. It was a real disappointment. And the last scene was totally ridiculous. I had the feeling this novel was written with great haste and lacked depth and heart.
Rating: 
Summary: Takes you to the mountains
Review: As you read this book you will be transported to the mountains. The vivid descriptions and colloquial dialogue caused me to care about the characters and their outcomes. I also love the way Morgan switches perspective. Some chapters are from the point of view of Muir. He is one of two brothers and the "Abel" character in a kind of Cain and Abel allegory. Moody is the "Cain" character, but the book doesn't exactly parallel the bible story. Other chapters are from the point of view of their mother, Ginny. I really felt for Muir and wanted him to succeed. One even begins to root for Moody toward the end. The last chapter concluded and tied together the many journeys the reader takes with the various characters in a poignant and satisfying way. The EPILOGUE, however, ends with a strange twist that was a downer for me. That's why I only gave 4 stars. I was hoping for a different ending, and a little confused by what Morgan wrote on the last few pages. Perhaps what makes it good fiction is that I'm still thinking about it. Our church is using this for a churchwide Book Club. There are many life lessons here concerning work ethic, confidence, being true to yourself and your family, and finding your true calling.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Toss "This Rock"
Review: I heard Robert Morgan read from "This Rock" at a book festival and it only enhanced the story in my mind. The voice of the characters came vividly to life. The story's background, complete with historical tidbits and Morgan's family folklore mixed in, make "This Rock" a tale of pathos and wisdom.Is "This Rock" a sequel to "Gap Creek"? Yes and no. "Gap Creek" is one of those books that stuck with me. I cared about the characters of Hank and Julie and their plight. Yes, "This Rock" does interweave bits and pieces of Hank and Julie's lives with the story of new characters. What a pleasant surprise to run across these treasured fictional friends, to see where life has taken them. But, no, this book does not serve strictly as a sequel. For the most part, it's not as dramatically depressing either--though it does have a few painful moments. "This Rock" stands solidly alone, an ode to the people who have built this great country--and some of those who have corrupted it, whether bootleggers or religious bigots. Using the dual viewpoints of young Muir and his mother Ginny, the story recounts the troubles of a family in the first half of the twentieth century. Ginny is a widow, raising three kids. Her view sheds light on the emotional struggle of a mother hoping for the best for her children. Muir's view is self-centered and driven, although it begins to taper as life humbles him. Young Muir's dream is to be a preacher. His brother Moody has no real aspirations, save to sneak out and bootleg with the local ruffians. Both brothers make choices that will have negative consequences, but, in the author's soulful and honest manner, the book manages to bring the light of redemption through the darkness. "This Rock" moves slowly on the surface, while underneath the struggles of the human heart churn and race. I found myself pulled downstream, caught up in the story, hoping that Muir would achieve his dream and that Moody would find rest for his soul. Robert Morgan caps off his story with events that are both predictable and surprising. As in "Gap Creek," he offers hope at the end of the day--a hope that is formed from the fires of hard work and deep pain. While other writers tend to throw out shallow promises, Morgan's writing and his characters deliver something richer and much more rewarding. "This Rock" is worth holding onto.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Toss "This Rock"
Review: I heard Robert Morgan read from "This Rock" at a book festival and it only enhanced the story in my mind. The voice of the characters came vividly to life. The story's background, complete with historical tidbits and Morgan's family folklore mixed in, make "This Rock" a tale of pathos and wisdom. Is "This Rock" a sequel to "Gap Creek"? Yes and no. "Gap Creek" is one of those books that stuck with me. I cared about the characters of Hank and Julie and their plight. Yes, "This Rock" does interweave bits and pieces of Hank and Julie's lives with the story of new characters. What a pleasant surprise to run across these treasured fictional friends, to see where life has taken them. But, no, this book does not serve strictly as a sequel. For the most part, it's not as dramatically depressing either--though it does have a few painful moments. "This Rock" stands solidly alone, an ode to the people who have built this great country--and some of those who have corrupted it, whether bootleggers or religious bigots. Using the dual viewpoints of young Muir and his mother Ginny, the story recounts the troubles of a family in the first half of the twentieth century. Ginny is a widow, raising three kids. Her view sheds light on the emotional struggle of a mother hoping for the best for her children. Muir's view is self-centered and driven, although it begins to taper as life humbles him. Young Muir's dream is to be a preacher. His brother Moody has no real aspirations, save to sneak out and bootleg with the local ruffians. Both brothers make choices that will have negative consequences, but, in the author's soulful and honest manner, the book manages to bring the light of redemption through the darkness. "This Rock" moves slowly on the surface, while underneath the struggles of the human heart churn and race. I found myself pulled downstream, caught up in the story, hoping that Muir would achieve his dream and that Moody would find rest for his soul. Robert Morgan caps off his story with events that are both predictable and surprising. As in "Gap Creek," he offers hope at the end of the day--a hope that is formed from the fires of hard work and deep pain. While other writers tend to throw out shallow promises, Morgan's writing and his characters deliver something richer and much more rewarding. "This Rock" is worth holding onto.
