Rating: 
Summary: You can't put this one down
Review: I read Gap Creek and then read it again. It is nice to read a novel without intense violence and vulgar language throughout. The story line is well written and very descriptive. The characters were easy to understand. I am ready to read another Robert Morgan book.
Rating:
Summary: A True Winner!!
Review: I absolutely LOVED Gap Creek.. I am not much of a reader but this book had me in a spell till the end. What a treat to see inside the life of the people of the olden days. I really felt like I know Julie and it really made me appreciate the luxuries of today and kind of sad that I missed the siimlicity of yesteryear.. I've since tried to read every book by Robert Morgan..I love his style of writing. A must Read!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Let's just say that this is definitely not "beach reading" material, unless you like to visit the hardships and sorrows of a young mountain woman in a rough marriage while you soak in some rays. But don't let that put you off. Robert Morgan is a master storyteller.This story about the complications and intimacy of marriage is nothing short of riveting. I came away feeling a strange sort of kinship with Julie (I want to meet her!) Wow, what a woman! She is remarkable, in a quiet sort of way, and although she is uneducated and inarticulate, it didn't take long for her to earn my respect. Again, this is not your usual cozy "pleasure" book, but it is one of the most extraordinary novels I have ever read. This is the type of book that immerses you fully during its duration and then haunts you lovingly long after you put it down. Don't miss this experience. It grabs you and doesn't let go. Male or female, I recommend it highly. Cris
Rating: 
Summary: Gap Creek, 'story of boring household chores'
Review: I expected alot more from this book. Interesting only for its historical setting, and even that is not enough to hold the book. It seemed to consist of Julie's long and constant descriptions of household chores and hard work. It reminded me alot of the way that feminist theory has evolved - as an examination of the lives of women through the chores that they perform. But that is not a solid basis for a fiction novel, and probably lost on most people. Particularly those that rightly believe a book should HOLD INTEREST.
Rating:
Summary: What's the point??
Review: This book gets off to a good start. The writing is good, the characters start off interesting and it seems the plot is going somewhere. But as I got to about page 200 (or 2/3 through the book) I began to wonder what the author was trying to say. What's the point? That life is hard and you just have to get through? I read one other review that complained that the character of Julie never changed. I have to agree with that. There was no growth for her througout the book. There was no character development, at least for Julie who is supposed to be the protagonist. And when you don't see growth in the character, all the hardships that are thrown in - the fire, the flood, the death of a child - they all seem pointless. I have to admit though, some passages were a joy to read for the description and the words used alone. But that doesn't make a book. Others liked this book. It left me scratching my head.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah, blah, blah
Review: This has to be one the worst books I've ever read. Boring & incredibly tedious is an apt description. I actually ended up disliking both characters, she was pathetic & he was a bully. The only good thing is that I borrowed this book from a friend & didn't actually spend any hard cash for it.
Rating:
Summary: I felt like I was there!
Review: Morgan's book was incredible. As I was reading the book, and actually saying the things that Julie said, I felt like I was there. I felt like I was her, living her life, hardships and all. The way that Morgan wrote was different than anything I'd ever read before which made it exciting and hard to put down. I found that when I was not reading the book, I was thinking about what might happen next or how Julie and/or Hank must be feeling. It was inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Helpless, Hopeless, and Clueless
Review: This is a depressing tale of a young woman who marries a virtual stranger and is mildly surprised that he turns out to be cold and mean. She works like a dog, doesn't complain, and accepts her miserable life without any insight or motivation to change. I would like to have seen some growth in the character of Julie, but there was none. All I can say to the subtitle of "A Story of a Marriage" is that I hope that few people are locked into relationships like this one. The book is replete with illness, death, brutality, and unkindness. All of these I could accept if the main character had shown some human qualities, but she just plods on in saintlike acceptance of her lot. UGH!
Rating: 
Summary: A Harsh Existence
Review: GAP CREEK is a tough book. Everyday reality for the people in the story is relentless, an unremitting cycle of life and death. 1899 Appalchia doesn't allow much planning other than how to get through the coming winter. When Julie leaves her birth family to marry Hank, the newlyweds move into a cabin in Gap Creek, where Julie tends to the needs of the cabin's owner, while her husband goes to work in a nearby town. Early on, Julie understands that she'll have to bend herself around Hank's moods and emotional vacancies in order to keep the peace. A strong young woman, only seventeen at the time of her marriage, Julie has long been accustomed to hard work, one of her primary virtues. She finds comfort in her almost constant efforts to scrub, clean and endure. The author provides vivid images of the daily living conditions of these people, mired in poverty, always at the mercy of an indifferent and cruel natural environment. Barter for goods and services is the primary tool of aquisition, with few, if any, comforts available. They chop their own wood, butcher their hogs, plant their fields and hope for the best. It is obvious, from the beginning of the marriage, that Julie, now pregnant, is a stronger character than her husband, who barely has the resources and self control to rise above their frequently unendurable circumstances. While Julie's personality may be likened to that of Gertie Nevels in THE DOLLMAKER, Julie doesn't possess the hopeful spirit of Harriette Arnow's memorable Gertie. Julie plods through one tragedy after another, settling for little joy in her young life. There is no mistaking the accurate portrayal of these hard-scrabble lives, spoken in the simple language of their daily struggles. In comparison to 1954's THE DOLLMAKER, long a treasured and important novel, it is perhaps unfair to measure GAP CREEK against Arnow's powerful book. Still, I keep asking myself whether GAP CREEK is a stingy or a generous human story by any standard.
Rating:
Summary: Feel the Pain
Review: This book was so great in detail you felt what Julie felt.The struggles are so real.I was impressed how the author,who is male,could describe so many of the emotions and pain that females face. When Julie goes into labor one almost feel the pain with her.I got so wrapped up in the story i'd forget what era I was living in when I'd take a break from the book.AN EXCELLANT READ!!!!!!!!
| 
