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depressing AF, and Julie could have done better than marrying the first man that looked at her. ugh.
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Gap Creek
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There is a most unusual woman living in Gap Creek. Julie Harmon works hard, "hard as a man," they say, so hard that at times she's not sure she can stop. People depend on her to slaughter the hogs and nurse the dying. People are weak, and there is so much to do. She is just a teenager when her little brother dies in her arms. That same year she marries and moves down into the valley where floods and fire and visions visit themselves on her, and con men and drunks and lawyers come calling. Julie and her husband discover that the modern world is complex and that it grinds ever on without pause or concern for their hard work. To survive, they must find out whether love can keep chaos and madness at bay.
Robert Morgan's latest novel, Gap Creek, returns his readers to the vivid world of the Appalachian high country. Julie and Hank's new life in the valley of Gap Creek in the last years of the nineteenth century is more complicated than the couple ever imagined. Sometimes it's hard to tell what to fear most-the fires and floods or the flesh-and-blood grifters, drunks, and busybodies who insinuate themselves into their new lives. Their struggles with nature, with work, with the changing century, and with their disappointments and triumphs make this a riveting follow-up to Morgan's acclaimed novel, The Truest Pleasure.
Robert Morgan's latest novel, Gap Creek, returns his readers to the vivid world of the Appalachian high country. Julie and Hank's new life in the valley of Gap Creek in the last years of the nineteenth century is more complicated than the couple ever imagined. Sometimes it's hard to tell what to fear most-the fires and floods or the flesh-and-blood grifters, drunks, and busybodies who insinuate themselves into their new lives. Their struggles with nature, with work, with the changing century, and with their disappointments and triumphs make this a riveting follow-up to Morgan's acclaimed novel, The Truest Pleasure.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10,1999
This edition
- Format
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326 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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January 10, 1999 by Algonquin Books
- ISBN
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9781565122420
- ASIN
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1565122429
- Language
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English
Characters More characters
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Julie Harmon
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About the author
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Robert Morgan is an American poet, short story writer, and novelist.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Community Reviews
Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
36(36%)
4 stars
26(26%)
3 stars
38(38%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
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A fairly easy read but I was very annoyed with Julie, she was so naive and foolish I wanted to give her a good shake, and it was just getting a bit more interesting then it ended. OK but not the best of its kind.
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This was a high school read since it took place in NC. I hated it then, Amd reflection has not improved my opinion. There was a bit of the “Precious based on the novel Push, by sapphire” schtick to it. Everything weird and gross and difficult that could happen did and I’m just over that stuff. I mean, I get it, poor white Appalachian dwellers also had it hard. I just don’t care.
And the sex from a woman’s point of view, written by a man, was all too eye roll worthy. I’ll never forget him referring to her first orgasm as “the sweetest little kerchoo” from her middle. No thank you.
And the sex from a woman’s point of view, written by a man, was all too eye roll worthy. I’ll never forget him referring to her first orgasm as “the sweetest little kerchoo” from her middle. No thank you.
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I know that not all stories are supposed to have a happily ever after but this was exhausting with grief and hardships. Some people have it bad and some have it even worse and I am grateful for what I have and that I do not have to live with such heartache. This was a hard read but a good read
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I rated this 5 stars because of the way it was written and the twists in this couple's story. But if I have to rate the characters in this novel, I would definitely rate Julie 4.5 stars and her husband Hank only 1 star. This couple is two different souls who just hurriedly tied the knot without even has the slightest idea about each other. Hank was just strong in physique but not on the inside because of how he easily snap and breakdown during problems.
I know that other reviews on this book were not that good but for me, I enjoyed reading it. It showed us that marriage is not pure bliss and that couples must be headstrong and should help each other in times of struggles. And before I could forget, I was really amazed that a man written this because of how he portrayed women/wives stronger than them, guys.
I know that other reviews on this book were not that good but for me, I enjoyed reading it. It showed us that marriage is not pure bliss and that couples must be headstrong and should help each other in times of struggles. And before I could forget, I was really amazed that a man written this because of how he portrayed women/wives stronger than them, guys.
