Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I've read lately
Review: I really like reading Gap Creek. Just when you thought things were settling down in the book, another interesting thing happened. The book had such an engaging plot. At first,I really didn't like the main character's horrible grammar, but then realized it was needed to make her seem real. I wasn't sure if I would like this novel, but I really did.It was one of the books that you really cheer for the main character & really get into it. It was another good choice from Oprah & I would definitely say "read this book".
Rating:
Summary: A Story Of Carrying On
Review: Gap Creek is a spare, hard hitting novel about a young woman who endures much hardship and moves on in her life despite the horrors of her everyday existence. I was moved to tears many times and anger, and happiness, too. I felt I really knew Julie and wanted so much for things to turn out good for her. Mr. Morgan is a wonderfully descriptive author, I have to assume that he has actually done much of the work that he illustrates in this book, because the sheer drudgery and soul stealing resentment comes out so clearly through his words. I thought many times that if it were me who had to face what Julie did, I would have just sat on the ground and given up.
Rating:
Summary: Strange title, great book!
Review: Being a newlywed myself, the subtitle "The Story of a Marriage" was what caught my eye. This was a captivating book which I read in a weekend. The story takes place in the poverty of the Appalachian Mtns and follows the hard life of a young girl who leaves home when she marries at 17 and then follows the struggles that the newly married couple goes through. There are many heartbreaking points in the story and there were a few bits of melodrama, but overall the author does a great job of really making the reader feel that they are right there, next to Julie as she is living through these events. I understand that the author loosely based the book on the story of his grandparents first year of marriage, which makes the story much more meaningful. My husband also read this book, since I liked it so much, and he loved it! We have been recommending it to all our friends.
Rating: 
Summary: The Hardships of Life
Review: Robert Morgan explores the hardships of life over a century ago through the eyes of Julie Harmon. Julie is a tenacious young woman whose wisdom and perseverance is beyond her years. She shows tremendous spirit, strength and will throughout this chronology of her life. The novel begins with a tragedy from childhood recounted and continues throughout Julie's marriage to Hank and the many storms which occur. Morgan has written the scenes in beautiful language which will bring the Appalachia to life as you are reading.
Rating:
Summary: Surviving against the odds
Review: This novel made me realize how easy we have it in this modern age compared to the days that were described in Robert Morgan's _Gap Creek_. We may gripe and complain about how much we have to work to make ends meet. We may complain that we don't have time to do anything, and our schedules are packed with meetings and appointments, our cell phones and pagers competing for our attention. But, if you want to understand what it was like over one hundred years ago, this is a very good novel to read.The truth is we expect near perfection these present days in just about everything in our lives. We want the perfect spouse, perfect children, a perfect job, house and car. Our reality is that these can very well be expected, and if not, there are options available to us to manipulate our expectations. And, if our expectations are not met, there is always prozac to relieve the anxiety and depression we may feel. Robert Morgan absolutely nails what life had to be like back in the Appalachians in 1899 for a very young newly wed couple who start out their life with virtually nothing but the clothes on their back. A startling thought for anyone in the present day, this is a vivid interpretation of what it was like to make a life on a "wing and a prayer". The narration by Julie is lovely, simple and naive. She is still a teenager when she weds Hank. Born into a family where she was one of the eldest, she was counted on to work like a man. When she was in her early teens, her only little brother dies. The father falls ill, and it is up to Julie to do all the men's work. Resentful at times, she never revolts, but resignedly commits herself to these chores no one else can do. When she meets Hank, it is a quick courting. Within the span of weeks, the marriage is confirmed and together they move "off the mountain" to a farm house in the valley of Gap Creek where a cantankerous old man has agreed to let them live in exchange for cooking, cleaning, and basically doing all the chores on the farm. Hank works in the brick mill in town, until he loses his job. Around the same time, a devastating mishap kills the old man and Julie and Hank brace themselves for the heirs to come to claim the farm, leaving them homeless. A Christian couple, they selflessly commit themselves to keeping the farm up. They tend to the animals, plant the crops and keep up the home just as when the old man was alive. With no money coming in after Hank loses his job, their situation becomes tenuous at best. The description of their work day around the farm is overwhelming. For Julie, this is her calling, this is what confirms her very being; hard work and work that numbs the mind and body. As a young couple, they are primitive in their personal relations. In comparison to the expectations of intimacy in the present day, it is stunning to see the bare bones of a new marriage. While Julie minds her tongue, and gives Hank a wide berth, she does become a victim to his immature rages and temper when he is being challenged. Sometimes lonely and missing her family, she never betrays her husband and the commitment they made to the old man to keep the farm going. The harsh winter challenges this couple furthur. Without any funds they must make due with their wits and survival skills. This is a sensitive story of a marriage that survives more than hard work and a rough winter. It is a story of a couple that must face some of life's toughest lessons, but learn to love and make the ultimate commitment to each other.
Rating:
Summary: loved this book
Review: This was one of those page-turner books that I just could not put down. I hope to see a sequel!
Rating: 
Summary: A [bad] life of her own
Review: Set in Appalachia around the turn of the 20th century, "Gap Creek" is the story of Julie whose life is full of adversity and struggle, even after she marries Hank. Together they face each struggle with love and faith, and find their marriage strengthened. At least, that's the book Morgan apparently meant to write. Instead, "Gap Creek" is a monotonous, aggravating, tedious work that challenges the reader's tolerance. Julie and Hank have a relentlessly hard life, and their relationship is never fully developed. We're told they love each other, and yet it's never fully expressed for the readers. Morgan does have a gift with descriptions of the landscape and the daily grind of farm work, all of which are painstakingly portrayed in beautiful prose. Unfortunately this is drowned in a patchwork tale of unlikeable characters that just never seems to end. It's just one calamity after another, pummelling the readers into a daze. And Morgan overuses the word 'said' to an amazing degree, which makes one wonder whether his editor was paying any attention at all. As mentioned, there are moments of beauty in this book, but they are few and very far between.
Rating:
Summary: Gap Creek
Review: This book was especially good since I farm for a living. The hardships that people had to go thru during this time period are unbelievable and really makes you appreciate the life we lead in the 21 century. Very well written and with a good story line to get yourself embedded into. I read several chapters in a night because I could not put it down. I strongly reccommend this book for people that love a story about people that tried to survive on the farm in the early 1900s. Such a young couple that survived with love and determination.
Rating:
Summary: An Engaging and Memorable Story
Review: I came across this book in the library while looking for another book by a different author. I picked it up and gave it a glance and it passed my test to determine whether it would be a good story or not. The first paragraph, even the very first sentence drew me in hook, line and sincher. The story is simply written but that's not to say it's boring or not well done. It's engrossing from start to finish and I found myself enraged on Julie's and Hank's part each time they were taken in by swindlers. They go through such devistation you're hoping for some mercy on their part. I was very pleased to also see that Godly beliefs were a large factor in this story. This is not an in-your-face kind of preachy story, but it is very inspirational and uplifting.
Rating:
Summary: For my point of view
Review: I am 15 years old and in high school. I thought that this book was Unbelievable. So many things happen in such a short period in time. It makes you want to step back and look at what life could be like. It also makes you want to rethink about even getting married. You think if something that bad could happen to me when I get married why should I even start the madness. This book is not the best I read but it makes you want to read on to see how they resolve their problems.
|