Rating:
Summary: Morgan Revives 1920s Appalachia
Review: I knowed this be a gud book (English teachers cringing, the bad American English and spelling is intentional). Robert Morgan, author of the bestseller "Gap Creek," transports us to a 1920s Appalachian Mountain town in "This Rock."
The story takes place over a three-year period and focuses on the polar-opposite Powell brothers, Muir and Moody. Muir is ambitious and quiet. Moody is an appropriately named, unstable character that runs moonshine and gambles.
Morgan uses the perspective of Muir and Ginny Powell, the brother's widowed mother, to narrate the brother's conflicts. Remarkable details are laid out for the reader to behold and enjoy like gems. Morgan paints the beautiful landscape of the mountains, a feast for the mind's eye. The drama echoes stronger due to Morgan's inclusion of mountain dialect. It's as if the author time-traveled to the locale and used the Edison gramophone to record the hillbilly speech.
The story builds nicely as Muir's decision to build a church atop the mountain has ripple effects throughout the community, most notably his brother Moody. "This Rock" is a page-turner illustrating the common and difficult aspects of 1920s Appalachia life. In fact, I bet after you've reached the last page, the cool morning dew will be lingering on your hands.
Rating: 
Summary: Forward, Please
Review: I like the contrast between Moody and Muir; the black sheep and the good-intentioned dreamer, but instead of delving into what makes each tick and how they can possibly come to some common ground, Robert Morgan holds us back. This is all the more frustrating since most of us have likely read the Truest Pleasure and Gap Creek & we know Robert Morgan is capable of giving it to us. I'm chalking this up to an intermission between acts.
Rating:
Summary: Tough Characters-Hard scrabble lives
Review: I must admit that Gap Creek was the first book by Robert Morgan that I have read. I became of a fan immediately. His story line is as multilayered as his characters. In This Rock, one brother, Muir, struggles to find himself. He seems to be heading for a life lived in the word and serving his God. The other brother, Moody, seems to do nothing more than a little bootlegging. Moody wants to lose himself. He suffers from some deep hurt we are never privy to. Robert Morgan takes these two characters and wraps a novel around them. Two brothers as different as hot and cold, living a basic life filled with the struggle to survive and yet their lives seem to be so much richer that ours.
Other characters, Hank and Julia from Gap Creek make an appearance. It was nice to see their progress. Ginny, Muir and Moody's mother is a strong woman left to get by on her own after her husband dies.
I won't give anymore away. The book is an interesting read. It appeals to the intellect and the heart. If you're looking for a techno thriller you better keep looking. This Rock isn't for you. If you're looking to be touched emotionally and spiritually, then you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: This Rock is Dead Weight
Review: I read _The Truest Pleasure_ knowing this was the sequel. It has usually been my experience that a sequel enhances the experience of most novels and feeling fondness for the characters of _The Truest Pleasure_, I wanted to know more about them.
Unfortunately, I just felt the book slid into a religious abyss, sinking deeper into religious overtones that dominated the theme of the novel instead of enhancing the experience of the characters. I began to dread reading that a church gathering was happening as I had to read pages and pages of religious sermonizing that I felt had little to add to the story.
The book could have been wonderful, as any child of Ginny and Tom would be worthy of carrying a major story line. Unfortunately, the fall out to monotonous sermonizing capitalized the novel and negatively impacted the tone of the book.
Rating:
Summary: religious abyss overtakes story line
Review: I read _The Truest Pleasure_ knowing this was the sequel. It has usually been my experience that a sequel enhances the experience of most novels and feeling fondness for the characters of _The Truest Pleasure_, I wanted to know more about them.
Unfortunately, I just felt the book slid into a religious abyss, sinking deeper into religious overtones that dominated the theme of the novel instead of enhancing the experience of the characters. I began to dread reading that a church gathering was happening as I had to read pages and pages of religious sermonizing that I felt had little to add to the story.
The book could have been wonderful, as any child of Ginny and Tom would be worthy of carrying a major story line. Unfortunately, the fall out to monotonous sermonizing capitalized the novel and negatively impacted the tone of the book.
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