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Summary: How Much Can One Endure?
Review: I have a high tolerance for suffering in books, but Gap Creek will test anyone's limit for pain and hardship. Set in North and then South Carolina, it tells the story of 17 year old Julie Harmon's first year of marriage to 18 year old Hank Richards at the turn of the 20th century. Poverty, hardship, and austerity prevail over their lives. The hardship doesn't subside until they've been victims of fire, flood, malnutrition, and deceit. I kept hoping the tide would turn for them, but there would be no tangible positive changes to their lives; if anything, Julie and Hank grow to accept their fate. Their decision to become members of the local church, where they find kindness and support from the Preacher Gibbs and fellow members, figures strongly in their ability to cope with their hardscrabble life. Hank, who at first shows less mettle than Julie, gains maturity and responsibilty after the couple suffers a devastating loss. Julie finds redemption in the catharsis of hard physical labor. That child could clean her way to heaven! While it's a well written book, Gap Creek tested my tolerance for pain and suffering and left me emotionally devastated. Warning: Do not read this book while you are the least bit depressed; it'll have little to give in the way of hope.
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Summary: The hardships of a young girl
Review: This fine novel written by Robert Morgan displays the hardships of living in the Appalachian high country during the end of the 20th century. The powerful beginning was a tearjerker but made the reader realize the family's struggle to survive. It is easy for some to take this life for granted but when reading this novel, it makes the reader count his blessings. This story begins with the death of Julie's little brother Masenier. Julie soon becomes the "man of the house" when her father becomes ill in the sense that she does all of the physical work in the forest. This is where Julie of 17 meets who soon is to become her husband Hank. Soon after their marriage, they find a house in the valley of Gap Creek. From here the first year of hank and Julie's marriage is played out. Julie prevails over the natural disasters, tragedies, physical boundaries, and culture differences during the strenuous first year of her marriage. Along with hank losing his job and Mr. Pentegast's, their landlord, death, Julie faces domestic abuse, a fire, and a flood. During all this time, Julie becomes pregnant with her first child. Although this is all physical hardship, Julie manages to find a mental escape once and a while to free her mind to find the strength to withstand this marriage. This novel is the work of a genius. He portrays the life of an average family beautifully in every aspect of the book. There is never a predictable moment as the author writes of the serious life and trials a young girl goes through, to some extent, even today. Julie is a true heroine and fights the elements to withstand the life of a young wife in the Appalachian highlands and the hardships of survival mentally and physically.
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Summary: One of the best books i have read...Wonderful.
Review: What more can i say, but I enjoyed this book immensly. It was so well written it was like I was right there at Gap Creek. I have loaned this book to several people and I have gotten the same response from everyone, "Couldn't put it down", "Loved It", "One of the best books I have ever read". Read this book, you will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Gap Creek
Review: With gripping storytelling and a strong and endearing main character, Robert Morgan's Gap Creek doesn't just tell the reader about the 1800's, it draws the reader into the pages of a world that is very different yet psychologically identical to the modern day.
The protagonist, Julie Harmon, is an extremely hard worker with a patient and sensitive soul. During Julie's struggle to maintain her marriage and her home, almost any reader can identify with her complicated feelings towards other people: common emotions of hatred,responsibility, anxiety and love. It is through the first person narration that Robert Morgan so vividly illustrates her thoughts.
Gap Creek allows readers of any age to fully appreciate modern technology. The sweat-provoking and often gruesome tasks of American life were just routine for growing families at the turn of the century. Even medicines and doctors weren't efficient enough to save people from most diseases, and childbirth as displayed in the book through amazing prose was much more complicated and painful than it is today.
Robert Morgan gives his characters a growing insight to life, and death. While Julie and her husband strive to understand and appreciate each other, they also strive to find themselves religiously. They use prayer and forgiveness to their advantage as their spirituality grows, although like a lot of people it takes many moments of doubt before their true beliefs set in.
Gap Creek is an eternal record of human nature. All of the elements of life: the struggles against the wilderness, clashing personalities between different people, and the happiness and hardships of starting a life with a spouse in a new place allow Gap Creek to grasp the attention of anyone fascinated with the lifestyles of the late 1800's, and anyone fascinated with life in general.
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Summary: Pleasant reading on a summer day
Review: I read Gap Creek last summer and found it to be historical and entertaining. I live in West Virginia and was intrigued to purchase this book because it pertained to areas I am quite familar with. The book was somewhat boring in a few parts but overall I found it to be a true testament to the hardships people in Appalachia had to endure. It gives me a sense of gradtitude that I live in the present time. One gripe I had was the several pages describing the hog slaughter. Being a vegetarian, it kind of made me queasy.
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Summary: A SURVIVOR'S LIFE
Review: GAP CREEK is the well-written Appalachian tale of a period in the life of Julie Harmon Richards. Julie has always been the hard worker in her mountain family and from that work, she's gained the confidence and strength to assure her that she can survive difficult times. She marries and leaves her family to start a new life with husband, Hank. These two people are very young and very poor, two qualities which prove to be detrimental during a harsh and poverty-ridden period in American history. Yet they are honest and willing to work hard to achieve an honorable, independent life. But they hadn't anticipated that they'd be faced with an avalanche of problems which include con artists, thievery, natural distasters, and unassisted childbirth. There comes a time when they don't think they can go on, but then Julie's internal strength emerges and their determination returns. GAP CREEK is made even more interesting because it is written as a woman, but by a man. This author is able to convey a female's feelings in a realistic manner. This book's events are depressing, but it's a good solid read.
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Summary: Not worth the time to read
Review: The highlight of the entire book was the birth of the child on the kitchen floor. Other than that, I found the book somewhat lifeless. I had no sense of the characters, they didn't jump off the pages at me like other books of the same genre have.
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Summary: Very Touching
Review: This book really got me in touch with the hard times that people went through long ago. It tells about a young newlywed couple trying to struggle and survive their marriage and the hard times they have come across. It is very touching and emotional at times. I found myself getting furious and even crying over things that happened in this book. It is a wonderful book!
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Summary: Makes you appreciate how easy you have it
Review: This book makes you appreciate all of the modern appliances and conviences we have here in the year 2001. I thought Gap Creek was a nice story about sticking together through good times and bad & about how hard work can help you feel better.
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Summary: Simple, but interesting
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It reminds me of stories from my grandparent's, and things that needed to be done to survive hard times. He accurately described about slaughtering hogs, rendering lard, and dressing chickens, things that are still done today in rural areas. Julie was an interesting character, with much strength and determination. Although she was uneducated, she had much wisdom and faith, and was able to work through her many challenges. It was written in such a way that you could feel yourself experiencing the emotions Julie was feeling. I hope there will be a sequel to it.
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