THIS BOOK WAS GREAT, HOWEVER, I HOPE SOMEDAY HE WILL CONTINUE THE STORY. ( )

Whatever trials Job suffered were nothing compared to the tribulations that befall Julie Harmon Richards. Following the deaths of her younger brother and father, 17-year-old Julie takes one look at 18-year-old Hank Richards and falls in love. Following their marriage a month later, the two move from their North Carolina homes to Gap Creek, South Carolina, where Hank works at a cotton mill and Julie cooks and cleans for a Mr. Pendergast in exchange for room and board. Pendergast is fatally injured trying to rescue his hidden savings during a devastating fire, and Julie, now pregnant, gives all of Pendergast's money to a man who tells her he is the lawyer for the bank that holds the mortgage on the house. Gap Creek floods and the house is ruined. Julie's baby lives only for a few months. Finally, Pendergast's heirs show up, so Hank and Julie, now pregnant again, leave Gap Creek for an uncertain future. Although Morgan, author of The Truest Pleasure (1995), has written better novels, even readers numbed by the seemingly endless series of disasters will respect Julie's strength of character and wish her well.

Possible spoiler at end of last paragraph

This book was an Ophra selection in its day and as such is very depressing, doom and gloom book, where the main character has to fight the whole world. Unlike some of her other selections - this one keeps you entranced through the whole story. Julie Harmon is 16 when she marries Hank and moves down the mountain to Gap Creek. In the months before her marriage her brother and father die - and then the man whose house they move to, wear Julie keeps house for their rent, he dies shortly after. And things get worse.

Despite one disaster after another - Julie is a character who is just so lovable - she is very young, and very faithful to her religion, and loves her young husband. She digs her feet in and refuses to let life beat them. Her story is really looking at life through the eyes of innocence - but as her character experiences life she learns and grows in ability. This is a book worth reading - and while there is no happy ending - the ending leaves you with the knowledge that just maybe things will be different. ( )

Robert Morgan brings Appalachia to life in Gap Creek. The novel follows the struggles of newlywed, Julie Richards, in turn of the century South Carolina. Morgan’s ability to create a real sense of place, write natural dialogue and develop believable characters makes his books engaging from the first page on. ( )

A raw portrait of basic day-to-day survival in an age very far removed from our modern day conveniences. ( )