Gap Creek

The Story of a Marriage

By: Robert Morgan

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

A New York Times best seller & Oprah's Book Club Pick

Young Julie Harmon works "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. At just 17 she marries and moves down into the valley of Gap Creek, where perhaps life will be better.

But Julie and Hank's new life in the valley, in the last years of the 19th 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 life. To survive, they must find out whether love can keep chaos and madness at bay. Their struggles with nature, with work, with the changing century, and with the disappointments and triumphs of their union make Gap Creek a timeless story of a marriage.

©1999 Robert Morgan (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

The Narrator was Perfect!!

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**


Loved this book. The writing was at times complex and beautiful, while at the same time simple. I loved how the dialogue style fit the characters! ("I said" "Hank said")
The story was often VERY depressing, but life was hard. I just kept hoping that something good would happen. I did not care for the rather abrupt ending.

The BEST part was the narrator!! Oh my goodness, her voice and acting was perfect for this book!!! And she has a gorgeous singing voice!!

Four Generations in my family love this book

I’ve seen some less than stellar reviews of this book which amazes me. My mom, myself, my daughter, and granddaughter all loved this book. Told as first account of a very young woman living a hard working life as a daughter, sister, wife and mother. Very sad yet rings so true of making do with nothing and little choices. Of faith and hard work. I applaud the author and thankful for the gift of this book

How hard life was in Appalachia

The storyline was good. But I think if I heard, I said one more time I was going to put the book away.

Hard Days

This book is one of my favorites of all time to read but listening is even better. It is such a clear depiction of how difficult life was for mountain folk in those days and of the simple joys and hardship people experienced. Told from the point of view of an incredibly inspiring, strong of body and character young woman from North Carolina who begins at her own family farm to finding love in an ordinary circumstance, marries quickly at 16, and all of the life in between and after. It will not disappoint and the narrator is PERFECT, even her singing a couple hymns is beautiful and unpretentious.

One of the best books...love it!!!

Gap Creek is one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read a LOT. I decided to listen to it on Audible to see if it was as good as I remembered it; it was. I love this genre of books, so I, of course, enjoyed it. Set in the foothills of South Carolina, not far from their mountain home in North Carolina, Hank and Julie, began their life as newlyweds with a baby on the way. It was a hardscrabble life, filled with long days of hard work with little to show for it, nights of sweet tender love. There's plenty of sorrows along the way, but they manage to rise above, thanks to their faith at a time when many would lose their faith. This is a wonderfully written book. Set at the turn of the century in 1899. I couldn't put this book down when I read it and I could hardly remove my ear buds as I listened to Gap Creek this time I around. Robert Morgan is a great story teller; I've enjoyed reading several of his books, as they're easy to pull you in and leave you wanting more. Gap Creek isn't a sappy love story. There's plenty of had work and sorrow to go around, but there's still a sweetness in Hank and Julie's story. I'm a fan of historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in the mountains of Appalachia. I recommend Gap Creek to anyone who likes a good story. This book is narrated very well. I particularly enjoyed the narrator actually singing the hymns at church rather than just reading the lines. Kate Forbes did a wonderful job in narrating this book.

GAP creek Review

This was a difficult book to listen to as it took a long time for me to like the characters. I enjoyed learning more about the way life was in that area of the country in that time period.

Enjoyed the local to me references

I’m leaving this review and off to search to see if there’s a second book - oh I hope there is!

This story was boring and pressing. I give it thumbs down

I’m sorry to say but it was the most sad depressing boring book I have ever heard. I kept waiting for something good. Sorry I get it thumbs down