Gap Creek (Oprah book of the month)

Rating:
Summary: Appalachian Heart of Darkness
Review: A pessimist, it has been said, is actually a realist in wolf's clothing and Morgan's Gap Creek symbolically drives the point home with an overarching account of a troubled young woman living in the wilds of Appalachia and struggling to find true enlightment. Morgan's use of symbolism is often very heavy-handed. The slaughtering of the pigs in the barn while the bankers simultaneously foreclosed on the farm is one such example of how Morgan hammers his points home in an extreme manner. His characters, other than Julie Harmon, also happen to be as wooden as a 2x4. These shortcomings however are washed away by powerful waves of beautiful prose that eventually drown the reader in a literary dreamscape of neglected forests and bottomless ponds.

Rating:
Summary: Oprah picked a good selection this time!
Review: "Gap Creek" was good. I have only 2 complaints. I really was sickened by the description of the child throwing up the worms. I really lost my appetite after that. The other thing I found to be terrible was the episode about the umbilical cord. There are some things that are better left unsaid. The rest of the book was really good. I'm soo glad I was not born in Julie's time period! She worked like a horse and Hank acted like a baby. I'm glad to see they came to terms with each other at the end.

Rating:
Summary: Way tooo much suffering for a nickle!
Review: This book is wonderful for those of us that think suffering is a way of life. And in this case the author loads you down with suffering. There is much to be desired in the development of characters. There were a few interesting tidbits on farm life at the turn of the last centry, but this is the best I say about the book.

Rating:
Summary: A Different Time
Review: This was one of the most satisfying reads I've had in a long time. I was completely transported back to Gap Creek, and became so absorbed in the vivid descriptions of lifestyle and emotion that the author presented.Detail is the selling point of this book. You live and breathe with the character from start to finish. A truly remarkable piece of literature that makes you appreciate the 21st century!

Rating:
Summary: GAP CREEK: A NOVEL-Everyone should read it.
Review: As a native of NC and having spent many woderful vacations in the mountains, I have met Julia-at least her spirit. Robert Morgan has written a book of exceptional quality and truth about an exceptional woman in a time and place far removed from most peoples' lives. As he introduces her character and strength the reader at first feels pity, then amazement, but finally and most importantly, admiration as this woman deals with death, destruction and the loss of all earthly goods. But she still seems to come away stronger; in body and spirit. I read this book in one afternoon-found it impossible to put down. If there is a "list" above and beyond the New York Times "Best Seller List" this book should be at the top

Rating:
Summary: Didn't want it to end!
Review: Aren't you kind of sad when a good book comes to an end? Well that is just how I felt when I came to the last page of this book. There were times when I was reading it that I felt exhausted. I guess that is a great tribute to the way that John Irving wrote and described the various passages in the book. I want a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: It didn't quite click for me
Review: Just getting-by is tough in turn-of-the-century Appalachia and the vivid descriptions of the physical challenges of the way of life there held my interest and kept me turning pages. Developing the story of Julie and Hank as newlyweds facing the world doesn't work as well, however. Hank is just too craven and pitiful in contrast to the redoubtable Julie. His redemption came too late and was unconvincing. I just couldn't buy it!

Rating:
Summary: A wondrous read
Review: I don't usually read Oprah's book suggestions but after hearing the subject matter of this book, I had to try it. I felt like I had stepped into my own family history. My Grandparents married in 1916 in Pike County, Kentucky with $5, an iron bedsted and a cast iron skillet. My grandmother made their mattress out of corn shucks. Nine months after their wedding, at the age of 17, she had the first of 13 children, alone. I have heard stories all my life about how, when times got hard, my Grandfather would pace the floor and say, "What are we going to do? What are we going to do?" And my Grandmother would say, "We'll find a way. We always do." And she did. She was the strength and center of the family, even though she only went to 2nd grade. Now her children and grandchildren are doctors, nurses, teachers, coaches and college professors ... and I am a teacher and librarian. Like Julie in this novel, she sometimes learned lessons the hard way, but what she learned, she never forgot. Morgan's characters are true and very real and hard to forget. This book made me appreciate the kitchen sink, my refrigerator, the furnace ... and all the everyday things we always take for granted. But most of all, this novel reminded my how much I appreciate my grandparents, and how honored I feel that I was able to know and love them. People had to be strong to survive then. Today, we forget what real strength is. A wondrous read.

Rating:
Summary: poor knowledge of women (especially SEX)- slow writing
Review: A disappointing attempt to write about female sexuality in this book. I am sorry, but no 17 year old virgin has an orgasm on her first sexual encounter after walking for miles to a new place away from her family for the first time in her life with a man she knew for 2 weeks! How old are you? Geez Richard...I thought you would know that it's different for women! If you don't know, you should find out, especially if you choose to write in their perspective! I agree with the one reviewer who complained about Robert Morgan's style. It seemed to get worse in about the middle of the story. I skipped sentences to keep interested. The book does a good job showing how hard it was to live back then...lots of hard work! The language was very realistic...simple and Southern. I find myself saying , "Work aint nothin but work." Lots of religion at the end too! Ugh.

Good for Winter reading but nothing THAT spectacular.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Makes you think about life and not to take things for granted. Many unfortunate incidents happen to Julie & Hank, but thier LOVE is so strong that nothing brings them down, and in turn make you appreciate your own life.