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Actually, did not finish. I got about 13% in and I just couldn't read anymore. It's in the first person, with grammar/language the way a back woods girl might have had. So that in and of itself was getting tiring. It starts out with the girl's little brother dying from some gruesome parasitic worms... absolutely disgusting. Then the dad dies from tuberculosis (pretty sure that's what "lung disease" he had). She meets her future husband and their kiss is a bit descriptive and so idk, got to thinking what if it goes in more detail after they're married
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This book and I have some history. It's the kind of cover and premise that would have attracted me since I was just little. I sought it out again recently because Jess Sowards (from Roots and Refuge) had recommended it, knowing that I had at one point bought it and given it away before finishing it, but not really remembering why.
I'm glad I didn't read more than the first chapter when I started it at 17 years old. I think I was horrified by the way Julie's little brother died and didn't think I could handle the rest. Reading it now, as a 24-year-old wife of only a year, this story touched me in a much deeper way than it would have at that age.
***(There are also important elements of the story that rest on Julie and Hank's relationship as a married couple, which includes some semi-explicit -- my opinion -- bedroom scenes. I am glad I did not read these before getting married.)***
Normally I don't love stories written by men from a woman's perspective, but this one holds out. Julie is the narrator of the story and I found her perspective on life so refreshing from a female protagonist. Her life has held so much sorrow but she isn't a sort of Cinderella or a martyr about it. I was inspired by her pluckiness and resourcefulness in holding so much responsibility, especially in feeding her family. Since I love food history and preservation so much, I dearly loved the descriptions of her canning, foraging, and making use of what she found.
There are a lot of "just when you think it can't get any worse" moments in Gap Creek, but while it did make me cry, I never felt drug down. I guess that's because the sun always kept coming up and Julie and Hank always manage to return to their love or one another.
I was mildly bothered by the way Hank treats Julie sometimes, but I thought it very realistic of the way someone like him would be. Everything that bothered me about this book, I knew it was right that it bothered me. And I don't have much time for a book that doesn't bother me at all.
It's the kind of book that comes to life off the page, makes you think about the world differently, causes you to look hard at your life, and then sticks with you a long time, like an earthy aftertaste of strong herbal tea. I listened to it on audio and it was very well done, but I am going to hunt down another copy to hold in my hands again, because a book this precious is something I will need to revisit.
I'm glad I didn't read more than the first chapter when I started it at 17 years old. I think I was horrified by the way Julie's little brother died and didn't think I could handle the rest. Reading it now, as a 24-year-old wife of only a year, this story touched me in a much deeper way than it would have at that age.
***(There are also important elements of the story that rest on Julie and Hank's relationship as a married couple, which includes some semi-explicit -- my opinion -- bedroom scenes. I am glad I did not read these before getting married.)***
Normally I don't love stories written by men from a woman's perspective, but this one holds out. Julie is the narrator of the story and I found her perspective on life so refreshing from a female protagonist. Her life has held so much sorrow but she isn't a sort of Cinderella or a martyr about it. I was inspired by her pluckiness and resourcefulness in holding so much responsibility, especially in feeding her family. Since I love food history and preservation so much, I dearly loved the descriptions of her canning, foraging, and making use of what she found.
There are a lot of "just when you think it can't get any worse" moments in Gap Creek, but while it did make me cry, I never felt drug down. I guess that's because the sun always kept coming up and Julie and Hank always manage to return to their love or one another.
I was mildly bothered by the way Hank treats Julie sometimes, but I thought it very realistic of the way someone like him would be. Everything that bothered me about this book, I knew it was right that it bothered me. And I don't have much time for a book that doesn't bother me at all.
It's the kind of book that comes to life off the page, makes you think about the world differently, causes you to look hard at your life, and then sticks with you a long time, like an earthy aftertaste of strong herbal tea. I listened to it on audio and it was very well done, but I am going to hunt down another copy to hold in my hands again, because a book this precious is something I will need to revisit.
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I finished this book several days ago and I'm still thinking about it. That, to me, is the mark of a great story. I had to keep reminding myself that Julie, the main character, was only 17 years old. The time of her life that we get to see is inspiring and heart breaking.
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